Unit 4: States of Consciousness

Vocab from lessons 1-3

(Sleep) Stage 1

the transitional phase between sleep and wakefulness

(Sleep) Stage 2

involves deeper relaxation than that of Stage 1

(Sleep) Stage 3 & 4

the deepest stage of sleep, during which we are least responsive to outside stimulation

Activation-synthesis theory

the brain produces random electrical energy during REM sleep that stimulates memories stored in the brain

Affective priming

how we feel (your 'affect')

Altered consciousness

changes brought on by deliberate tampering

Associative priming

when two concepts are regularly associated with each other, even if they are from separate semantic categories

Brain plasticity

REM sleep is important for the restructuring and reorganizing of the brain that would be involved in normal development as well as in processes related to learning and memory

Brainstem activation

REM is used to maintain activity in the brainstem, allowing the regulation of body temperature and circadian rhythms

Circadian rhythm

biological rhythm/clock that requires 24 hours to complete a full cycle

Conscious mind

(visual tip) what we know now

Consciousness

the subjective awareness of ourselves and our surroundings

Daydreaming

a state of consciousness where attention shifts from external reality to internal spontaneous thoughts, fantasies, or imaginative experiences while still awake

Divided consciousness theory

suggests that consciousness can split into separate streams, allowing one part to operate outside of awareness/control, while another part remains aware

Dreams-for-survival theory

dreams permit information that is critical for our daily survival to be reconsidered and reprocessed during sleep

Dualism

the belief that the mind (soul) can exist separately from the body (i.e. the mind and brain are not one and the same)

Explicit cognitive processes

mental activities of which we are consciously aware. Tied directly to consciousness

Flow state

a state of consciousness in which an individual becomes completely engaged with a task

Hyperfocus

an intense focus or fixation on a specific task that holds a person's interest

Hypnosis

an altered state of consciousness in which an individual is more likely to respond to suggestions that alter perceptions and thoughts

Implicit Associations

unconscious attitudes and beliefs that influence our perceptions, judgments, and behaviors without conscious awareness (e.g. prejudice)

Implicit cognitive processes

mental activities for which we have no conscious awareness

Introspection

the psychological process of looking inward to examine one's thoughts, emotions, judgments, and perceptions

Latent content

our actual underlying wishes

Manifest content

what we remember and report about our dreams upon wakefulness

Meditation

a mental exercise that trains attention and awareness to curb negative thoughts and promote positive well-being

Mere Exposure

psychological phenomena where people develop a preference for stimuli they are familiar with, simply due to repeated introduction/exposure

Monism

the belief that the mind (soul) and body are the same thing (i.e. no distinction between the mind and body)

Nonconscious

a state of consciousness when mental processing occurs outside conscious awareness

Perceptual priming

when two things are thought to be similar, even if they aren't

Physical brain processes

refers to the voluntary & involuntary actions controlled by the brain (ex. learning and breathing)

Priming

exposure to one stimulus affects how a person responds to a later stimulus, often without conscious awareness

Psychoactive drugs

chemical substances that act upon the central nervous system and are associated with changes in perception, mood, and behavior, thus altering one's consciousness

Rebound effect

when a person spends more time in REM sleep after periods of REM deprivation

Relaxation

a state of reduced mental and physical tension, characterized by calmness, lower heart rate, deeper breathing, and decreased stress

REM

the period of sleep characterized by quick, back-and-forth eye movements

Semantic priming

priming by presenting people with associated categories

Sleep spindles

brief, rhythmic bursts of brainwave activity seen on an EEG during Stage 2 sleep

Sleeping

a state of consciousness characterized by lower levels of physical activity and sensory awareness

Social influence theory

the process by which an individual's attitudes, beliefs, or behavior are modified by the presence or action of others

Subconscious mind

(just below the surface) easily accessible memories

Subconscious

a state of consciousness when mental events are outside of current conscious awareness but can be brought into consciousness voluntarily

Subjective experience

refers to the way you interpret events, environments, or stimuli that uniquely affect your life

Synchronization theory

flow states allow certain regions of the brain to communicate with one another more effectively

Transient hypofrontality hypothesis

flow states are associated with a decrease in activity in the prefrontal cortex

Unconscious wish fulfillment theory

dreams represent unconscious wishes that dreamers desire to see fulfilled

Unconscious mind

(deeply submerged) deep desires and memories that influence behavior but remain largely inaccessible

Unconscious

a state of consciousness characterized by a lack of awareness

Wakefulness

a state of consciousness characterized by high levels of awareness, behavior, and thought