Question 1

Dream actions of flying, floating, or falling are more frequent than the dream actions of running, sitting, or talking.

Accepted Answer

Dreams of running, sitting, or talking are more common than dreams of flying, floating, or falling. This is because dreams often reflect everyday experiences and concerns, and activities like running, sitting, and talking are more frequent in daily life than flying or floating.

Question 2

Some people can learn very complex tasks while asleep, such as learning a foreign language.

Accepted Answer

There is currently no scientific evidence to support the idea that people can learn complex tasks while they are asleep. While some studies have suggested that certain types of information, such as vocabulary words or musical melodies, can be retained during sleep and improve performance later, these abilities are much more limited than full language acquisition. Language learning requires a range of skills, such as active listening, speaking, reading, and writing, that simply cannot be accomplished while sleeping.

Question 3

Dreamless slow-wave NREM sleep increases after physical exertion, while REM sleep increases with daytime emotional stresses.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that slow-wave NREM sleep (also known as deep sleep) increases after physical exertion, while REM sleep (also known as rapid eye movement sleep, commonly associated with dreaming) increases with emotional stressors experienced during the day.

Question 4

Aaron is trying to go to sleep.So, he tries to keep his eyes open (in the dark) and stay awake as long as possible.This allows sleep to overtake him unexpectedly and lowers performance anxiety.This technique is known as the paradoxical intention.

Accepted Answer

Paradoxical intention is a relaxation technique that involves intentionally trying to do the opposite of what you want to happen, such as trying to stay awake instead of trying to fall asleep. This technique can be used to reduce the anxiety and stress that can come with trying to fall asleep.

Question 5

Most people dream about four or five times a night, spaced 90 minutes apart.

Accepted Answer

This is true, as most people go through four or five sleep cycles (each about 90 minutes) per night, and dream during each one.

Question 6

As a sleep researcher is monitoring you, he notices that your brain waves are showing almost all delta waves.He awakens you at this point, and you awaken in a complete state of confusion.You are most likely in REM sleep.

Accepted Answer

Delta waves are characteristic of deep, non-REM sleep, while REM sleep is associated with rapid eye movements and a more active brain state resembling wakefulness. Therefore, if the brain waves are showing almost all delta waves, it is unlikely that the person is in REM sleep.

Question 7

Eating starchy foods tends to decrease one's levels of tryptophan, thus, increasing one's tendency toward insomnia.

Accepted Answer

Eating starchy foods actually increases insulin levels, which helps more tryptophan enter the brain, potentially improving sleep rather than causing insomnia.

Question 8

Most people's major muscles are paralyzed during REM sleep.

Accepted Answer

During REM sleep, a person's motor neurons are inhibited, causing temporary paralysis of the major muscles, which is also known as atonia. This is thought to prevent individuals from physically acting out their dreams and potentially injuring themselves or others.

Question 9

One thing that cocaine, "highway hypnosis," high fever, and meditation all have in common is that they produce ASCs.

Accepted Answer

ASCs refer to altered states of consciousness, which can be induced by various factors such as drugs, hypnosis, fever, or meditative practices. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 10

If you go without sleep for 32 hours, you will need to then sleep 32 hours straight to recover completely.

Accepted Answer

The idea that you can "make up" lost sleep by sleeping for an equivalent amount of time has been debunked by sleep experts. While it's important to get enough sleep on a regular basis, it's not possible to fully recover from a period of sleep deprivation by sleeping for an extended period of time after the fact. The body and brain may be able to catch up somewhat, but the long-term effects of sleep deprivation can persist.

Question 11

Current research shows that the EEG patterns recorded during hypnosis are deep sleep patterns consisting of delta waves.

Accepted Answer

While early studies suggested that hypnosis resulted in delta waves similar to deep sleep, more recent research has found that hypnosis actually elicits unique EEG patterns that differ from those seen during sleep. These patterns may include increased theta activity and decreased beta activity in certain regions of the brain.

Question 12

According to the activation-synthesis hypothesis, the cortex of the brain combines random brain activity into stories and visual images that form your dreams.

Accepted Answer

The activation-synthesis hypothesis proposes that dreams are a result of random brain activity during REM sleep being combined and interpreted into stories and visual images by the cerebral cortex.

Question 13

Everyone experiences some altered states of consciousness every day.

Accepted Answer

This is because altered states of consciousness can include anything from daydreaming to being fully immersed in a book or movie, and everyone experiences these types of altered states at some point during their daily activities.

Question 14

Sleepwalkers have been known to play a musical instrument, drive a car, or cook while asleep.

Accepted Answer

Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is a parasomnia disorder where a person can engage in various activities while asleep including playing an instrument, driving a car, or cooking. However, it is important to note that these actions can be dangerous and it is recommended to seek medical help for sleepwalking episodes.

Question 15

Night terrors and sleepwalking occur during REM sleep.

Accepted Answer

Night terrors and sleepwalking occur during non-REM sleep, specifically during stages 3 and 4. These stages are also known as slow-wave sleep. REM sleep is associated with vivid dreaming and temporary paralysis of the body's muscles.

Question 16

Short bursts of brain activity in Stage 2 sleep are called sleep spindles.

Accepted Answer

Sleep spindles are indeed short bursts of brain activity that occur during Stage 2 sleep.

Question 17

The safest sleep position for most infants in order to prevent SIDS is on their backs.

Accepted Answer

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be placed on their backs to sleep in order to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Question 18

Each of us will spend approximately 25 years of life asleep.

Accepted Answer

According to sleep experts, the average person spends about one-third of their life sleeping, which equals to around 25 years of sleep for someone who lives to be 75-80 years old.

Question 19

Interest in hypnosis began in the 1700s with Franz Mesmer, who believed that he could cure diseases with magnets; he called his theory "animal magnetism."

Accepted Answer

This is a true statement. Franz Mesmer is known as the father of modern hypnosis and his theory of animal magnetism was an early form of hypnosis.

Question 20

People with narcolepsy tend to fall directly into Stage 4 NREM sleep.

Accepted Answer

People with narcolepsy tend to experience rapid eye movement (REM) sleep directly without going through the typical progression of sleep stages, including Stage 4 NREM sleep.

Quiz 6: Extension D: States of Consciousness