1. Waking and Sleeping Rhythms
Module 15
Waking and Sleeping Rhythms

2. AWAKE vs. ASLEEP: What is the difference?
Psychologists studied consciousness almost exclusively until the first half of the 20th century. It is difficult to study something that cannot be observed in a scientific manner.  Shift of focus of psychology onto behavior. Together with the advance of neuroscience, and its tools of study (electroencephalogram, MRI, etc.) now once again, consciousness is a significant topic of study.

3. Consciousness

4. Alternate States of Consciousness (ASC): other than waking consciousness
Sleeping
Dreaming
Hypnosis
Daydreaming
Drug/alcohol induced hallucinations
Meditation
Medication-induced states, etc.
Daydreaming is when the current reality shifts out of focus, an alternate reality becomes the focus. The mind is able to create an inner reality unconnected to the world around. Daydreams are good for creativity, coping, and keeps the mind active when stimulation is low.

5. Consciousness: Awareness of ourselves and our environment
Assembles information
Allows reflecting on the past
Allows planning for the future
Allows processing of information to derive coherent meaning
Focuses attention when learning a complex concept or task
May become automatic by practice

6. Attention Focusing of consciousness on a particular stimulus
Among the 11,000,000 stimuli per second, we consciously process 40
When full attention is required, conscious awareness is often directed at only one task
Conscious information processing is serial
Well learned tasks are completed automatically
Unconscious information processing occurs at multiple tracks
Example for students – awareness of unattended stimuli
Example for full attention – move right foot in a counterclockwise circle while writing 3 with the right hand

7. Selective Attention
Inattentional blindness: failing to see an object when our attention is directed elsewhere
Change blindness: failing to notice a change in the environment when our attention is directed elsewhere
Choice blindness: Focused on a choice, we fail to notice the overall attributes of an object
Example for students – awareness of unattended stimuli
Example for full attention – move right foot in a counterclockwise circle while writing 3 with the right hand

8. Sleep Biological rhythms Stages of sleep
Reasons for sleeping and consequences of sleep loss
Sleep disorders
Dreams

9. What we already know about sleep
Duration of sleep / dreams / how many and how often / Sleep reduces stimulation / we sleep about 1/3 of the lifetime / restores brain functions

10. John Keats: To Sleep
… Then save me, or the passed day will shine Upon my pillow, breeding many woes,-- Save me from curious Conscience, that still lords Its strength for darkness, burrowing like a mole; Turn the key deftly in the oiled wards, And seal the hushed Casket of my Soul.

11. Biological rhythms that control sleep
Circadian rhythm: 24 hour cycle
Sleep stages: biological rhythm of sleep

12. Biological rhythms in a day: Circadian rhythm
The biological clock: we synchronize with the 24 hour day
Body temperature
Thinking and memory
Circadian rhythm is signaled by light
Light sensitive retinal proteins
Suprachiasmatic nucleus in hypothalamus
Pineal gland adjusts melatonin
Bright light will disturb the 24 hour cycle

13. John Keats: To Sleep
… Then save me, or the passed day will shine Upon my pillow, breeding many woes,-- Save me from curious Conscience, that still lords Its strength for darkness, burrowing like a mole; Turn the key deftly in the oiled wards, And seal the hushed Casket of my Soul.

14. Biological rhythm of sleep: Sleep stages
As sleep approaches different parts of the cortex stop communicating  fading consciousness
Brain activity does not stop  enters approximately 90 minute cycles of 5 stages:
Stages 1-4  non-REM sleep stages
Stage 5  REM sleep

15. John Keats: To Sleep
… Then save me, or the passed day will shine Upon my pillow, breeding many woes,-- Save me from curious Conscience, that still lords Its strength for darkness, burrowing like a mole; Turn the key deftly in the oiled wards, And seal the hushed Casket of my Soul.

16. Measurement of 5 stages of sleep

18. Stages of sleep Stage 1. Transition from wakefulness to sleep
Transition into sleep is abrupt
Resembles hallucinations  experiences with no stimulus
Sensations of falling, floating, vivid images
Stage 2. Brief bursts of rapid brain activity
Deep relaxation
Lasts about 20 mins

19. Stages of sleep Stage 3. Transitional stage into deep sleep
Lasts a few minutes
Low-frequency slow delta waves emerge
Stage 4. Deep sleep
All delta waves
Lasts about 30 mins
Difficult to awaken
Brain continues to process stimuli outside of consciousness
Certain sounds, monitoring of movement
REM sleep

20. John Keats: To Sleep
… Then save me, or the passed day will shine Upon my pillow, breeding many woes,-- Save me from curious Conscience, that still lords Its strength for darkness, burrowing like a mole; Turn the key deftly in the oiled wards, And seal the hushed Casket of my Soul.

21. REM sleep Stage reached through stages 3 and 2
Recurring sleep stage with rapid brain waves
Clearly observable signs
Heart rate increases
Breathing becomes rapid and irregular
Eyes dart around
Sexual arousal even without sexual dreams

22. REM sleep  Dreams Vivid dreams
“paradoxical sleep”: muscles are relaxed, but other body systems are aroused
Brainstem blocks brain’s messages
If awakened after REM stage, you will remember dreams
Emotional and storylike dreams

23. Stages in a Typical Night’s Sleep1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Sleep
stages
Awake
Hours of sleep
REM

24. 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

25. Edgar Allan Poe: Dreams
I have been happy, tho' in a dream. I have been happy- and I love the theme: Dreams! in their vivid coloring of life, As in that fleeting, shadowy, misty strife Of semblance with reality, which brings To the delirious eye, more lovely things Of Paradise and Love- and all our own! Than young Hope in his sunniest hour hath known.