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6.9: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    200362
    • Rose M. Spielman, William J. Jenkins, Marilyn D. Lovett, et al.
    • OpenStax

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    alpha wave
    type of rbrain wave characteristic during the early part of NREM stage 1 sleep, which has fairly low amplitude and a frequency of 8–12 Hz
    beta wave
    type of brain wave characteristic during wakefulness, which has a very low amplitude and a frequency of 13–30 Hz
    biological rhythm
    internal cycle of biological activity
    cataplexy
    lack of muscle tone or muscle weakness, and in some cases complete paralysis of the voluntary muscles
    central sleep apnea
    sleep disorder with periods of interrupted breathing due to a disruption in signals sent from the brain that regulate breathing
    circadian rhythm
    biological rhythm that occurs over approximately 24 hours
    codeine
    opiate with relatively low potency often prescribed for minor pain
    cognitive-behavioral therapy
    psychotherapy that focuses on cognitive processes and problem behaviors that is sometimes used to treat sleep disorders such as insomnia
    collective unconscious
    theoretical repository of information shared by all people across cultures, as described by Carl Jung
    consciousness
    awareness of internal and external stimuli
    continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
    device used to treat sleep apnea; includes a mask that fits over the sleeper’s nose and mouth, which is connected to a pump that pumps air into the person’s airways, forcing them to remain open
    delta wave
    type of brain wave characteristic during stage 3 NREM sleep, which has a high amplitude and low frequency of less than 3 Hz
    depressant
    drug that tends to suppress central nervous system activity
    euphoric high
    feelings of intense elation and pleasure from drug use
    evolutionary psychology
    discipline that studies how universal patterns of behavior and cognitive processes have evolved over time as a result of natural selection
    hallucinogen
    one of a class of drugs that results in profound alterations in sensory and perceptual experiences, often with vivid hallucinations
    homeostasis
    tendency to maintain a balance, or optimal level, within a biological system
    hypnosis
    state of extreme self-focus and attention in which minimal attention is given to external stimuli
    insomnia
    consistent difficulty in falling or staying asleep for at least three nights a week over a month’s time
    jet lag
    collection of symptoms brought on by travel from one time zone to another that results from the mismatch between our internal circadian cycles and our environment
    K-complex
    very high amplitude pattern of brain activity associated with stage 2 sleep that may occur in response to environmental stimuli
    latent content
    hidden meaning of a dream, per Sigmund Freud’s view of the function of dreams
    lucid dream
    people become aware that they are dreaming and can control the dream’s content
    manifest content
    storyline of events that occur during a dream, per Sigmund Freud’s view of the function of dreams
    meditation
    clearing the mind in order to achieve a state of relaxed awareness and focus
    melatonin
    hormone secreted by the endocrine gland that serves as an important regulator of the sleep-wake cycle
    meta-analysis
    study that combines the results of several related studies
    methadone
    synthetic opioid that is less euphorogenic than heroin and similar drugs; used to manage withdrawal symptoms in opiate users
    methadone clinic
    uses methadone to treat withdrawal symptoms in opiate users
    methamphetamine
    type of amphetamine that can be made from pseudoephedrine, an over-the-counter drug; widely manufactured and abused
    narcolepsy
    sleep disorder in which the sufferer cannot resist falling to sleep at inopportune times
    night terror
    sleep disorder in which the sleeper experiences a sense of panic and may scream or attempt to escape from the immediate environment
    non-REM (NREM)
    period of sleep outside periods of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
    obstructive sleep apnea
    sleep disorder defined by episodes when breathing stops during sleep as a result of blockage of the airway
    opiate/opioid
    one of a category of drugs that has strong analgesic properties; opiates are produced from the resin of the opium poppy; includes heroin, morphine, methadone, and codeine
    parinsomnia
    one of a group of sleep disorders characterized by unwanted, disruptive motor activity and/or experiences during sleep
    physical dependence
    changes in normal bodily functions that cause a drug user to experience withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of use
    pineal gland
    endocrine structure located inside the brain that releases melatonin
    psychological dependence
    emotional, rather than a physical, need for a drug which may be used to relieve psychological distress
    rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
    period of sleep characterized by brain waves very similar to those during wakefulness and by darting movements of the eyes under closed eyelids
    REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)
    sleep disorder in which the muscle paralysis associated with the REM sleep phase does not occur; sleepers have high levels of physical activity during REM sleep, especially during disturbing dreams
    restless leg syndrome
    sleep disorder in which the sufferer has uncomfortable sensations in the legs when trying to fall asleep that are relieved by moving the legs
    rotating shift work
    work schedule that changes from early to late on a daily or weekly basis
    sleep
    state marked by relatively low levels of physical activity and reduced sensory awareness that is distinct from periods of rest that occur during wakefulness
    sleep apnea
    sleep disorder defined by episodes during which breathing stops during sleep
    sleep debt
    result of insufficient sleep on a chronic basis
    sleep rebound
    sleep-deprived individuals will experience shorter sleep latencies during subsequent opportunities for sleep
    sleep regulation
    brain’s control of switching between sleep and wakefulness as well as coordinating this cycle with the outside world
    sleep spindle
    rapid burst of high frequency brain waves during stage 2 sleep that may be important for learning and memory
    sleepwalking
    (also, somnambulism) sleep disorder in which the sleeper engages in relatively complex behaviors
    stage 1 sleep
    first stage of sleep; transitional phase that occurs between wakefulness and sleep; the period during which a person drifts off to sleep
    stage 2 sleep
    second stage of sleep; the body goes into deep relaxation; characterized by the appearance of sleep spindles
    stage 3 sleep
    third stage of sleep; deep sleep characterized by low frequency, high amplitude delta waves
    stage 4 sleep
    fourth stage of sleep; deep sleep characterized by low frequency, high amplitude delta waves
    stimulant
    drug that tends to increase overall levels of neural activity; includes caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine
    sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
    infant (one year old or younger) with no apparent medical condition suddenly dies during sleep
    suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
    area of the hypothalamus in which the body’s biological clock is located
    theta wave
    type of brain wave characteristic of the end of stage 1 NREM sleep, which has a moderately low amplitude and a frequency of 4–7 Hz
    tolerance
    state of requiring increasing quantities of the drug to gain the desired effect
    wakefulness
    characterized by high levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior
    withdrawal
    variety of negative symptoms experienced when drug use is discontinued

    This page titled 6.9: Key Terms is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Rose M. Spielman, William J. Jenkins, Marilyn D. Lovett, et al. (OpenStax) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.