1. Sleep & Dreams
Unit 4

2. Circadian Rhythm Biological clock that governs how people function
1. Sequence of bodily changes (body temp, blood pressure, sleep and wake) 2. Usually operates on 24-hour day
Circadian Rhythm

3. Stages of Sleep Measured with EEG: 2 types (REM & NREM)
1. N-REM (Non-rapid eye movement)
Stage 1: Lightest Sleep; Alpha Waves- drowsy, slow eye movement, muscle activity stabilizes
Stage 2: Theta Waves
Stage 3 & 4: Delta waves = your deepest sleep

4. Stages of Sleep… 2. REM (Rapid Eye Movement)
Waves resemble wakefulness- CNS active
Increased heart rate, blood pressure, O2 consumption
Muscle activity suppressed

5. The Sleep Cycle We pass through all stages in 90-minute cycle
4-6 cycles each night
Most slow wave sleep occurs early
Most REM occurs in 2nd half of night

6. Sleep Disorders A. Insomnia:
Difficulty in falling asleep, lasts 2-3 days
Treatment by sleeping pills effective for only 2 weeks
Learned/conditioned insomnia caused by bad sleeping habits
Cognitive arousal (worry/anxiety) a cause
Standard treatments: muscle relaxation techniques, hypnosis, sleep restriction therapy, psychotherapy

7. Sleep Disorders… B. Sleep Apnea
Breathing interruption that occurs during sleep
Occurs when air passages are blocked
Do not automatically start breathing until they sit up and gasp for air

8. Sleep Disorders… C. Narcolepsy
Suddenly fall asleep regardless of time or surroundings
Suddenly fall into REM sleep and awaken feeling refreshed
Treatment: drug therapy and frequent naps

9. Dreams
DREAMS

10. Dreams frequently occur in REM Cycle
REM = a kind of sleep that occurs at intervals during the night
-Characterized by rapid eye movements
and faster pulse & breathing
15% REM awakenings fail to report dream
C. 20% Non-REM do report dreaming at all
D. Infants: unable to tell if they’re dreaming
First dreams possibly occur at 2-3 years

11. Dream Recall
On average we have slightly less than one dream per night recalled
Some people recall 2-3 each night
Some recall a dream every 4-6 months
B. Experiments show
visual memory
correlates with dream
recall

12. Dream Recall… C. Freud: Repression Hypothesis
Forgetting results of taboo content which is potentially threatening to the ego
Even remembered (manifest) content is disguised as unacceptable (latent/taboo) content

13. Table Talk Discuss a dream that you remember having last night?
A dream from last week?
A dream from last month?
What do you think the dream(s) meant?