Consciousness & Sleep

1. Consciousness & Sleep Today’s Goal: Define the levels of consciousness and the stages of the sleep cycle.

3. Consciousness • Awareness of ourselves & environment • Preconscious • Nonconscious • Unconscious • Dual processing

4. Circadian Rhythm • Biological clock – regular bodily rhythms of 24-hour cycle • Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) – regulates gland production of melatonin

6. Sleep Cycle/Stages • EEG – brain wave activity • Stages 1-4 = NREM sleep • REM sleep

7. Electrooculograms – eye movement • Electromyograms – muscle tension

8. Today’s Goal: Define the levels of consciousness and the stages of the sleep cycle.

9. NREM/REM Sleep • NREM (non-rapid-eye-movement) • 75% of sleep • Restores the body • REM (rapid-eye-movement • 25% of sleep • Restores brain • Vivid dreams • Body immobile

10. Awake & alert – Beta waves • Faster, irregular waves • 15-45 peaks per second • Awake but relaxed – Alpha waves • Smooth, regular waves • 10 peaks per sec.

11. NREM Stage 1 • Theta waves • ~10 min. • Transition from wakefulness to sleep • Hypnagogic state – brief dreamlike experience • Hypnic jerks (body shutting down)

12. NREM Stage 2 • Theta waves • Sleep spindles – brief bursts in wave frequency • K Complexes – brief bursts in wave amplitude

13. Stages 3 & 4 • Delta waves ~30-40 min. of cycle • Blood pressure drops • Slowed breathing • Tissue growth, repairs • Growth hormone

14. REM Sleep • Paradoxical sleep • Brain is active but body is immobile • Vivid dreams • Cortisol drops • Helps immune system

15. Sleep Cycle

16. Sleep Cycle