Unit 4: Variations in Consciousness

Consciousness

what you are aware of right now

Nonconsiousness

bodily functions that do not involve conscious processing (breathing, HR, etc)

Preconsciousness

Information that is not conscious but can be brought to consciousness if attention is called to it

Unconscious

many levels of processing that occur without awareness

Circadian Rhythm

the 24 hour biological clock, influenced by light, causes pineal gland to increase or decrease production of melatonin

Steps of Production of Melatonin

1. light strikes retina

2. causing the suprachiasmatic nucleus, a tiny neural center in the hypothalamus, to alter the production of biologically active substances such as melatonin, produced by the pineal gland

3. Increase in melatonin at night and decrease in the morning

increases as you go east and decreases as you go west

Daydreaming

A common variation of consciousness in which attention shifts to memories, expectations, desires, or fantasies and away from the immediate situation

Sleep

involves REM and non-REM, cycles last 90 min, 4-6 cycles

1,2,3,2,rem

Machines for Sleep Studies

EEG, EOG, EMG

beta waves

normal waking thought, alert problem solving, full consciouness

alpha waves

deep relaxation, blank mind, meditation (often stage 1 of sleep)

sleep spindles

brief bursts of higher frequency brain waves in stage 2 sleep

theta

light sleep (also in slow wave sleep)

delta

deep sleep (also in more prominent slow wave sleep, this is crucial for resting)

paradoxical sleep

your body is paralyzed but your brain waves are highly active

Awake

beta waves

Relaxed

alpha waves

Stage 1

theta waves, hypnic jerks (hallucinations)

Stage 2

theta waves, sleep spindles (bursts of beta waves)

Stage 3

delta waves/slow wave sleep

deepest sleep

REM

rapid eye movement, beta waves, dreaming, muscular paralysis

If you don’t get enough REM, body makes you do REM rebound

Adaptive/Protection Theory

Evolutionary Psychologists, sleep hides us from harm; animals with least ability to hide sleep less

Restorative Theory

Biological Psychologists, the brain recovers from stress and exhaustion during sleep; brain tissue is restored and repaired

As one gets older...

...the need for both REM and NREM sleep decreases, but the need for REM sleep decreases more sharply than the need for NREM sleep

Sleep Debt

Deficiency caused by not getting the amount of sleep that one requires for optimal functioning

Effects of Sleep Debt

fatigue, impaired concentration, depressed immune system, greater vulnerability to accidents

Freud's Viewpoint on Dreams

Freud believed that dreams had the purpose to guard sleep and serve as sources of wish fulfillment

Manifest Content

the remembered storyline of a dream

Latent Content

the underlying meaning of a dream

Modern View of Meaningful Dreams

dream content varies by culture, gender, and age

Consolidation Theory

cognitive theory, stress during the day will increase intensity of dreams at night. REM consolidates memories, often connects with recent experience

Activation Synthesis Theory

biological theory, dreams begin with random electrical activation coming from the brain stem; dreams are the brain's attempt to make sense of this random activity

Lucid Dreams

dreams where you know you are dreaming and are able to control/manipulate your dream

Insomnia

insufficient sleep caused by the inability to fall asleep, frequent arousals, and/or early awakenings, often a product of anxiety or depression and treated as such

Sleep Apnea

respiratory disorder where a person intermittently stops breathing while asleep, do not fully go through sleep cycle, treated with air/sleep mask

Narcolepsy

least common, sudden REM sleep attacks accompanies by cataplexy throughout the day, triggerent by SNS activation (fight or flight), treated with stimulants

Somnambulism

AKA sleepwalking, when a person arises and wanders about while remaining asleep, occurs in stage 3

Meditation

form of consciousness change (alpha waves) induced by focusing on a repetitive bx, assuming certain body position, and minimizing external stimulation

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another

Agonists

drugs that bind to receptor sites and mimic neurotransmitters

Antagonists

drugs that bind to receptor sites and block neurotransmitters

Psychoactive/Psychotropic Drugs

chemicals that affect mental processes and behavior by their effects on the nervous system - can cross the blood brain barrier

Physical Dependence

a physiological need for a drug, marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms

Psychological Dependence

a psychological need to use a drug, such as to relieve negative emotions

Addiction

compulsive drug craving and use

Tolerance

diminishing effect with regular use of a drug

Withdrawal

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug

Hallucinogens

AKA Psychedelics, alter perceptions of consciousness, no risk of physical dependence, low risk of psych dependence, acts as Serotonin

Examples of Hallucunogens

Mescaline, Psilocybin, LSD, Cannabis

Opiates

AKA Narcotics, produce a sense of well being and strong pain relieving properties, acts as endorphins, low risk of both physical and psych dependence

Examples of Opiates

Morphine, Codeine, Heroin, Methadone

Depressants

Slow down mental and physical activity/CNS, acts as GABA, high risk of both physical and psych dependence

Examples of Depressants

barbiturates, benzodiazepines, alcohol

Stimulants

Arouse CNS and speeds up mental and physical processes, acts as dopamine, moderate physical dependence, high psych dependence

Examples of Stimulants

cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, MDMA, caffeine, nicotine, dopamine