Sleep
Definition:
A periodic natural loss of consciousness - as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation
Circadian Rhythm:
Our biological clock; regular bodily rhythms
How sleep deprivation affects our bodies:
Brain
Decreased ability to focus attention and process and store memories; increased risk of depression, decreased metabolic rate, increases cortisol, enhanced limbic brain response to the mere sight of food, decreased critical responses-reducing the ability to resist temptations
Immune system
Decreases production of immune cells, in creased risk of viral infections
Fat cells
Increased production, greater risk of obesity
Heart
Increased risk of high blood pressure
Stomach
Increases in the hunger-arousing hormone, ghrelin; decrease in the hunger suppressing hormone, leptin
Heart
Increased risk of high blood pressure
Muscles
reduced strength, slower reaction time and motor learning
Joints
increased inflammation
Sleep disorders:
Insomnia
Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep; Acute insomnia can last 1-3 nights a week; Chronic insomnia can last 3-7 nights a week
Narcolepsy
A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks, going directly into stage 4 rem sleep
Sleep Apnea
temporary cessation of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings; caused by weight, the more heavy you are the more likely you are to have sleep apnea
Night terrors
Characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; happens during stage 3 sleep meaning you are not dreaming
Parasomnia
The involve abnormal and unnatural movements, behaviorals, emotions, perceptions and dreams that occur while falling asleep, during sleep, between sleep stages, or upon waking
Sleep Paralysis
Episodes involve not being able to speak or move while falling asleep or upon awakening. This usually lasts one or two minutes, and is often frightening
What are dreams:
The experiences you have when you hallucinate in stage 4 sleep; A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts, passing through a sleeping person’s mind
Why do we dream:
To store memories
To develop and preserve neural pathways
To makes sense of neural static
To satisfy our own wishes
Manifest content: The symbolic, remembered story line of a dream
Latent content: The underlying meaning of a dream
Lucid dreams:
Lucid dreams are when you know that you’re dreaming while you’re asleep. You’re aware that the events flashing through your brain aren’t really happening. But that dream feels vivid and real. You may even be able to control how the action unfolds, as if you’re directing a movie in your sleep.