Term
| Reticular activating system |
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Definition
Large reticulum (mixture of cell nuclei and nerve fibers) that runs through the center of the brainstem
Associated with sleep-wake behavior and behavioral arousal
Often called the reticular formation
Stimulation of the RAS produces a waking EEG; damage to it produces a slow-wave EEG |
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Term
| Medial pontine reticular formation |
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Definition
Medial Pontine Reticular Formation (MPRF)
Nucleus in the pons participating in REM sleep
Projects to several other brain areas that produce REM-related behaviors
Example: Produces the atonia of REM sleep |
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Term
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Definition
Cholinergic nucleus in the dorsal brainstem having a role in REM sleep behaviors; projects to the medial pontine reticulum
Initiates REM sleep |
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Term
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Definition
One of the Two Brainstem Systems Influence Waking
Basal Forebrain
Contains cholinergic cells that secrete acetylcholine onto neocortical neurons that stimulate a waking EEG (beta) rhythm |
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Term
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Definition
One of Two Brainstem Systems Influence Waking
Median Raphe Nucleus (midbrain)
Contains serotonin neurons that project diffusely to the neocortex; also stimulate beta rhythms |
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Term
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Definition
A polygraph is used to measure the electrical activity of the brain and body
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Record of brain-wave activity
Electromyogram (EMG)
Record of muscle activity
Electrooculogram (EOG)
Record of eye movements |
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Term
| Stages of sleep (numbers, names and EEG patterns) |
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Definition
4 stages: 1 shallow -> 4 deep
Beta Rhythm (Waking State)
Fast brain-wave activity (15 to 30 Hz) pattern associated with a waking EEG
Alpha Rhythm (DrowsyState)
Large, extremely regular brain waves (7 to 11 Hz) associated with drowsiness
Delta Rhythm (Sleeping State)
Slow brain-wave activity (1 to 3 Hz) pattern associated with deep sleep (NREM sleep)
REM Sleep (Dreaming State)
Fast brain-wave pattern displayed by the neocortical EEG record during sleep
see picture for EEG patterns |
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Term
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Definition
Vivid dreams occur during REM sleep
Everyone dreams a number of times each night
Dreams appear to take place in real time, dream sessions get longer throughout a sleep session
Night terrors
Brief, very frightening dreams
May be experienced by
children
Occur in NREM sleep |
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Term
| Dream hypothesis: - Activation-synthesis |
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Definition
Dreams as Meaningless Brain Activity
J. Allan Hobson: Activation-Synthesis
The cortex is bombarded with signals from the brainstem, producing the pattern of waking EEG
In response, the cortex generates images, actions and emotions from personal memory stores
Dreams are personal, but they have no meaning |
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Term
| Dream hypothesis: - Jungian |
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Definition
Carl Jung
Dreams are expressions of our “collective unconscious” (history of the human race) |
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Term
| Dream hypothesis: evolutionary |
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Definition
Annttio Revonsuo: Evolutionary Hypothesis
Dreams are highly organized and biased toward threatening images
Dreams are biologically important because they lead to enhanced performance in dealing with threatening life events (adaptive function) |
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Term
| Dream hypothesis: - Freudian |
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Definition
Sigmund Freud
Dreams are the symbolic fulfillment of unconscious wishes
Manifest Content: Loosely connected series of bizarre images and actions
Latent Content: True meaning of the dream |
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