States of Consciousness UPDATED Actual
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
consciousness - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔an awareness of ourselves and our environments
circadian rhythm - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms
(for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a pair of cell clusters in the
hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, it causes the pineal gland
to adjust melatonin production, modifying feelings of sleepiness.
REM sleep - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage
during which vivid dreams commonly occur; also known as paradoxical sleep because
muscles are relaxed but body is active
alpha waves - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake
state
sleep - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Periodic, natural, reversible loss of consciousness - as
distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation
hallucinations - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔false sensory experiences, such as seeing
something in the absence of an external visual stimulus
NREM-1 - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔the transition into sleep, marked by slowed breathing
and irregular brain waves; hypnagogic sensations/hallucinations, and myclonic jerks may
occur
NREM-2 - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Sleep stage characterized by its periodic sleep
spindles, or bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain-wave activity. About half the night is spent in this
phase.
, NREM-3 - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔sleep stage that lasts about 30 minutes and your brain
emits large, slow delta waves, and you are hard to awaken.
delta waves - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔the large, slow brain waves associated with deep
sleep
sleep spindles - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain wave activity
characteristic of stage 2 sleep
paradoxical sleep - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔another term for REM sleep; refers to the
constrast between high amounts of brain activity and low amounts of bodily (muscle) activity
insomnia - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔sleep disorder characterized by recurring problems in
falling or staying asleep
narcolepsy - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable
sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times
sleep apnea - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a sleep disorder characterized by temporary
cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings
night terrors - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and
an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during NREM-3
sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered
somnambulism - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔the condition of walking or performing some
other activity without awakening; also known as sleepwalking - occurs during NREM-3
REM Sleep Disorder - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a neurological disorder in which the
person does not become paralyzed during REM sleep and thus acts out dreams
dreams - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔occur most often during REM sleep; may be caused by
activation-synthesis, or may be a way of cementing memories
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
consciousness - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔an awareness of ourselves and our environments
circadian rhythm - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms
(for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a pair of cell clusters in the
hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, it causes the pineal gland
to adjust melatonin production, modifying feelings of sleepiness.
REM sleep - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage
during which vivid dreams commonly occur; also known as paradoxical sleep because
muscles are relaxed but body is active
alpha waves - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake
state
sleep - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Periodic, natural, reversible loss of consciousness - as
distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation
hallucinations - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔false sensory experiences, such as seeing
something in the absence of an external visual stimulus
NREM-1 - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔the transition into sleep, marked by slowed breathing
and irregular brain waves; hypnagogic sensations/hallucinations, and myclonic jerks may
occur
NREM-2 - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Sleep stage characterized by its periodic sleep
spindles, or bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain-wave activity. About half the night is spent in this
phase.
, NREM-3 - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔sleep stage that lasts about 30 minutes and your brain
emits large, slow delta waves, and you are hard to awaken.
delta waves - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔the large, slow brain waves associated with deep
sleep
sleep spindles - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain wave activity
characteristic of stage 2 sleep
paradoxical sleep - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔another term for REM sleep; refers to the
constrast between high amounts of brain activity and low amounts of bodily (muscle) activity
insomnia - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔sleep disorder characterized by recurring problems in
falling or staying asleep
narcolepsy - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable
sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times
sleep apnea - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a sleep disorder characterized by temporary
cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings
night terrors - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and
an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during NREM-3
sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered
somnambulism - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔the condition of walking or performing some
other activity without awakening; also known as sleepwalking - occurs during NREM-3
REM Sleep Disorder - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a neurological disorder in which the
person does not become paralyzed during REM sleep and thus acts out dreams
dreams - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔occur most often during REM sleep; may be caused by
activation-synthesis, or may be a way of cementing memories
