Sleep Basics
What type of consciousness is sleep considered?
An altered state of consciousness
What does EEG measure?
Brainwave activity
What hormone is released to promote sleep?
Melatonin
Which group needs the most sleep?
Infants
What is one benefit of a within-subjects design?
Controls for participant-related variables
What are the two main types of sleep?
REM and NREM
What type of data is a sleep diary?
Subjective data
Which brain structure regulates circadian rhythms?
: Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
What is the typical total sleep time for a teenager?
Approximately 9 hours
A variable that influences the DV and varies systematically with the IV
What is one feature that distinguishes REM from NREM sleep?
Rapid eye movement in REM
REM sleep
What is an ultradian rhythm?
A biological rhythm shorter than 24 hours, e.g. a sleep cycle.
What happens to NREM Stage 3 as we age?
It decreases significantly
Explain how to evaluate whether results support a hypothesis.
Compare results to predicted outcome, consider variability, draw evidence-based conclusion
Why is sleep considered a psychological construct?
It cannot be directly observed but is inferred from behaviour and physiology.
Why are both objective and subjective measures important in sleep research?
They provide a more complete understanding of sleep behaviour and experience.
How long is a typical sleep cycle?
: About 90 minutes
How does REM proportion change with age?
It decreases
What does standard deviation measure?
The spread/variability of data
Name two differences between REM and NREM Stage 3 sleep.
REM: vivid dreaming, brain activity increases. NREM-3: deep sleep, slow brain waves.
Which tool would be best to detect eye movement?
Electro-oculography (EOG)
Describe the interaction between light, SCN, and melatonin in regulating sleep.
: Light → SCN detects it → signals pineal gland → melatonin production decreases → wakefulness promoted
Compare the sleep patterns of infants and the elderly.
Infants: more total sleep, more REM; elderly: less sleep, fragmented, less NREM-3
Why is repeatability important?
To ensure reliability and validity of findings