T2: Conciousness

Consciousness

our subject awareness of ourselves and our environment

States of Consciousness

different levels of awareness from being alert to being in deep sleep. These can occur naturally or could be induced

Selective Attention

The process of selecting from among many potential stimuli

Dichotic Listening Task

Subjects are presented with two auditory messages, one message to the left ear and one to the right. Subjects choose a message to repeat out loud and ignore the other, then are asked afterwards what they can recall from the ignored message

Cocktail Party Effect

the mind ability to focus attention on one auditory message while filtering out many other messages

Inattentional Blindness

Failing to perceive a visual stimulus even though you are looking right at it (Dan Simons)

Change Blindness

Subjects’ inability to detect changes in scenes even though they are looking right at the change

Divided Attention

the cognitive process of attempting to perform two or more tasks at the same time

Serial Processing

A type of divided attention, in which we process by solving one problem at a time and use the solution as the input for the next stage of processing

Parallel Processing

A type of divided attention, in which we process by solving many different independent problems at once

Automatic Processing (System 1) – Operates quickly, with little to no effort, often

unconsciously, and no sense of voluntary control

Controlled Processing (System 2) – Operates slowly, effortful and attention

demanding, consciously processed, and with sense of agency

Stroop Task (Stroop, 1935) – Subjects must say the color of a word but not what the

word says. Some have argued that the Stroop task shows that reading is automatic

Circadian Rhythm

our biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24

hour cycle: Body temperature, hormone levels, and the sleep/wake cycle

Pineal Gland

Melatonin

Polysomnography (PSG) – researchers measure brain activity (EEG), eye

movements (EOG), muscle activity (EMG), heart rate (ECG), and breathing patterns

Sleep Stage 1 – People awakened remember fragmented visual images

(hallucinations). Sudden muscle contractions.

Sleep Stage 2 – Presence of sleep spindles. You are clearly asleep in

this stage.

Sleep Stage 3 (Slow

Wave Sleep) – Deep Sleep. People awoken in

this stage are groggy. Delta Waves present at this stage.

Important for memory consolidation.

Sleep REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep – Breathing becomes

rapid, irregular, and shallow. Our eyes jerk rapidly in various

directions. Our limbs become temporarily paralyzed. Males

develop erections. We dream during this stage and will remember

our dreams if awoken in this stage.

Restorative Theory – Sleep allows the body (and brain) to rest and repair itself.

People sleep longer after vigorous physical activity. Sleep enables the brain to

replenish energy stores and strengthens the immunes system. Growth hormone is

released during sleep

Circadian Rhythm Theory – Sleep evolved to keep animals quiet and inactive

during times of the day when there is greatest danger. Animals need only a limited

amount of time each day to accomplish the necessities of survival. Small animals tend

to sleep a lot. Large animals that can be preyed upon (e.g., cows and deer) sleep little

Facilitation of Learning Theory – Learning that occurs during the day is

strengthened during sleep. Slow wave sleep (Stage 3) and REM sleep are important

for memory consolidation.

REM Rebound – the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep

Deprivation.

Insomnia – recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy – a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The

sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

Sleep Apnea – a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing

during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder – a sleep disorder characterized by acting out dreams

while sleeping, through physical movements and vocal behaviors.

Night Terrors – a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of

being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during Stage 3 sleep, within 2 or 3

hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered.

Dreams – a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping

person’s mind. Dreams occur during REM sleep