Alpha Waves
*A steady series of brain waves at a frequency of 8 to 12 per second that are characteristic of relaxation
Basal Forebrain
*Area anterior and dorsal to the hypothalamus; includes cell clusters that promote wakefulness and sleep
Brain Death
*Condition with no sign of brain activity and no response to any stimulus
Circadian Rhythms
*An internal biological clock; about 24 hours in humans
Coma
*An extended period of unconsciousness with a low level of brain activity
Insomnia
*Inadequate sleep
Jet lag
*A disruption of circadian rhythms due to crossing time zones
K-complex
*A sharp brain wave associated with temporary inhibition of neuronal firing
Locus Coeruleus
*A small structure in the pons that emits bursts of impulses in response to meaningful events, especially those that produce emotional arousal
Melatonin
*A hormone produced by the pineal gland that influences circadian rhythms
Narcolepsy
*A condition characterized by frequent periods of sleepiness during the day
Night Terrors
*Experiences of intense anxiety from which a person awakens screaming in terror; more severe than nightmares
Orexin
*Neurotransmitter that increases wakefulness and arousal
Paradoxical Sleep
*Sleep that is deep in some ways and light in others
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
*A sleep disorder characterized by repeated involuntary movement of the legs and sometimes the arms
PGO Waves
*A distinctive pattern of high-amplitude electrical potentials that occur first in the pons, then in the lateral geniculate, and then in the occipital cortex
Pineal Gland
*An endocrine gland located just posterior to the thalamus
Polysomnograph
*A combination of EEG and eye-movement records
Pontomesencephalon
*Part of the reticular formation that contributes to cortical arousal
REM Behavior Disorder
*A condition in which people move around vigorously during REM sleep
Reticular Formation
*A structure that extends from the medulla into the forebrain; controls motor area of the spinal cord and selectively increases arousal and attention in various forebrain areas
Sleep Apnea
*Impaired ability to breathe while sleeping
Sleep Spindle
*Brain waves in bursts that last at least half a second
Slow-Wave Sleep
*Stages 3 and 4 of sleep, which are characterized by slow, large-amplitude brain waves
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus
*Part of the hypothalamus that provides the main control of circadian rhythms for sleep and body temperature
Vegetative State
*Condition in which someone has decreased brain activity and alternates between wakefulness and sleep but shows only limited responsiveness, such as increased heart rate in response to a painful stimulus
Zeitgeber
*A stimulus that resets the circadian rhythm
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