Physiological Psychology Guest Lecture Flashcards
Why do we sleep?
Important for:
- Immune system functioning.
- Neurological development.
- Memory processing.
What do we measure sleep with?
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
What is the gold standard measurement of sleep?
Polysomnography
NREM Stag 1 (N1)
Transition between wakefulness and sleep.
- Lightest stage of sleep.
- 2-5% of total sleep time.
- Hypnic jerks.
- Theta Activity
NREM Stage 2 (N2)
About half the night is spent in N2.
Experience:
- Slower heart rate, breathing, muscle activity, eye movements.
- Reduced body temperature.
Characterized by sleep spindles and K complexes
NREM Stage 3 (N3)
“Deep sleep” or “Slow wave sleep”
- Thought of as most restorative sleep stage–memory consolidation, waste clearance.
- High amplitude delta waves.
- thought to be most restorative sleep: memory consolidation and waste clearance
- Predominates the first half of the night.
REM Sleep
Rapid Eye Movement Sleep
- Muscle paralysis.
- Dreams
- Easily awoken from this stage.
Sleep Cycles
Each cycle lasts approximately 90 minutes.
SWS predominates first half of the night.
REM predominates second half.
Rebound Phenomenon
Deficiency in REM sleep is made up later.
Lucid Dream
A state where one is physiologically asleep while at the same time aware that they are dreaming, able to intentionally perform diverse actions, and in som cases remember their waking life.
What is slow wave sleep involved in?
Memory consolidation.
Daylight Savings Impact on Sleep
In the days following daylight savings time there has been:
- 24% increase in myocardial infarction
- 6% increase in traffic accidents
- Increase mood disturbances and suicide.
- Volatility in stock markets.
Fatal Familial Insomnia
Progressive insomnia.
- Results in damage to portions of thalamus.
- Death after 12 months.
