| A | B |
|---|
| Consciousness | The awareness of objects and events in the external world and of our own existence and mental processes at any given moment. |
| Normal waking consciousness (NWC) | The states of consciousness associated with being awake and aware of our thoughts, memories, feelings and sensations we are experiencing from the outside world. |
| Altered states of consciousness (ASC) | A condition of awareness which is distinctly different in experience from NWC, in terms of the level of awareness, quality or intensity of sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings and memories that are experienced. |
| Awareness | A subjective condition of being mindful of something, from internal states or feelings to external, environmental stimuli. |
| Attention | A concentration of mental activity that involves focusing on specific stimuli and ignoring otehr stimuli. |
| Selective attention | Attending to certain stimuli while ignoring other stimuli. |
| Divided attention | The ability to distribute one's attention and undertake two or more activities simultaneously. |
| Content limitations | In NWC we can block our awareness of information that makes us feel self-conscious, embarrassed, depressed, repulsed, sad, afraid, hurt and so on. In ASC we generally don't have the same control, therefore the content of our consciousness is not as limited. |
| Controlled processes | When information processing involves consciousness, alert awareness and mental effort focused on achieving a particular goal. |
| Automatic processes | When information processing involves little conscious awareness and mental effort, minimal attention and does not interfere with the performance of other activities. |
| Distortions of perception | Senses are either more receptive or dullled. |
| Distortions of cognition | Disorganised thought, illogical thinking, memory impairment. |
| Time orientation | Distorted estimation of time (time seems to pass quicker or slower than usual). |
| Emotional awareness | Feelings may be in a state of turmoil, resulting in uncharacteristic responses (emotionless or inappropriate). |
| Self-control | Inability to maintain self-control including coordinating and controlling movement, and behaviour. Less inhibited. |
| Electrical activty of the brain (brain waves) | Spontaneous electrical activity emitted by the brain, as recorded by an EEG. |
| Brain wave amplitude | The intensity of brain waves as shown by the size of the peaks and troughs of the brainwave pattern from a baseline of zero activity. |
| Brain wave frequency | The number of brain waves per second. |
| Heart-rate | May increase or decrease depending on arousal and consciousness. |
| Body temperature | Less variable than heart rate but can change in ASC. Drops by 1 degree celsius during sleep. |
| Galvanic skin response (GSR) | A physiological response that indicates the change in the resistance of the skin to an electrical current; that is, the electrical conductivity of the skin. Low = relaxed; high = aroused. |
| Beta waves | Associated with an alert, active waking state. Frequency = high; Amplitude = low. |
| Alpha waves | Associated with a relaxed waking state and drowsiness. Frequency = medium; Amplitude = medium. |
| Theta waves | Associated with the early stages of NREM sleep - particularly stages 1 and 2. Frequency: relatively low; Amplitude = high/low mix. |
| Delta waves | Associated with stages 3 and 4 NREM sleep. Frequency = low; Amplitude = high. |
| Electroencephalograph (EEG) | A device used to detect, amplify and record electrical activity in the brain. |
| Electromyograph (EMG) | A device used to detect, amplify and record electrical activity of muscles (tension). |
| Electro-oculogram (EOG) | A device used for measuring eye movements or eye positions by detecting, amplifying and recording electrical activity in muscles that control eye movements. |
| Non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREM) | Has four stages which constitutes about 80% of our sleep time and can be distinguished by their different brain wave patterns. Physiologically slow down. |
| Rapid-eye-movement sleep (REM) | The period of sleep in which most dreaming occurs. Heightened brain activity but muscle paralysis. Brain wave = beta; Frequency = high; Amplitude = low. |
| NREM Stage 1 | Drift in an out of sleep for 5-10 minutes. Brain wave = alpha/theta; Frequency = medium; Amplitude = medium. |
| NREM Stage 2 | Truly asleep for 10-20 minutes. Brain wave = theta; Frequency = relatively low; Amplitude = high/low mix. |
| NREM Stage 3 | Moderately deep sleep for 10 minutes. Brain wave = thelta/delta; Frequency = low; Amplitude = high. |
| NREM Stage 4 | Very deep sleep for 20 minutes initially then reduced. Brain wave = delta; Frequency = low; Amplitude = high. |
| Hypnic jerk | Parts of our body go into a spasm as muscles relax. |
| K Complexes | Burst of low frequency high amplitude brain waves in response to an arousing stimulus. |
| Sleep spindles | Brief burst of high frequency brain wave activity. Their presence indicates the person is truly asleep. |
| Slow wave sleep (SWS) | A pattern of low frequency delta waves that indicates a stage of deep sleep. Begins in stage 3 NREM sleep and is also common in stage 4 NREM sleep. |
| Psychological effects of sleep deprivation | Sleepiness, fatigue, hand tremors, drooping eye lids, difficulty focussing eyes, lack of energy/strength, slurred speech, increased sensitivity to pain, slower heart/respiratory system, lower body temperature and impaired immune system. |
| Physiological effects of sleep deprivation | Lack of concentration, irritability, moodiness, heightened anxiety, lack of motivation, impaired memory processes, depression, hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, decline in cognitive ability, slower reaction times on motor tasks, irrational/illogical thinking and difficulty with creative thinking. |
| Nightmares | An unpleasant dream usually occurring during REM sleep in which the content is frightening and upsetting, but is often able to be remembered on awakening. |
| Night terrors | A sleep phenomena which occurs during NREM delta-wave sleep and is characterised by sudden awakening from sleep in an extreme state of distress and little or no recall of that episode in awakening. |
| Sleep walking | Waking and sometimes conducting routine activities during sleep which usually occurs during stages 3 and 4 NREM sleep. |
| Sleep talking | Verbalisation during sleep which usually occurs during both NREM and REM sleep. |
| Sleep phenomena | Observable experiences that occur during sleep, and have the potential to disrupt sleep. |
| Sleep deprivation | Going without sleep. |
| Sleep disorder | A sleep problem which disrupts the normal NREM-REM sleep cycle. |
| Insomnia | A sleep disorder in which the individual continually gets insufficient or poor quality sleep due to difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep. |
| Hypersomnia | A sleep disorder involving excessive sleepiness when awake, or sleep or excessive duration. |
| Sleep apnea | A sleep disorder in which the sleeper experiences a temporary suspension of breathing during sleep for periods of time lasting from about 30 seconds to two minutes. |
