Ch. 4 States of Consciousness

Consciousness

awareness of thoughts, memories, feelings, sensations, and environments

Sleep vs Wakefulness

reduced awareness of external stimuli, low levels of physical activity

VS

alertness, awareness and responsiveness to external stimuli

Circadian Rhythm

roughly 24 hour internal clock in brain that controls alertness/sleepiness

• Functions on body temperature/light

Biological Clock

internal mechanism – controls rhythm of activities in a living organism.

• Sleeping, aging, fertility, etc.

• Habit- set a regular sleeping schedule

• EX: Feel sleepy at night b/c darkness triggers production of melatonin

  • Brightness suppresses release of melatonin from pineal gland - we feel more alert during day time

Homeostasis

ability to regulate physiological processes to keep internal states steady, balanced

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

located in hypothalamus; brain’s clock mechanism

• Light-sensitive neurons in eye tell SCN amount of light present; allows internal clock to be synchronized with outside world

Sleep Regulation

biological processes that control and regulate timing, duration, quality of sleep

• Brain’s control of switching between sleep/wakefullness

• Coordinating cycle with outside world

• Best when we have a regular sleep schedule

Jet Lag

circadian rhythm is out of sync with time zone

• Fatigue, irritability, insomnia

• Easier to go west- stay up later

Insomnia

problems falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early

• At least 3 nights/week for a month

• Causes: stress, relationship problems, illness, working late, etc.

Rotating shift work

schedule changes from early to late on a daily or weekly basis

• Hard to maintain a normal circadian rhythm

Sleep debt

cumulative effects of not getting enough sleep

• May gain weight, inc risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, poor immune response

sleep rebound

increased amount and intensity of sleep after deprivation

Hypothesises of Evolutionary Psych (2)

1. Sleep is essential to restore resources that are expended during the day. ​

2. Sleep patterns evolved as an adaptive response to predatory risks, which increase in darkness. We sleep in safe areas to reduce the chance of harm.

Cognitive Function of Sleep

sleep deprivation = disruptions in cognition/memory deficits, impairments in abilities to maintain attention, make decisions, and recall long-term memories

Rapid eye movement (REM)

darting movements of eyes under closed eyelids

• Brain waves during REM sleep appear very similar to brain waves during wakefulness

• emotional, intelligent, and story jumps around

Non-REM (NREM)

stages distinguished by characteristic patterns of brain waves

• shorter, more like regular thoughts and repetitive

Stages of Sleep

1. transitional phase b/w wake and sleep (slow heart rate + respiration)

2. body goes into a state of deep relaxation (Theta waves)

3. deep sleep (high amp delta waves)

4. REM (dreams + semi-paralysis of muscles)

Paradoxical sleep

combination of high brain activity and lack of muscle tone

REM rebound

if deprived of REM sleep/any sleep over time, people will spend more time in REM sleep when possible

Freud’s Dream Protection Theory

Freud thought dreams provided access to unconscious.

• Dreams represented what the unconscious wanted, in disguised form. Even while we sleep, we try to defend ourselves from becoming aware of unacceptable wishes.

Freud: Manifest vs Latent content

M: actual content or storyline of a dream

L: hidden meaning of a dream

Jung and the Collective Unconscious

dreams allowed us to tap into the collective unconscious: a store of information he believed everyone was born with.

• Certain symbols in dreams reflected universal ideas

  • EX: snakes = sex; transformation

activation–synthesis theory

Alan Hobson and Robert McCarley

dreams are how brain tries to make sense of random neural activity while we sleep

Cartwright’s Neurocognitive Theory of Dreaming

dreams reflect what is important in waking life

Sleepwalking

person often acts like any fully awake person tho they may be somewhat clumsier

• About 15-30% of children and 4-5% of adults sleepwalk occasionally

Sexsomnia

engaging in sexual behaviors while in nonREM sleep

• In some controversial legal cases, people have been found not guilty of sexual assault by claiming they had sexsomia

Dream-Enacting Behavior

physically act out vivid often unpleasant dreams with vocal sounds and sudden, often violent arm and leg movements during REM sleep

Night Terrors

waking up in intense terror, with no memory of dream or reason why. Hard to soothe.

• Typically occur in children, in non-REM sleep

Sleep Apnea

problems breathing during sleep. People snore loudly, gasp, and sometimes stop breathing for more than 20 seconds

• Lead to: night sweats, weight gain, fatigue, hearing loss, etc.

• Obstructive + Central

Obstructive vs Central Sleep Apnea

O: airways repeatedly become completely or partially blocked during sleep

C: brain fails to tell muscles to breathe (issue in respiratory control center)

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

infant stops breathing during sleep and dies

• Risk factors: premature birth, smoking in home, under 12 months, and hyperthermia. Boys have a greater risk than girls.

Narcolepsy

people experience bouts of sudden sleep lasting anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes - up to an hour. Overwhelming urge to sleep can strike at any moment

• Cataplexy = sudden loss of muscle tone

Diagnosis

person often uses more substance than they intended to; continues to use despite experiencing significant adverse consequences

• Associated with physical and psychological dependence

Withdrawal

symptoms (vary by substance) caused by stopping or reducing intake of substance

• insomnia, anxiety, seizures, confusion, bizarre visual hallucinations, nausea, delirium tremens

Psychological Dependence

continued use of substance motivated by intense cravings, even tho use of drug creates problems in relationships or at work

• Often feel they need substance to feel normal

Depressants

tends to suppress CNS activity

• Often prescribed to treat both anxiety and insomnia

• At high doses, or when mixed with other substances, can depress breathing

Alchohol

• Low amounts: relaxation, elevated mood, increased talking/activity, lowered inhibitions, impaired judgement

• Higher amounts: BAC of .05-.1; slowed thinking; impaired concentration, walking, and muscular coordination; possible increase of aggression

Cocaine (Stimulant)

derived from coca plant; extraction requires gasoline and sulfuric acid- often damaging remote areas of processing

• Affects dopamine neurotransmitter system by blocking reuptake of dopamine

Methamphetamine (stimulant)

phedrine and pseudoephedrine mixed with flammable chemicals and solvents

• Can increase wakefulness/physical activity, decrease appetite

• Rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased BP

• Hyperthermia/convulsions may occur with overdose; can result in death

Euphoric high (stimulant)

feelings of intense elation/pleasure; usually decreases in intensity with continued use of drug

Opioids

category of drugs that includes heroin, morphine, methadone, and codeine

• Analgesic properties- they decrease pain

Endogenous opiod neurotransmitter system

body makes small quantities of opioid compounds that bind to opioid receptors, reducing pain and producing euphoria

• Opioid drugs mimic this painkilling mechanism and can produce euphoria, extremely high potential for abuse

Hallucinogens

psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, salvia, peyote, cannabis, etc.

• Can produce profound alteration in sensory/perceptual experiences

• Users may experience vivid visual hallucinations; or hallucinations of body sensations; skewed perception of passage of time

Hypnosis + 2 types

techniques- suggestions for alterations in perceptions and sensations, thoughts, feelings, memories, behaviors

1. Induction: relaxation

2. Self: self-administered

Meditation

act of focusing on a single target (such as breath or a repeated sound) to increase awareness of moment

Opiates

derivatives of opium, a naturally occurring compound found in the poppy plant