Narcolepsy is associated with reduced levels of the signaling molecule hypocretin in some areas of the brain (De la Herrn-Arita & Drucker-Coln, 2012; Han, 2012), and the traditional stimulant drugs do not have direct effects on this system. As an individual continues through stage 1 sleep, there is an increase in theta wave activity. To prevent withdrawal, many people turned to cheaper heroin, which could be bought for $5 a dose or less. The smokable form reaches the brain very quickly to produce an intense euphoria that dissipates almost as fast as it arrives, prompting users to continuing taking the drug. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, and heavy meals before bed. A number of risk factors have been associated with SIDS including premature birth, smoking within the home, and hyperthermia. Freud made distinctions between the manifest content and the latent content of dreams. Anopioidis one of a category of drugs that includes heroin, morphine, methadone, and codeine. Ethanol, which we commonly refer to as alcohol, is in a class of psychoactive drugs known as depressants (Figure 4.15). While awake, we feel alert and aware of the many important things going on around us. As he went to investigate what was going on, he was met by a group of police officers who arrested him for the murder of his wife (Cartwright, 2004; CNN, 1999). Those who continue to have insomnia, particularly if it affects their quality of life, should seek professional treatment. Restless leg syndrome is quite common and has been associated with a number of other medical diagnoses, such as chronic kidney disease and diabetes (Mahowald & Schenck, 2000). This pattern of brain wave activity resembles that of someone who is very relaxed, yet awake. b. life expectancy has reached a new high. (a) A typical CPAP device used in the treatment of sleep apnea is (b) affixed to the head with straps, and a mask that covers the nose and mouth. (b) Heroin is cooked on a spoon over a candle. Toleranceis linked to physiological dependence, and it occurs when a person requires more and more drug to achieve effects previously experienced at lower doses. Confusion. Many college students struggle getting the recommended 79 hours of sleep each night. (a) A period of rapid eye movement is marked by the short red line segment. It is administered alone or in conjunction with doses of melatonin (the hormone secreted by the pineal gland). Adenosine is a neurotransmitter that promotes sleep. For one, research suggests that infants should be placed on their backs when put down to sleep, and their cribs should not contain any items which pose suffocation threats, such as blankets, pillows or padded crib bumpers (cushions that cover the bars of a crib). This hypnogram illustrates how an individual moves through the various stages of sleep. This final section will consider hypnotic and meditative states as additional examples of altered states of consciousness experienced by some individuals. Humans have an endogenous opioid neurotransmitter systemthe body makes small quantities of opioid compounds that bind to opioid receptors reducing pain and producing euphoria. If someone stays awake for 48 consecutive hours, they could start to hallucinate. Weakness and fatigue. When we do this, we often experience jet lag. Research indicates that included among these possible benefits are increased capacities for creative thinking (Cai, Mednick, Harrison, Kanady, & Mednick, 2009; Wagner, Gais, Haider, Verleger, & Born, 2004), language learning (Fenn, Nusbaum, & Margoliash, 2003; Gmez, Bootzin, & Nadel, 2006), and inferential judgments (Ellenbogen, Hu, Payne, Titone, & Walker, 2007). High doses can induce sleep, cause motor disturbance, memory loss, decreased respiratory function, and death. 1. With excessive alcohol use, a person might experience a complete loss of consciousness and/or difficulty remembering events that occurred during a period of intoxication (McKim & Hancock, 2013). describes our awareness of internal and external stimuli. Neurogenic shock is caused by damage to the central nervous system, usually a spinal cord injury. How exactly does a hypnotist bring a participant to a state of hypnosis? More specifically, homeostasis is the body's tendency to monitor and maintain internal states, such as temperature and blood sugar, at fairly constant and stable levels. Early attempts to treat her condition with a stimulant drug alone were unsuccessful. With repeated use of many central nervous system depressants, such as alcohol, a person becomes physically dependent upon the substance and will exhibit signs of both tolerance and withdrawal. Theta wavesare even lower frequency (47 Hz), higher amplitude brain waves than alpha waves. Diarrhea. These drugs promote increased levels of neural activity. In other words, dreaming involves constructing a virtual reality in our heads that we might use to help us during wakefulness. These components include: These steps are conducive to being open to the heightened suggestibility of hypnosis. One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea involves the use of a special device during sleep. Delusions. Sleep apnea is much more common in overweight people and is often associated with loud snoring. Because the biological clock is driven by light, exposure to bright light during working shifts and dark exposure when not working can help combat insomnia and symptoms of anxiety and depression (Huang, Tsai, Chen, & Hsu, 2013). Sleepwalking, restless leg syndrome, and night terrors are all examples of parasomnias (Mahowald & Schenck, 2000). Sleep reboundrefers to the fact that a sleep-deprived individual will fall asleep more quickly during subsequent opportunities for sleep. Other depressants include barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Our experiences change dramatically while we are in deep sleep and once again when we are dreaming. You have read that the pineal gland releases melatonin during sleep (Figure 4.6). Tolerance can cause the user to increase the amount of drug used to a dangerous leveleven to the point of overdose and death. The FDAs 2013 recommendation for tighter controls on opiate prescriptions left many patients addicted to prescription drugs like OxyContin unable to obtain legitimate prescriptions. Awareness of external stimuli includes experiences such as seeing the light from the sun, feeling the warmth of a room, and hearing the voice of a friend. Reduced urine. Hypnosis has also been used to draw out information believed to be buried deeply in someones memory. Night terrors apparently occur during the NREM phase of sleep (Provini, Tinuper, Bisulli, & Lagaresi, 2011). Although she had been taking a prescription antidepressant, her symptoms of depression continued to worsen and she began to suffer physically, displaying significant warning signs of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Many of these processes, like much of psychological behavior, are rooted in our biology. It appeared that Scott Falater had killed his wife in his sleep, or at least, that is the defense he used when he was tried for his wifes murder (Cartwright, 2004; CNN, 1999). As part of treatment, the sleeping environment is often modified to make it a safer place for those suffering from RBD (Zangini, Calandra-Buonaura, Grimaldi, & Cortelli, 2011). As you have learned, drugs can act as agonists or antagonists of a given neurotransmitter system. Whilecaffeineis generally considered a relatively safe drug, high blood levels of caffeine can result in insomnia, agitation, muscle twitching, nausea, irregular heartbeat, and even death (Reissig, Strain, & Griffiths, 2009; Wolt, Ganetsky, & Babu, 2012). It seems like everyone knows a friend, family member, or neighbor who has died of an overdose. Night terrorsresult in a sense of panic in the sufferer and are often accompanied by screams and attempts to escape from the immediate environment (Mahowald & Schenck, 2000). Psychological dependence on these drugs is also possible. LINK TO LEARNING: To learn more about some of the most commonly abused prescription and street drugs, check out the, LINK TO LEARNING: Feeling stressed? You have read that sleep is distinguished by low levels of physical activity and reduced sensory awareness. This will be followed by brief descriptions of the effects of some of the more well-known drugs commonly used today. One particular aspect of the internal state is that a method applied to the object being in a defined internal state (= a specific set of all its attributes' value) will result in another, also defined (and reproducible) internal state. The typical episode can last from a minute or two to half an hour. Mescaline and LSD are serotonin agonists, and PCP (angel dust) and ketamine (an animal anesthetic) act as antagonists of the NMDA glutamate receptor. Melatonin release is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light. Hypnosisis a state of extreme self-focus and attention in which minimal attention is given to external stimuli. Feeling tired. For example, a person may work from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, 3:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, and 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. . Brain waves during REM sleep appear very similar to brain waves during wakefulness. Physical dependenceinvolves changes in normal bodily functionsthe user will experience withdrawal from the drug upon cessation of use. Manifest contentis the actual content, or storyline, of a dream. It is much more difficult to awaken someone from sleep during stage 3 than during earlier stages. Perhaps our ancestors spent extended periods of time asleep to reduce attention to themselves from potential predators. By the late 19th century, German psychiatrist SigmundFreudhad become convinced that dreams represented an opportunity to gain access to the unconscious. We spend approximately one-third of our lives sleeping. The substantial amount of research on SIDS has led to a number of recommendations to parents to protect their children (Figure 4.14). As mentioned earlier, REM sleep is marked by rapid movements of the eyes. Its simply that they feel so overwhelmed and stressed that they cannot fall asleep or stay asleep. Users often consume the drug every few hours across days-long binges called runs, in which the user forgoes food and sleep. If you cannot fall asleep, leave your bed and do something else until you feel tired again. While the possession and use of marijuana remain illegal in many states, it is now legal to possess limited quantities of marijuana for recreational use in eleven states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. While amphetamines are often abused, they are also commonly prescribed to children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Acontinuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)device includes a mask that fits over the sleepers nose and mouth, which is connected to a pump that pumps air into the persons airways, forcing them to remain open, as shown inFigure 4.13. While people are often unaware of their sleep apnea, they are keenly aware of some of the adverse consequences of insufficient sleep.