Question

1. The experiences of sleeping, dreaming, and experiencing altered states of consciousness have fascinated people for many years. Explain what each is and how each of the following relates to contemporary research and theory about sleeping, dreaming, and altered states of consciousness.

a. Sleep debt

b. Activation-synthesis theory

c. Insomnia

d. Physical addictions

e. Opiates

Answer 1

ANSWERS:

SLEEP DEBT: Sleep Deficit or Sleep Debt is the consequence of having a shortage of sleep. An elongated Sleep Debt may lead to both physical and mental fatigue. Sleep Debt majorly has two types i.e., Partial Sleep Deprivation and Total Sleep Deprivation. Partial Sleep Debt is having too little sleep and Total Sleep Debt is the absence of sleep for a complete 24 hours.

Research and cases say that though this is a voluntary process, it still involves CNS mechanism. It can induce a lack of attention and concentration along with irritability, tiredness, etc. It can also cause Sleep Paralysis and Hypnagogic Hallucinations.

ACTIVATION-SYNTHESIS THEORY: Activation-Synthesis Theory claims that dreams occur on the activation of the brain once a person gets into a REM Sleep (Rapid Eye Movement Sleep). The Theory was proposed by John Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley after observing the differences in neuronal activity of the brain when a person is awake and in REM Sleep.

It identifies four stages of sleep:

1. Sleep onset Stage I
2. Late-night Stage II
3. Deep Sleep Stage III
4. Deep Sleep Stage IV

It says that the brain is in a single-minded state during dreams unlike when it is awake. It cannot figure out its own state in a dream and hence goes into a greater perception of a single Scenario in the dream.

INSOMNIA: Insomnia is the disorder that is signified by the absence of sleepiness and in turn the absence of sleep and the habitual wakefulness. It is also the difficulty in falling and staying asleep even when a person has the opportunity and time to do so.

There are two types of Insomnia i.e., Acute and Chronic. Insomnia can result in fatigue, lack of concentration, mood instability, etc. Research says that around 30% of the population suffers from the inability to sleep and almost 10% of them also suffer the symptoms associated with it in the daytime.

PHYSICAL ADDICTION: It is a condition that occurs due to the habituation of a person to drugs and other such substances. The tolerance developed from the regular use of Drugs causes unpleasant symptoms at the occurrence of a sudden Drug Withdrawl.

People often tend to approach their sleep problems with the intake of drugs or alcohol. The sleep problem might have been very meager but the association of alcohol or drugs to it builds up an addiction resulting in the change in the sleeping pattern, routine, and needs. This leads to more problems related to sleep in the absence of the drug or alcohol.

OPIATES: Opiates are the drugs derived from or associated with Opium. It is a kind of mind-altering drug that induces sleep and reduces pain. It also clogs the thinking ability of a person by dulling his senses and relaxing him completely.

Opiates have the ability to disrupt sleeping architecture. They restrict the access to the REM sleep and go deeper into the stages of sleep. They decrease the adenosine levels in the Pontine Reticular Formation and the Substantia Innominata present in the Basal Forebrain.