Chapter 3,4 and 5

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Chapter Three, four, and Five Wrap up The five concepts I pick from chapters three, four, and five include; human genetics, what consciousness is, sleep and why we sleep, stages of sleep, and vision. Human genetics Human genetics is the study of genes and how they influence the development, functioning, and inheritance of human traits and disorders. It investigates the structure and function of genes, how they vary within populations, and how they interact with the environment to determine traits and vulnerability to particular conditions. Human genetics research covers various topics, from examining specific genes and their roles in diseases to investigating the intricate interplay of genetics, lifestyle, and environmental variables in molding human health and well-being (Stenson et al., 2017). Scientists can obtain insights into the underlying mechanics of life by uncovering the complexities of human genetics, paving the path for improvements in personalized medicine, genetic therapeutics, and disease prevention. The theory of evolution is equally interesting to discuss under human genetics. The theory of evolution Natural selection theory is a key idea in biology that explains how organisms change over time. It is founded on numerous fundamental ideas. First, genetic variation in organism populations results in phenotypic differences between individuals. Second, competition for scarce resources, like food or mates, results in some individuals having a better chance of survival and reproduction than others. Third, those with beneficial characteristics that boost their chances of survival and reproduction are more likely to pass on their genes to future generations (Kaplan & Gangestad, 2015). Natural selection is the process of favorable features accumulating

in a population over time, driving species adaption and evolution. As a result, natural selection theory provides a framework for understanding the origins of biodiversity and the interdependence of all living organisms. Personal experiences I think Human genetics is very important. I used to question why someone resembles one of their parents so much. I was so curious why we couldn't all look alike. Human genetics helps explain everything that helped me understand the phenomena. What Is Consciousness? Consciousness is the state of consciousness and subjective experience of the mind. It is the characteristic or state of being aware of one's ideas, perceptions, experiences, and feelings. Consciousness includes self-awareness, the ability to perceive and interpret sensory information, and the ability to engage in cognitive processes such as thinking, memory, and decision-making (Dehaene et al., 2021). It is a complicated phenomenon that has sparked philosophical, psychological, and scientific inquiry, with questions about its nature, origins, and mechanisms. Understanding consciousness is critical to resolving the human intellect's riddles and subjective experience's nature. I was equally intrigued by the sleep-wake cycle as part of consciousness. The sleep-wake cycle is regulated by circadian rhythms, controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN receives light signals from the retina, signifying the start of the day, and inhibits melatonin secretion, increasing wakefulness. Reduced light input boosts melatonin production in the evening, causing tiredness. Circadian cycles can be disrupted by irregular light exposure patterns, shift work, jet lag, or medical disorders. These interruptions

can cause sleep disorders, emotional swings, decreased cognition, and other health issues. Maintaining healthy circadian rhythms is critical for good sleep and overall health. My real-life experience of consciousness is back in high school when I used to play musical instruments. I could occasionally be in complete immersion and focus on the music. During moments like this, I often could lose track of time, felt fully present during the activities, and occasionally had a heightened sense of awareness and control. I learned that these experiences showcased the intricate relationship between consciousness, attention, and the ability to be fully absorbed in the present while highlighting human consciousness's remarkable capabilities and potential. Sleep and why people sleep The area of the brain is involved with sleep. The areas of the brain involved with sleep include; the hypothalamus, the pineal gland, the brainstem, the thalamus, the basal forebrain, and the cerebral cortex. These brain regions collaborate to balance awake and sleep states by coordinating the timing and quality of sleep. Disruptions or dysfunction in these areas might result in sleep disorders or sleep pattern abnormalities. The theories involved in explaining the function of sleep 1. Restorative theory: According to this view, sleep is necessary for restoring and regenerating the body and mind. During sleep, the body repairs damaged tissues consolidates memories, and replenishes energy resources (Surtees et al., 2018). It enables the required recovery and regeneration for maximum performance

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2. Energy conservation theory: According to the Energy Conservation Theory, sleep acts as a means of conserving energy. During sleep, metabolic rate and overall energy consumption drop. By conserving energy, the body frees up resources for other vital operations. 3. Brain Plasticity hypothesis: According to this hypothesis, sleep is essential for brain plasticity, which is the brain's ability to alter and adapt in response to events. Sleep aids in the consolidation of newly learned information, as well as the strengthening of brain connections and the enhancement of learning and memory processes. 4. Memory Consolidation Theory: Sleep is said to help with memory consolidation and organization (Surtees et al., 2018). The brain organizes and integrates information obtained during waking during sleep, cementing memories and improving learning and problem-solving abilities. 5. Synaptic Homeostasis theory: According to this idea, sleep has a role in maintaining the equilibrium of neuronal activity in the brain. During sleep, synapses scale down, lowering overall brain connections and cleaning out unneeded information. This promotes efficient brain activity and avoids neural overload. 6. Immune Function Theory: Sleep is vital for immune system support. During sleep, the body releases cytokines and other immune-related chemicals, aiding pathogen defense and enhancing general immunological function. Personal experiences The real-life experience of what sleep is and what causes it is how I always wonder why we have to sleep and what brings about this sleep. I usually take note of my sleep patterns per the activities I have had that day. There are days I am lazy and never get to do anything, and I sleep

soundly. I am so busy on other days, and I still get sound sleep. I am always torn between whether sleep is brought about by being tired or whether our brains are programmed that way. Stages of sleep Sleep consists of different stages that cycle throughout the night. The two main categories of sleep stages are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. These stages include;  The first stage (NREM-1) is the transition between wakefulness and sleep. It is a light sleep period in which brain waves slow and muscular activity reduces (Patel et al., 2022). During this stage, it is usual to have brief periods of awake or to drift in and out of sleep.  Stage 2 (NREM-2): This stage is distinguished by a deeper level of sleep than Stage 1. Sleep spindles are bursts of fast brain activity that occur occasionally as brain waves settle down. This stage accounts for a sizable amount of overall sleep time.  Slow, high-amplitude delta waves characterize stage 3 (NREM-3), also known as slow- wave sleep (SWS) or deep sleep. This is the most restorative and deep stage of sleep, essential for physical and mental renewal (Patel et al., 2022). It is difficult to awaken someone during this period, and critical physiological processes such as tissue healing, hormone release, and memory consolidation occur.  Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep: REM sleep is distinguished by fast eye movements, vivid dreams, and increased brain activity. Muscle activity is low, and the body is essentially paralyzed (apart from breathing and eye movements). Emotional processing, memory consolidation, and creativity are related to REM sleep.

Differences between REM and non-REM Both REM and non-REM sleep periods are critical for learning and memory. Non-REM sleep, particularly deep sleep, aids in the consolidation of declarative memories such as facts and experiences. It enables the replay and reinforcement of freshly acquired information. REM sleep, on the other hand, aids in integrating skills and motor learning by consolidating procedural memory. It is also linked to the processing of emotional memories. The interaction of these sleep stages promotes several aspects of memory formation, ensuring effective learning and memory retention. Personal experiences My experience on the stages of sleep is the different ways I feel when I sleep. Occasionally, when I sleep, someone can call my name, and I hear them. These are the same corresponding moments to the few instances I can hear my alarm ring, and in other times I cannot neither hear someone call my name nor hear the alarm ring. I bet these can be explained by the different variations of the stages of sleep on those different days. Vision The basic anatomy of the visual system The visual system comprises a complex network of elements collaborating to process visual data. It all starts with the eyes, which capture and communicate light to the brain via the optic nerves. The optic nerves connect at the optic chiasm, where some fibers cross to the opposite hemisphere. Visual information then passes to the thalamic lateral geniculate nucleus before reaching the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe (Lee et al., 2016). The Visual cortex processes and analyzes visual impulses, which extracts properties such as color, shape, and motion. Other brain regions, such as the visual association areas, interpret and integrate

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visual information further, enabling perception, recognition, and higher-level processing of visual stimuli. How rods and cones contribute to different aspects of vision Rods and cones are photoreceptor cells in the eye's retina that perform different visual perception functions. Rods are more numerous and sensitive to low light levels, allowing vision in low-light circumstances. They help with peripheral vision, motion detection, and night vision. Conversely, Cones are in charge of color vision, visual acuity, and fine detail detection. They are concentrated in the fovea, the central region of the retina, where they provide acute and detailed vision. Cones are also in charge of vision in low- and high-intensity light. The interaction of rods and cones enables various visual experiences, from recognizing forms and colors to navigating in different lighting circumstances. Personal experiences Vision is very important. One of the times I appreciated vision was when my younger brother was grown enough to differentiate the different colors even though he had not started school yet. He loved the color yellow and could always be happy when you showed the ball to him. He could always cry out when the ball was any other color.

References Dehaene, S., Lau, H., & Kouider, S. (2021). What is consciousness, and could machines have it? Robotics, AI, and Humanity: Science, Ethics, and Policy , 43–56. https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/47279/1/9783030541736.pdf#page =48 Kaplan, H. S., & Gangestad, S. W. (2015). Life history theory and evolutionary psychology. The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology , 68–95. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9780470939376.ch2 Lee, W.-C. A., Bonin, V., Reed, M., Graham, B. J., Hood, G., Glattfelder, K., & Reid, R. C. (2016). Anatomy and function of an excitatory network in the visual cortex. Nature , 532 (7599), 370–374. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature17192 Patel, A. K., Reddy, V., & Araujo, J. F. (2022). Physiology, sleep stages. In StatPearls [Internet] . StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526132/ Stenson, P. D., Mort, M., Ball, E. V, Evans, K., Hayden, M., Heywood, S., Hussain, M., Phillips, A. D., & Cooper, D. N. (2017). The Human Gene Mutation Database: towards a comprehensive repository of inherited mutation data for medical research, genetic diagnosis, and next-generation sequencing studies. Human Genetics , 136 , 665–677. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00439-017-1779-6 Surtees, A. D. R., Oliver, C., Jones, C. A., Evans, D. L., & Richards, C. (2018). Sleep duration and sleep quality in people with and without intellectual disability: A meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine Reviews , 40 , 135–150. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1087079217302009

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