Chapter 5: Consciousness: Expanding the Boundaries of Psychological Inquiry

activation-synthesis theory

theory that dreams reflect inputs from brain activation originating in the pons, which the forebrain then attempts to weave into a story

biological clock

term for the area of the hypothalamus that's responsible for controlling our levels of alertness

circadian rhythm

cyclical changes that occur on a roughly 24-hour basis in many biological processes

consciousness

our subjective experience of the world, our bodies, and our mental perspectives

déjà vu

strong feeling of familiarity regarding a new experience

dissociation theory

approach to explaining hypnosis based on a separation between personality functions that are normally well integrated

hallucinogenic

causing dramatic alterations of perception, mood, and thought

hypnosis

an interpersonal situation in which imaginative suggestions are administered to produce changes in consciousness

hypnotic

drug that exerts a sleep-inducing effect

insomnia

difficulty falling and/or staying asleep

lucid dreaming

experience of becoming aware that one is dreaming

mystical experience

feelings of unity or oneness with the world, often with strong spiritual overtones

narcolepsy

disorder characterized by the rapid and often unexpected onset of sleep

narcotic

drug that relieves pain and induces sleep

near-death experience

(NDE) experience reported by people who've nearly died or thought they were going to die

neurocognitive theory

theory that dreams are supported by the brain's default network and are a meaningful product of our cognitive capacities, which shape what we dream about

night terrors

sudden waking episodes characterized by screaming, perspiration, and confusion, followed by a return to a deep sleep

non-REM sleep

(NREM) stages 1 through 4 of the sleep cycle, during which rapid eye movements do not occur and dreaming is less frequent and vivid

out-of-body experience

(OBE) sense of our consciousness leaving our body

past-life regression therapy

therapeutic approach that uses hypnosis to supposedly age-regress patients to a previous life to identify the source of a present-day problem

physical dependence

dependence on a drug that occurs when people continue to take it to avoid withdrawal symptoms

psychoactive drug

substance that contains chemicals similar to those found naturally in our brains that alter consciousness by changing chemical processes in neurons

psychological dependence

nonphysical dependence on a drug that occurs when continued use of the drug is motivated by intense cravings

rapid eye movement

(REM) darting of the eyes underneath closed eyelids during sleep

REM Sleep

stage of sleep during which the brain is most active and during which vivid dreaming most often occurs

sedative

drug that exerts a calming effect

sleep apnea

disorder caused by a blockage of the airway during sleep, resulting in daytime fatigue

sleep paralysis

state of being unable to move just after falling asleep or right before waking up

sleepwalking

walking while fully asleep

sociocognitive theory

approach to explaining hypnosis based on people's attitudes, beliefs, expectations, and responsiveness to waking suggestions

stimulant

drug that increases activity in the central nervous system, including heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure

tolerance

reduction in the effect of a drug as a result of repeated use, requiring users to consume greater quantities to achieve

withdrawal

unpleasant effects of reducing or stopping consumption of a drug that users had consumed habitually