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AP Psychology Lesson: Sleep’s Role in Behavior: Cycles, Stages, and Disorders

Unit: Biological Bases of Behavior | Lesson: 5 of 6 | Topic: Sleep’s Role in Behavior: Cycles, Stages, and Disorders
AP Exam Weighting: 15–25%
Instructions: Complete this lesson during class by filling in the blanks and answering questions. All information needed is provided or will be researched in class. This lesson prepares you for the AP Psychology exam by exploring how sleep influences behavior, a key concept for understanding the biological basis of psychology. Use the provided spaces to write your answers clearly, focusing on applying concepts critically.

Warm-Up

Purpose: Get you thinking about how sleep affects your behavior.
Questions:

  1. How do you feel or act differently when you don’t get enough sleep?

  2. Why might someone fall asleep unexpectedly during the day?
    Your Answers: Write a short response (1–2 sentences) for each question.

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Key Concepts

Instructions: Read the information below and answer the questions to learn core AP concepts. For definitions, write them in your own words based on the content or look up a different definition if directed by your teacher (e.g., via apa.org or Google Scholar).
Content: Sleep is a biological process critical for behavior, regulated by the circadian rhythm (a 24-hour cycle controlling sleep-wake patterns, influenced by light). Sleep includes REM sleep (rapid eye movement, linked to dreaming and memory consolidation, e.g., recalling studied material) and non-REM sleep (deep sleep for physical restoration). Sleep deprivation impairs cognitive functions (e.g., attention) and mood (e.g., irritability). Common sleep disorders include insomnia (difficulty falling/staying asleep, affecting focus) and narcolepsy (sudden sleep attacks, disrupting daily activities). Example: Lack of REM sleep may reduce memory performance, while narcolepsy can cause someone to fall asleep during a conversation. The sleep-wake cycle is regulated by brain structures like the hypothalamus. Chronic sleep issues can contribute to psychological disorders like depression. Sleep’s evolutionary role may involve energy conservation or predator avoidance.

  1. Define circadian rhythm in your own words: _______________________________

  2. Define REM sleep in your own words: _______________________________

  3. Define insomnia in your own words: _______________________________

  4. Explain how sleep deprivation influences a behavior, using a specific example:

  5. Explain how narcolepsy influences a behavior, using a different example:

  6. How does the circadian rhythm affect daily behavior patterns?

  7. Why might sleep have evolved as a survival mechanism?

  8. How could chronic sleep deprivation contribute to a psychological disorder?

Guided Activity

Instructions: Work in pairs to complete the two tasks below. Write your answers and be prepared to share one key point from each task with the class.
Task 1: Scenario Analysis: Scenario: A student stays up late cramming for a test and feels irritable and unfocused the next day. Analyze how sleep deprivation and the sleep-wake cycle contribute to these behaviors. For example, consider how lack of REM or non-REM sleep affects mood or cognition.
Your Response for Task 1: Explain the role of sleep deprivation and the sleep-wake cycle in these behaviors.

Class Share for Task 1: Note one point you’ll share.

Task 2: Case Application: Imagine a worker who falls asleep during meetings and is diagnosed with narcolepsy. Apply the concepts of circadian rhythm, REM sleep, and sleep disorders to explain their condition and its impact on behavior. For example, evaluate how narcolepsy disrupts the sleep-wake cycle and affects daily functioning.
Your Response for Task 2: Apply the concepts to explain the worker’s condition and behavioral impact.

Class Share for Task 2: Note one point you’ll share.

Do Class Assignment

AP Exam Practice

Instructions: Answer the question below. We’ll review answers as a class to learn exam strategies.
Free-Response Question (FRQ):
Explain how the circadian rhythm, sleep stages, and sleep disorders interact to influence a specific behavior (e.g., memory, mood, or alertness). Provide one example for each factor (circadian rhythm, sleep stages, sleep disorders) and analyze how they interact to shape the behavior.

Closure

Instructions: Write a brief summary (2–3 sentences) of two key ideas you learned today about how sleep influences behavior.

Extended Practice

Instructions: Complete the tasks below based on today’s lesson to reinforce AP skills.

  1. Review your answers from this lesson.

  2. Write a detailed paragraph (5–7 sentences) applying today’s topic to a real-life behavior (e.g., how sleep affects your performance in school or sports). Include references to circadian rhythm, sleep stages, and sleep disorders, and explain their interaction.

  3. Find a short article or study on sleep and behavior (e.g., via apa.org) and write 2–3 sentences summarizing its relevance to today’s lesson. Cite the source (e.g., website or article title).

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Last modified: Tuesday, 5 August 2025, 9:46 PM