CH6 sleep definitions

Question 1

Psychological construct

Answer 1

an agreed upon description and understanding of psychological phenomena which cannot be directly measured or observed.

Question 2

Consciousness

Answer 2

awarenessof internal and external stimuli at any given moment, including our self-awareness.

Question 3

States of consciousness

Answer 3

the different states of awareness that we experience. Each state varies in level and are associated with distinguishable psychological and physiological characteristics.

Question 4

Normal waking consciousness (NWC) aka ordinary consciousness

Answer 4

state of consciousness associated with being awake and aware of objects and events in the external world, and of one’s sensations, mental experiences and own existence; compare with altered state of consciousness.

Question 5

Altered states of consciousness (ASC)

Answer 5

any state of consciousness that is distinctly different from normal waking consciousness in terms of level of awareness and experience.

Question 6

Sleep

Answer 6

a regularly occurring and revisable altered state of consciousness that typically occurs naturally and is primarily characterised by partial or total suspension of conscious awareness.

Question 7

Reversibility

Answer 7

a sleeper can always be woken with a strong enough stimulus (eg. Loud noise/ toxic smell)

Question 8

Suspension of consciousness awareness

Answer 8

the sleeper has little awareness of the sights, sounds, smells and other sensory stimuli in their external environmen

Question 9

REM

Answer 9

a type of sleep characterized by quick darting of the eyes behind closed eyelids and an increase in physiological activity

Question 10

NREM

Answer 10

a type of sleep characterized by a progressive decline in physiological activity. NREM consists of three distinct stages N1, N2 and N3.

Question 11

sleep cycle

Answer 11

one continuous sequence of NREM and REM sleep – it lasts about 90 minutes in adults

Question 12

sleep episode

Answer 12

the series of sleep cycles that are experienced sequentially – e.g. a sleep episode lasts about 8 hours in adults about 5 sleep cycles

Question 13

hypnogram

Answer 13

a graph that shows how much time a person sleeps in each stage of sleep of the course of the night

Question 14

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

Answer 14

a device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of the brain.

Question 15

brain waves

Answer 15

pattern of electrical activity in the brain caused by neurons communicating, visually represented as a wave.

Question 16

Frequency

Answer 16

a measurement indicating how many brain waves there are per second.

Question 17

Amplitude

Answer 17

a measurement indicating the intensity of an electric current in the brain.

Question 18

Beta waves

Answer 18

high frequency (fast) and low amplitude (small).

Question 19

predominantly beta brain wave pattern

Answer 19

associated with alertness and intensive mental activity during normal waking consciousness. Beta waves are also present when dreaming during a period of rapid eye movement sleep.

Question 20

Alpha waves

Answer 20

medium-high frequency and low-medium amplitude (slightly larger than beta waves).

Question 21

predominantly alpha brain wave pattern

Answer 21

When we are awake and alert but mentally and physically relaxed and internally focused

Question 22

Theta waves

Answer 22

medium frequency and a mixture of high and low amplitude waves.

Question 23

predominantly theta brain wave pattern

Answer 23

most commonly produced when we are very drowsy, such as when falling asleep or just before waking. They may also be produced when awake and engaged in creative activities.

Question 24

Delta waves

Answer 24

low frequency and high amplitude. most commonly associated with deep, dreamless sleep or unconsciousness.

Question 25

Electromyograph (EMG)

Answer 25

a device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of the body’s muscles.

Question 26

Electro–oculograph (EOG)

Answer 26

a device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of the muscles surrounding the eyes.

Question 27

Sleep diary

Answer 27

a self-report record of an individual’s sleep and waking time activities. Sleep diary recording typically involves self-monitoring of relevant data, whereas physiological measures involve data collection by someone else.

Question 28

Video monitoring

Answer 28

involves the use of camera and audio technologies to record an individual as they sleep.