Myers EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (6th Edition in Modules) Waking and Sleeping Rhythms James A. McCubbin, PhD Clemson University Worth Publishers

Waking Consciousness Consciousness our awareness of ourselves and our environments

Waking Consciousness Selective Attention focusing of consciousness on a particular stimulus as in the cocktail party effect

Sleep and Dreams Biological Rhythms Circadian Rhythm periodic physiological fluctuations Circadian Rhythm the biological clock regular bodily rhythms, such as of wakefulness and body temperature, that occur on a 24-hour cycle

Sleep and Dreams REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep Sleep recurring sleep stage vivid dreams “paradoxical sleep” muscles are generally relaxed, but other body systems are active Sleep periodic, natural, reversible loss of consciousness

Sleep and Dreams Measuring sleep activity

Brain Waves and Sleep Stages Alpha Waves slow waves of a relaxed, awake brain Delta Waves large, slow waves of deep sleep Hallucinations false sensory experiences

Stages in a Typical Night’s Sleep 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sleep stages Awake Hours of sleep REM

Stages in a Typical Night’s Sleep Hours of sleep Minutes of Stage 4 and REM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 15 20 25 Decreasing Stage 4 Increasing

Sleep Deprivation Effects of Sleep Loss fatigue impaired concentration depressed immune system greater vulnerability to accidents

Sleep Deprivation Spring time change (hour sleep loss) 2,400 2,700 2,600 2,500 2,800 Spring time change (hour sleep loss) 3,600 4,200 4000 3,800 Fall time change (hour sleep gained) Less sleep, more accidents More sleep, fewer accidents Monday before time change Monday after time change Accident frequency

Sleep Disorders Insomnia Narcolepsy Sleep Apnea persistent problems in falling or staying asleep Narcolepsy uncontrollable sleep attacks Sleep Apnea temporary cessation of breathing during sleep momentary reawakenings

Night Terrors and Nightmares occur within 2 or 3 hours of falling asleep, usually during Stage 4 high arousal-- appearance of being terrified seldom remembered

Dreams: Freud Dreams sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind hallucinatory imagery discontinuities incongruities delusional acceptance of the content difficulties remembering

Dreams: Freud Sigmund Freud--The Interpretation of Dreams (1900) wish fulfillment discharge otherwise unacceptable feelings Manifest Content remembered story line Latent Content underlying meaning

Dreams As Information Processing As a Physiological Function helps facilitate memories As a Physiological Function periodic brain stimulation REM Rebound REM sleep increases following REM sleep deprivation

Sleep Across the Lifespan