PSYC 1F90 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Non-Rapid Eye Movement Sleep, Jet Lag, Sleep Deprivation
Document Summary
Consciousness = continuous stream of perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and sensations. Altered states of consciousness: day dreaming, mental states other than ordinary waking consciousness, sleep, meditation, hypnosis or drug induced state. Circadian rhythm: controlled by small gland in the brain, in the hypothalamus. Within each 24 hr periods we have high to low points of bodily functions: bp, heart rate, appetite, hormones, digestive enzymes, sensory, acuity and elimination, learning ability, moods, etc. Ultradian rhythms: more than once a day, hunger patterns, eye blinks, and heartbeat. Infradian rhythms: cycle exceeds 24 hr pattern, ie. menstrual cycle for women. Acts on centre of brain by signalling pineal gland. Between 2-5pm least productive time for brain function. Biological clock synchronized with usual time zone, not new one. Difficult to sleep when biological clock tells you wake up, feel alert. Rotating shifts and irregular schedules most common. 2. 3 million full-time canadian workers work shift work.