UNIT 4 AOS 1 – THE DEMAND FOR SLEEP
· sleep as a psychological construct that is broadly categorised as a naturally occurring altered state of
consciousness and is further categorised into REM and NREM sleep, and the measurement of
physiological responses associated with sleep, through electroencephalography (EEG),
electromyography (EMG), electro-oculography (EOG), sleep diaries and video monitoring
CONSCIOUSNESS: the awareness of our own internal mental processes, including thoughts, feelings, sensations and
perceptions, and your awareness of the external world around you
• It is considered a psychological construct because it cannot be objectively observed or measured
directly through the collection of data, but is widely understood to exist
There are two types of consciousness that we will refer to:
- Normal Waking Consciousness
- Altered States of Consciousness
NORMAL WAKING CONSCIOUSNESS (NWC) refers to being AWARE of our thoughts, memories, feelings and sensations;
our perceptions and thoughts are organised, clear and we have a strong sense of self
ALTERED STATE CONSCIOUSNESS (ASC) describes any state that differs from normal waking consciousness in terms
of:
- Level of awareness
- Experiences
- Type and intensity of sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings, memories
In ASC, cognitions about the self and the world around us change so much that the result may be a decrease in
inhibitions and control. An ASC affects the senses making them receptive to external stimuli.
• Naturally occurring altered states of consciousness occur without any external influence e.g.
Daydreaming or dreams
• Induced altered states of consciousness have been brought about on purpose e.g. meditation, hypnosis
or drugs
ASC may be identified by:
- Perceptual and cognitive distortions
- Disturbed sense of time
- Changes in emotional awareness and self control
, CONSCIOUSNESS CONTINUUM
A visual representation of the different states of consciousness that progress from lower levels of awareness to
higher levels of awareness
Consciousness is described as a CONTINUUM as there are no distinct boundaries between states
SLEEP: is a regular and naturally occurring altered state of consciousness that involves a loss of awareness and
disengagement with internal and external stimuli.
Sleep can also be considered a psychological construct. This is because the subjective experience of sleep cannot be
overtly measured, yet we still have a general understanding of what it is and that it exists.
Characteristics of sleep include:
- a reduced ability to control behaviour
- a reduction in the control we have over thoughts, for example, we lack control over what we dream about
- less accurate understanding of the passage of time
- perceptual and cognitive distortions.
SLEEP CYCLE: is an approximately 90-minute-period that repeats during a sleep episode in which an individual
progresses through stages of REM and NREM sleep
SLEEP EPISODE: is the full duration of time spent asleep, which usually consists of 4-5 sleep cycles.
REM (rapid eye movement) sleeps a type of sleep characterised by rapid eye movement, high levels of brain activity,
and low levels of physical activity
· sleep as a psychological construct that is broadly categorised as a naturally occurring altered state of
consciousness and is further categorised into REM and NREM sleep, and the measurement of
physiological responses associated with sleep, through electroencephalography (EEG),
electromyography (EMG), electro-oculography (EOG), sleep diaries and video monitoring
CONSCIOUSNESS: the awareness of our own internal mental processes, including thoughts, feelings, sensations and
perceptions, and your awareness of the external world around you
• It is considered a psychological construct because it cannot be objectively observed or measured
directly through the collection of data, but is widely understood to exist
There are two types of consciousness that we will refer to:
- Normal Waking Consciousness
- Altered States of Consciousness
NORMAL WAKING CONSCIOUSNESS (NWC) refers to being AWARE of our thoughts, memories, feelings and sensations;
our perceptions and thoughts are organised, clear and we have a strong sense of self
ALTERED STATE CONSCIOUSNESS (ASC) describes any state that differs from normal waking consciousness in terms
of:
- Level of awareness
- Experiences
- Type and intensity of sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings, memories
In ASC, cognitions about the self and the world around us change so much that the result may be a decrease in
inhibitions and control. An ASC affects the senses making them receptive to external stimuli.
• Naturally occurring altered states of consciousness occur without any external influence e.g.
Daydreaming or dreams
• Induced altered states of consciousness have been brought about on purpose e.g. meditation, hypnosis
or drugs
ASC may be identified by:
- Perceptual and cognitive distortions
- Disturbed sense of time
- Changes in emotional awareness and self control
, CONSCIOUSNESS CONTINUUM
A visual representation of the different states of consciousness that progress from lower levels of awareness to
higher levels of awareness
Consciousness is described as a CONTINUUM as there are no distinct boundaries between states
SLEEP: is a regular and naturally occurring altered state of consciousness that involves a loss of awareness and
disengagement with internal and external stimuli.
Sleep can also be considered a psychological construct. This is because the subjective experience of sleep cannot be
overtly measured, yet we still have a general understanding of what it is and that it exists.
Characteristics of sleep include:
- a reduced ability to control behaviour
- a reduction in the control we have over thoughts, for example, we lack control over what we dream about
- less accurate understanding of the passage of time
- perceptual and cognitive distortions.
SLEEP CYCLE: is an approximately 90-minute-period that repeats during a sleep episode in which an individual
progresses through stages of REM and NREM sleep
SLEEP EPISODE: is the full duration of time spent asleep, which usually consists of 4-5 sleep cycles.
REM (rapid eye movement) sleeps a type of sleep characterised by rapid eye movement, high levels of brain activity,
and low levels of physical activity
