PSYC 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Fatal Familial Insomnia, Cerebrospinal Fluid, Circadian Rhythm
Document Summary
Sleep: periodic, natural loss of consciousness as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation. Circadian rhythm: internal biological clock of 24-hour cycle of day and night. As morning approaches, body temp rises, peaks during day, dips in early afternoon, Altered by age & experience (circadian rhythm, hours of sleep needed, sleep cycles. As we age, we need less and less sleep. 1st cycle of rem is 90 min right after we sleep more frequent as night goes on. 20-25% of total sleep time we think this is when we dream (don"t know why eyes move when sleeping) lots of activity in occipital lobes (visual parts) during rem sleep. Sleep may have played a protective role in human evolution by keeping people safe during potentially dangerous. Rem helps strengthen neural connections that build enduring memories (move short-term to long-term) During deep sleep, the pituitary gland secretes growth hormone necessary for muscle development.
