14.3 Levels of Arousal and Consciousness

Question 1

Locked-in syndrome

Answer 1

a condition in which one is unable to move any muscles but is fully conscious and has a normal sleep-wake cycle. LIS is caused by a lesion to the ventral part of the pons in the brainstem, where neurons connect the cerebellum with the cortex.

Question 2

unresponsive wakefulness syndrome

Answer 2

or the vegetative state, are ‘awaken’ from a coma. They are not conscious,

Question 3

minimally conscious state

Answer 3

who can localize pain and nonreflex movements

Question 4

suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

Answer 4

The sleep-wake cycle is regulated by a complex interplay of neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and hormones released by structures located in the basal forebrain, hypothalamus and brainstem. The overarching controller is the biological clock, suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus. It receives light input directly from the retina, allowing its neurons to synchronize to the day-night cycle.

Question 5

Stage 4 non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep

Answer 5

is where our brain waves are less frequent and have a higher amplitude.

Question 6

rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

Answer 6

which has low-amplitude more frequent brain waves.

Question 7

parasomnia

Answer 7

Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, a sleepdisorder that may involve abnormal movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions and dreams. It is also investigated that during sleepwalking, the brain areas that mediate the cognitive control and emotional regulation are asleep.