Sleep stages, dreaming theories, and altered states of consciousness from a college psychology course.
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- What are the four main stages of the human sleep cycle?
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REM sleep and three stages of non-REM sleep (Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3)- Which sleep stage is characterized by sleep spindles and K-complexes on an EEG?
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Stage 2 non-REM sleep- What brain wave pattern dominates during Stage 3 non-REM sleep?
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Delta waves (slow waves)- During which sleep stage do most vivid, story-like dreams occur?
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REM (rapid eye movement) sleep- How long does a typical complete sleep cycle last in humans?
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Approximately 90 minutes- How many complete sleep cycles does a typical adult experience in one night?
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Four to six cycles- What is a circadian rhythm?
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A biological cycle that repeats approximately every 24 hours, regulating sleep-wake patterns and other bodily functions- Which brain structure acts as the body's biological clock?
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The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)- What hormone is primarily responsible for regulating the sleep-wake cycle?
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Melatonin- What effect does light exposure have on melatonin production?
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Light suppresses melatonin production; darkness triggers its release- Define the activation-synthesis hypothesis of dreaming
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Dreams result from the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity during REM sleep- According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, what do dreams reveal?
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Unconscious wishes, conflicts, and repressed desires- What does the continuity hypothesis of dreaming propose?
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Dream content reflects the dreamer's everyday thoughts, concerns, and experiences- According to threat simulation theory, what is the primary function of REM sleep dreams?
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Dreams simulate threatening situations, allowing the brain to practice defensive responses- What is sleep consolidation?
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The process by which new memories are stabilized and integrated into long-term memory storage during sleep
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