Behavioral Science

44 Deja Review: Behavioral Science
What waveforms are seen in
REM sleep?
Where else are beta waves seen?
What waveforms are associated with
Stages 1 and 2 of NREM?
Beta waves. These are of highest
frequency.
They are found over the frontal lobes in
a person who is awake with their eyes
open. These are associated with a
person who is alert and actively
concentrating. In a person who is awake
with their eyes closed, alpha waves are
seen typically over the occipital and
posterior parietal lobes.
Stage 1 (light sleep) is associated with
theta waves and Stage 2 (deeper sleep)
is associated with sleep spindles and
K-complexes.
On average, how much time does a REM: 25%
normal adult spend in each stage NREM: 75%
of sleep? 1. Stage 1: 5%
2. Stage 2: 45%
3. Stage 3: 25%
4. Stage 4: 25%
What is REM latency?
What is the length of REM latency
in an adult?
Besides rapid eye movements, what
other physiologic changes occur in
REM sleep?
How is this different from the
physiologic changes in NREM sleep?
Which neurotransmitter usually
initiates sleep?
REM latency is the length of time after
falling asleep before REM sleep occurs.
REM latency in an adult is approximately
90 minutes. The REM sleep cycle then
repeats itself approximately every
90 minutes thereafter.
Pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and
brain oxygen use increase. There is
penile/clitoral erection, dreaming, and
decreased skeletal muscle tone.
In NREM, blood pressure, pulse, and
respiration are slow. There may also be
intermittent limb movements.
Tip: This makes sense—if your blood
pressure (BP) and pulse are up and
your genitals are aroused, NREM sleep
wouldn’t be very restful!
Serotonin. It is released from the dorsal
raphe nucleus and is a derivative of
tryptophan. It increases total sleep time
and slow wave activity.
Tip: Turkey is high in tryptophan—this
is why you get sleepy after a big
Thanksgiving dinner.