AP Psychology AMSCO Guided Notes
1.5: Sleep
AP Psychology Guided Notes
AMSCO 1.5 - Sleep
Essential Questions
- How does the sleep/wake cycle affect behavior and mental processes throughout the day and night?
I. Consciousness
1. What is consciousness and how does it relate to our awareness of internal and external stimuli?
2. What is dualism and what does it propose about the relationship between mind and brain?
3. Why does consciousness have a single focus, and how does habituation affect our awareness?
A. Levels of Human Consciousness
1. What information is included in conscious awareness and how does it differ from preconscious information?
2. What mental processes occur at the unconscious level and how do modern psychologists view the unconscious?
II. The Sleep/Wake Cycle
1. What is sleep and how does consciousness change during sleep compared to waking states?
2. What is the circadian rhythm and approximately how long does it last without external cues?
3. How do diurnal and nocturnal creatures differ in their sleep/wake patterns?
III. Brain Waves—The Key to Sleep Studies
1. What is electroencephalography (EEG) and what does it measure about brain activity?
2. What do beta waves, alpha waves, theta waves, and delta waves indicate about a person's state of consciousness?
IV. Stages of Sleep
A. Falling Asleep
1. What are hypnagogic sensations and when do they typically occur during the sleep process?
2. How does the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) regulate sleep onset, and what role does melatonin play?
3. Why do young people typically produce melatonin later than adults, and what effect does this have on their sleep schedule?
B. Non-REM Sleep
1. What brain waves characterize Stages 1 and 2 of NREM sleep, and what are sleep spindles and k-complexes?
2. What happens during Stage 3 (slow-wave sleep) and why is this deep sleep essential for health?
C. REM Sleep
1. Why is REM sleep called the paradoxical stage and what causes REM paralysis?
2. When does the first REM period typically occur during a sleep cycle, and what is REM rebound?
3. How does the amount of Stage 3 sleep and REM sleep change throughout the night?
V. Why We Dream
1. What does the consolidation theory of dreams propose about the function of REM sleep and memory?
2. What does the activation-synthesis theory suggest about the nature and meaning of dreams?
VI. Why We Sleep
1. What are the major theories explaining why humans sleep and what functions does sleep serve?
VII. Sleep Disruptions
1. What is sleep deprivation and what are the short-term and long-term negative effects of chronic sleep loss?
A. Circadian Rhythm Disruption
1. What is circadian rhythm disruption and how does jet lag affect the body's sleep/wake cycle?
2. How does shift work disrupt circadian rhythms and what are the consequences for workers' health and safety?
3. What strategies can shift workers use to counteract circadian rhythm disruption?
VIII. Sleep Habits
1. How do cultural norms influence sleep duration expectations, and what is the actual basis for the eight-hour sleep recommendation?
A. Sleep Habits and Culture
1. How do modern technology and devices interfere with sleep quality and what role does light exposure play?
2. What are the recommended sleep habits and behaviors that promote good sleep quality?
IX. Sleep Disorders
1. What is insomnia and what factors can cause temporary or chronic insomnia?
2. What is narcolepsy and how does a deficiency in orexin contribute to this disorder?
3. What is sleep apnea and how does obstructive sleep apnea differ from complex sleep apnea syndrome?
4. What are somnambulism and REM sleep behavior disorder, and during which sleep stages do they occur?
Key Terms
activation-synthesis theory
circadian rhythm
consciousness
consolidation theory
electroencephalography (EEG)
hypnagogic sensation
insomnia
narcolepsy
non-REM (NREM)
paradoxical stage
rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
REM paralysis
REM rebound
REM sleep behavior disorder
sleep apnea
sleep deprivation
somnambulism
unconscious
wakeful consciousness