Key Terms of States of Consciousness

alpha wave: type of relatively low frequency, relatively high amplitude brain wave that becomes synchronized; characteristic of the beginning of stage 1 sleep

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-behavioural therapy: psychotherapy that focuses on cognitive processes and problem behaviours 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

divided attention

the process in which individuals attend to many sources of information at once

delta wave
type of low frequency, high amplitude brain wave characteristic of stage 3 and stage 4 sleep

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 behaviour 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 behaviour 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; selective attention; the ability to select certain stimuli in the environment to process, while ignoring distracting information

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 behaviours

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

suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

area of the hypothalamus in which the body’s biological clock is located

theta wave: type of low frequency, high amplitude brain wave characteristic of stage 1 and stage 2 sleep

tolerance: state of requiring increasing quantities of the drug to gain the desired effect

wakefulness: characterized by high levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behaviour

withdrawal: variety of negative symptoms experienced when drug use is discontinued

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Introduction to Psychology & Neuroscience - MUN Edition Copyright © 2020 by Cheryll Fitzpatrick and Christina Thorpe is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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