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1.5 Sleep

Syllabus
2025
Topic
1.5
Level
—

Learning objectives

1.5A—Explain how the sleep/wake cycle affects behavior and mental processes throughout the day and night. UNIT 1…Explain how the sleep/wake cycle affects behavior and mental processes throughout the day and night. UNIT 1 Biological Bases of Behavior• Consciousness has varying levels of awareness of thoughts, feelings, behavior, and events in individuals’ internal and external worlds. Sleep and wakefulness are two types of consciousness.• The sleep/wake cycle is a circadian rhythm, which in humans is about a 24-hour cycle. Jet lag and shift work are disruptions of the circadian rhythm.• .ii REM sleep is considered paradoxical because it produces waves similar to wakefulness, but the body is at its most relaxed. Dreaming typically occurs in REM sleep. The frequency of REM sleep typically increases as the cycle progresses. When deprived of REM sleep, REM rebound can occur.• Theories regarding the structure and function of dreams include activation-synthesis and consolidation theory.- Exclusion: The psychoanalytic theory of dreams is outside of the scope of the AP Psychology Exam.• Memory consolidation and restoration are current theories about why sleep occurs. These theories suggest that sleep is useful for organizing and consolidating memories or restoring depleted resources used throughout a given day.• Many disorders interrupt healthy sleep, and their effects on waking behavior and health vary. Sleep disruptions can affect physical and cognitive performance during wakefulness. T reating sleep disorders and following regular schedules for sleeping can improve waking performance and overall well-being. Disorders commonly studied in introductory psychology include insomnia, narcolepsy, REM sleep behavior disorder, sleep apnea, and somnambulism.- Exclusion: The AP Psychology Exam will only address the listed disorders in EK

Sleep Cycles Shape Waking Life

Consciousness varies in awareness of internal and external events; wakefulness and sleep are two forms of it. Their timing follows a circadian rhythm of about 24 hours. Jet lag and shift work disrupt that rhythm, so sleep may occur at a time that conflicts with the body’s usual pattern.

Stage pattern What changes across the night
NREM Stages 1–3 Identified by EEG patterns; NREM duration decreases as cycles continue. Hypnagogic sensations can occur while entering initial Stage 1.
REM EEG waves resemble wakefulness while the body is highly relaxed, making REM ‘paradoxical.’ Dreaming typically occurs; REM becomes more frequent as cycles continue.
REM rebound After REM deprivation, the sleeper tends to enter or spend more time in REM.
Theory Teaching claim
Activation-synthesis A theory about the structure and function of dreams
Consolidation theory A theory linking dreams/sleep with organizing memories
Memory consolidation Sleep helps organize and stabilize memories
Restoration Sleep replenishes resources depleted during the day

Disrupted sleep can reduce physical and cognitive performance during wakefulness. Treatment and regular sleep schedules can improve waking performance and well-being. The AP list is limited to insomnia, narcolepsy, REM sleep behavior disorder, sleep apnea, and somnambulism.

Do not confuse circadian rhythm with one sleep stage: circadian rhythm times sleep and wakefulness, while EEG patterns distinguish stages within sleep. Psychoanalytic dream theory is outside the AP Psychology exam scope.