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Sleeping and Dreaming

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Sleeping and Dreaming
Rebecca Limon
PSY 240
January 14, 2014
April Kindall

Sleeping and Dreaming
There are four stages of sleep. These stages are known as EEG: stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, and stage 4. When transitioning from alert wakefulness to stage 1, there are alpha waves that punctuate the low voltage, high frequency waves of alert wakefulness. The EEG voltage will increase gradually, while the EEG frequency will decrease gradually, as the individual progresses to stages 2, 3, and 4.
According to Ch. 14 of Biopsychology, the stage 2 sleep EEG has a slightly higher amplitude and a lower frequency than the stage 1 EEG; in addition, it is punctuated by two characteristic wave forms: K complexes and sleep spindles. Each K complex is a single large negative wave (upward deflection) followed immediately by a single large positive wave (downward deflection)—see Cash and colleagues (2009). Each sleep spindle is a 1- to 2-second waxing and waning burst of 12- to 14-Hz waves. The stage 3 sleep EEG is defined by the occasional presence of delta waves—the largest and slowest EEG waves, with a frequency of 1 to 2 Hz—whereas the stage 4 sleep EEG is defined by a predominance of delta waves. Once sleepers reach stage 4 EEG sleep, they stay there for a time, and then they retreat back through the stages of sleep to stage 1.
There are five common beliefs about dreaming. These beliefs include the following, the first belief is that there are some people who believe that dreams only last an instant. The second belief is there are some people who claim that they do not dream. The third belief is that many people believe that external stimuli can be incorporated into their dreams. The fourth belief is that penile erections are commonly assumed to be indicative of dreams with sexual content. And the fifth belief is that many people believe that sleepwalking and

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