Chapter 5: Stream of Consciousness

Waking Consciousness

A state of clear, organized alertness

Awareness

Consists of your awareness of external events in the environment around you, as well as your awareness of your mental processes.

Arousal

A physiological state of being engaged with the environment.

Controlled Processing

• Requires selective attention

• Involves prefrontal cortex

Automatic Processes

Require little attention/conscious effort

Daydream

• Wandering thoughts that allows people to drift into fantasy, and
  imagination

• Can regulate boredom, improve mood, and enhance creativity

Altered States of Consciousness

• Drug states

• Sleepiness/dreaming

• Meditation, hypnosis

Levels of Awareness

• Higher Level Consciousness

  • Controlled Processing

• Lower Level Consciousness

  • Automatic Processes

  • Daydreaming

  • Altered States of Consciousness

Reasons for Sleep

• Safety

• Energy Conservation

• Restorative Function

• Brain Plasticity

Brain Plasticity

• Enhances synaptic connections
• Memory consolidation

Biological Rhythm

Any repeating cycle of biological activity, such as sleep and waking cycles or changes in body temperature

Microsleep

Brief shifts in brain activity to those of sleep

Sleep Deprivation

• Affects attention, decision making, concentration, mood and health

• Can cause slurred speech, increased pain sensitivity, staring

EEG

• Measures electrical activity in the brain

• Identifies stages of wakefulness and sleep

Rapid Eye Movements (REM)

• Dreaming

• Fast, irregular EEG patterns

• Completes memory consolidation

• Muscle (sleep) paralysis

• Hypnopompic hallucinations

Non-REM (NREM)

• Dream-free most of the time (90%)

• May help recover from bodily fatigue

REM Behavior Disorder

A lack of muscle paralysis during REM

Hypnopompic Hallucinations

• Occurs during sleep paralysis

• Bizarre experiences

Dreaming

• Most dream 4 or 5 times a night

• Most dreams reflect everyday events

Dreams

• About 90 minutes

• The first dream lasts only about 10 minutes

• The last averages 30 minutes and may run as long as 50

• Most people report more unpleasant dreams

REM Rebound

• The occurrence of extra REM sleep (extra dreams) following REM deprivation

• Explains why alcoholics have horrible nightmares after they quit drinking

Sleep Disorders

• Insomnia

• Sleep walking, talking & eating

• Nightmares and night terrors

• Narcolepsy

• Sleep apnea

Insomnia

• Difficulty in getting to sleep or staying asleep

• Sleeping pills exacerbate insomnia

• Cause decrease in REM sleep

• Affects one’s work, health, relationships

Tryptophan

Which can increase sleepiness because it helps the body produce serotonin and melatonin

Sleepwalking (Somnambulism)

• Occurs in NREM sleep during

• Can drive a car, cook, eat, eyes are open & gently guide person back to be

Sleep talking

• Speaking while asleep

• Occurs in NREM sleep

Sleep Texting

• Texting while asleep

• Occurs in NREM sleep

Nightmares

• Bad dreams that occur during REM sleep

• May occur once or twice a month

• Brief and easily remembered

• Imagery rehearsal

Night Terrors

• Total panic with hallucinations of frightening dream images

• NREM sleep

• Most common in childhood; may occur in adults

• Not remembered

Sleep Apnea

• Cause of loud snoring

• Repeated interrupted breathing during sleep

• Treated by surgery & weight loss (for breathing obstructions), breathing
  mask

CPAP

Continuous positive airway pressure

Central Sleep Apnea

Brain stops sending signals to the diaphragm to maintain breathing

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome

Blockage of the upper air passages

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

• Sudden and unexplained death

• Babies at risk: premature, high-pitched cry, snore, breath-holding, breathe mainly through mouth

• Infant should sleep on back

Narcolepsy

• Sudden, irresistible sleep attacks

• Last from a few minutes to half an hour

• Triggered by emotional excitement

• REM intrudes into the waking state

• Runs in families

Cataplexy

Sudden temporary paralysis of muscles

Psychodynamic Dream Theory (Freud)

• Emphasizes internal conflicts, motives, and unconscious forces

• Based on wish fulfillment, an expression of unconscious desires and conflicts)

• Disguised as dream symbols

Psychoactive Drug

Substance capable of alerting consciousness

Stimulant (Upper)

Increases activity in body and nervous system

Depressant (Downer)

Decreases activity in body and nervous system

Reasons people use Drugs

• Reduce tension

• Temporary escape

• Curiosity

Effects of Drugs

• Neglected responsibilities

• Workplace, relationship problems

• Disease risk

Physical Dependence

• Drug Tolerance

• Withdrawal Symptoms

Psychological Dependence

Dependence based on psychological or emotional needs

Types of Depressants

• Alcohol

• Barbiturates

• Tranquilizers

• Opioids

Alcohol

• Slows down inhibition and judgment areas of brain.

• Overdose can lead to sleep, coma, and death.

• Reduces inhibitions and produces feelings of relaxation and euphoria

• Linked to violence/aggression/irresponsible behaviors.

• Alcoholism (1 in 9 drinkers)

Barbiturates

• Once widely used as sleep aids.

• Can lead to memory loss, breathing difficulty, and death.

• Can be lethal when combined with alcohol.

• Highly addictive, risk of seizure with abrupt withdrawal.

• Medical use has been replaced by tranquilizers.

Tranquilizers

• Valium/Xanax.

• Reduce anxiety, induce relaxation.

• Can lead to drowsiness, confusion.

• Highly addictive.

• Rohypnol (“Roofies”)

Opioids

• Narcotics

• Act as endorphin receptors

• Can lead to euphoria, increased appetites

• Highly adductive, painful withdrawal

• High risk of death from overdose

Types of Stimulants

• Caffeine

• Nicotine

• Amphetamines

• Cocaine

• Crack

• Ecstasy (MDMA)

Caffeine

• Most widely used psychoactive drug

• Coffee, tea, certain soft drinks, energy drinks, and chocolate, nonprescription/prescription drugs

• Suppresses fatigue or sleepiness, increases alertness

• Hazardous to pregnant women if used excessively

Nicotine

• Natural stimulant found mainly in tobacco

• Alleviates anger/anxiety/pain, can improve alertness.

• Withdrawal symptoms include irritability, appetite, and distraction.

Carcinogen

Cancer causing substance

Amphetamines

• Synthetic stimulants that excite the nervous system

• Once prescribed for weight loss or depression

• Treats childhood hyperactivity (adhd) & overdoses of depressants

• Can cause nausea, vomiting, extreme high blood pressure, fatal heart attacks, strokes

Metamphetamine

• Bergs, glass, meth, crystal

• Can be snorted, injected, eaten

• Has fueled a violent criminal subculture

Cocaine

• Increases dopamine and noradrenaline

• Produces feelings of alertness, euphoria, well-being, power, boundless energy, pleasure

Dopamine

Rush of pleasure

Noradrenaline

Arouses the brain

Crack

• Smoked chips of pure cocaine

• One of the most addictive substances known

MDMA (Ecstasy)

• Stimulant & Hallucinogen

• Increased sexual risk-taking & impairs memory and cognition

• Releases serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

• Produces a rush of energy, heightens sensory experiences

• Elevates blood pressure, loss of appetite, elevated body temperature, diminished sexual performance, heart arrhythmias, liver damage, anxiety, depression

Empathogen

Users tend to feel warm bonds with others

Types of Hallucinogens

• Marijuana

• LSD

• Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)

Marijuana

• Relaxation, time distortion, perceptual distortion, euphoria

• Impairs attention, coordination, short-term memory, increased blood pressure

• Higher doses can cause paranoia, hallucinations, delusions

• Increased risk of prostate, lung, and cervical cancer

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)

• Activates cannabinoid receptors

• Suppresses the immune system increasing the risk of disease

• Affects activity levels in cerebellum leading to loss of coordination

• Some evidence it damages brain’s memory functions

LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)

• Produces visual hallucinations, changes time perception.

• Images can be pleasurable or grotesque/horrific.

• Primarily acts on serotonin.

• Can result in mood swings, impaired attention/memory

Psilocybin

A naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, known for inducing altered perceptions, hallucinations, and changes in mood.

Hypnosis

• Altered attention and expectation

• Unusual receptiveness to suggestions

Hypnotic Susceptibility

• 8 out of 10 people can be hypnotized

• People imaginative and prone to fantasy tend to be highly responsive

Hypnosis Benefits

• Relaxation

• Feel less pain

• Make better progress in therapy

Uses of Hypnosis

• Alcoholism

• Smoking

• Somnambulism

• PTSD

• Overeating

• Depression

Concentrative Meditation

Attending to a single object, thought, or one’s own breathing

Mantra

A word used as the focus of attention