Cognition and Consciousness - AP Psychology

A circadian rhythm is any process that abides by a 24-hour rhythm. It is best known for helping to tell our bodies when they need sleep. Having a disrupted circadian rhythm is related to negative health outcomes, including various neurological and cardiological problems.

Sleep occurs in 4 stages, NREM-1, NREM-2, NREM-3, and REM.

It's during the first stage of sleep (NREM-1) that you may experience images that resemble hallucinations. These experiences occur without a sensory stimulation and can sometimes be later incorporated into one's memories.

Melatonin is a hormone known to regulate sleep and wake cycles. It is released by the pineal gland into the bloodstream when sleep is prompted.

The pineal gland is in communication with the SCN. When the SCN, a structure in the hypothalamus, senses light from the retinas, it will suppress the release of melatonin from the pineal gland. Thus, we're usually awake during the day time and asleep at night.

Insomnia is a disorder that is characterized by an abnormal difficulty to fall or stay asleep. There are more than three million cases in the United States each year—roughly one percent of the population—and its prevalence is most common among older individuals.

Obesity and depression are often associated with sleep apnea. This comorbidity is not commonly observed with the other choices: night terrors and ADHD.

Parasomnias are disorders that occur during sleep. There are various types of parasomniaas; however, nightmare disorder most commonly occurs during REM—rapid eye movement—sleep stage.

From stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, stage 4, and REM sleep, the average human sleeps about 90-110 minutes in a typical cycle.

Light sleep, memory consolidation, and synaptic pruning characterize stage 2 sleep. This stage has higher-voltage sleep spindles and K-complexes. It is the transition period from light sleep (stage 1) into slightly deeper sleep (stage 3) and subdued muscle movement.

People typically sleep in five stages: one, two, three, four, and REM. Sleep begins in stage one and progresses to REM. People often cycle back to stage one and then sleep through another cycle. Each cycle typically lasts between 90 and 110 minutes. People dream during REM sleep but are normally paralyzed during this stage, which becomes longer as the night goes on. It is during stage four that sleepwalking typically occurs.

Delta waves are the slowest waves and occur during periods of deep sleep. It is also known as slow wave sleep. The answer would not be REM sleep, because it is characterized by saw-tooth waves. Sleep onset stage may be characterized by alpha (i.e. drowsy) and theta (i.e. light sleep) waves. Stage two of sleep typically shows k-complexes and sleep spindles, which are not seen with delta waves.

REM (rapid eye-movement) sleep is the fifth and final stage of sleep during which the body is in it's deepest sleep. Dreaming is most frequent, most vivid, and most memorable during REM sleep; however, other dreaming can occur during the other sleep stages.

The circadian rhythm is the 24-hour biological cycles found in humans and other species. Circadian rhythms are influential in regulating sleep, blood pressure, urine production, hormonal secretions, and other physical functions. Although each of these could be affected, the most comprehensive answer is circadian rhythm.

Over the course of the four repetitions, REM sleep starts as a fairly brief period of about 45 minutes. By the end of the fourth repetition, the REM period of the sleep cycle is substantially longer. Dreaming is most associated with REM sleep, and dreaming during REM stays the same over the course of the sleep cycle.

Sleep deprivation and partial sleep deprivation have many negative consequences on our physical and mental well-being. Studies have shown that people who consistently sleep less than 7 hours are at increased risk for overall mortality.

Wanda probably has insomnia. Insomnia refers to chronic problems in getting adequate sleep stemming from difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or persistently waking up early. Hypersomnia is the opposite of insomnia when someone gets too much sleep. Sleep apnea is a condition when respiration is periodically stopped during sleep. Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by sudden irresistible feelings of sleepiness during normal waking periods.

Sleep can be divided into REM and NREM sleep. Stages 1 to 4 are characterized by non-rapid eye movement (i.e. NREM) sleep. Stage 5 is characterized by rapid eye movement (i.e. REM). Beta waves occur during normal wakefulness and are not associated with sleep. As the body begins to fall asleep and enters stage 1, alpha waves become present. During stage 2 theta waves and sleep spindles emerge. During stages 3 and 4, delta waves are present.

"Night terrors usually have a story or plot to them" is the correct answer. This is the only answer that is not true. Nightmares usually have a story or a plot to them, not night terrors.

"Stage 4" has the slowest brain waves. This is because it's the deepest stage of sleep. The brain, if awoken in this stage, would take a long time to be able to perform certain actions because those brain waves have to be "sped up" to be able to engage in conscious action.

During rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the random movement of the eyes is not voluntary because the person is soundly sleeping. REM sleep is essential for humans to feel well-rested and thrive during waking hours.