sleep and dreams Flashcards
Circadian Rhythm
a rhythm of activity and inactivity lasting about a day and is regulated by sunshine
Suprachiasmatic nucleus (scn)
a pair of 10,000 cell clusters the size of a grain of rice in the hypothalmus
how does the scn work?
-bright light activates the sensitive retinal proteins
- these proteins then trigger the scn
- then the scn causes the brain’s pinneal gland to either increase or decrease the production of melatonin
circadian desynchronization
jet lag
what are some benefits of sleep
saves energy, allows for restorative functions to take place, strengthens learning and memory.
how long do infants need to sleep?
16 hours
how long do kids need to sleep
10 hours
how long do adults need to sleep
7 hours
how long do elders need to sleep
4-5 hours but lots of naps
effects of sleep deprivation
immune system is affected, depression, relationship issues, difficulty focusing, weight gain, slow reactions, moody, hallucinations, shortened life span/death
what happens when we sleep
dna repaired, bodies replenish for day ahead
sleeplessness affects
- learning
-mood
-memory
-reaction time
what is an eeg used for in this unit?
measure someone while sleeping
what happens in stage 1 of sleep?
alpha waves (close together waves with no big dips)
what happens in stage 2 of sleep?
SPINDLES, waves become more spread out
what happens in stage 3 of sleep?
waves become even more spread out
what happens in stage 4 of sleep?
delta waves (large slow brain waves) this is deep sleep
what is the order of sleep stage cycle
stage 1 : stage 2: stage 3: stage 4: stage 3: stage 2: REM
how long does a sleep stage cycle last?
90-120 minutes
what percentage of your sleep is spent in the REM stage?
25%
who discovered the REM stage and when
william dement and nathaniel kleitman in 1953
why is REM paradoxial sleep
because it is the lightest stage of sleep but also the deepest
why is REM considered a light stage of sleep
because the brain is more active, you are easily woken up, and your temperature and heart rate fluctuate
why is REM considered a deep stage of sleep?
because your major muscle groups are literally paralyzed
