PSYC1001E_Variations in Consciousness_Students

define conciousness

define conciousness

wareness of internal and external stimuli - Acknowledged by William James

Who was the first theorists to recognize that consciousness consists of varying levels of awareness

Sigmund Freud

what are electroencephalograph (EEG)

devices that measure electrical activity in the brain, used to study different states of consciousness.

what are the different types of brain waves

• Beta – normal waking thought, problem
solving
• Alpha – deep relaxation, meditation
• Theta – light sleep
• Delta – deep sleep

define Circadian rhythms

The 24-hour biological cycles found in humans and other animals
• Critical in the regulation of sleep - vary from person to person

define: Chronotype

each individual’s optimal time to fall asleep

Physiological pathway of the biological clock

Light levels → retina → suprachiasmatic
nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus →
pineal gland → secretion of melatonin

define Melatonin

hormone that adjusts the biological clock

Define SCN

master pacemaker that synchronizes
clocks throughout the brain and body
Biological Rhythms

What are the 4 distinct stages of sleep

• Stage N1: brief, transitional light sleep (1–12 min.)
• Stage N2: mixed brain waves with sleep spindles (10–25 min.)
• Stages N3: slow-wave sleep (30 min.)
• Stage 4: REM (progressively longer as cycle through the stages)

what are hypnic jerks

brief muscle contractions

What brain structure is most involved in sleep?

The ascending reticular activating system (RAS)

What does the ascending reticular activating system (RAS) influence?

Physiological arousal through afferent fibers running through the reticular formation.

Which additional brain structures are involved in sleep?

The pons, medulla, thalamus, hypothalamus, and limbic system.

What are the most influential neurotransmitters involved in sleep?

Acetylcholine and serotonin.

Name other neurotransmitters involved in sleep besides acetylcholine and serotonin

Norepinephrine, dopamine, and GABA

What role does GABA play in sleep?

GABA acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, promoting relaxation and sleep.

Which neurotransmitter is known for promoting wakefulness and arousal?

Norepinephrine

Partial sleep deprivation or sleep restriction

When people go with less sleep than usual

Selective deprivation

depriving individuals of specific aspects of the sleep cycle (e.g., REM)

Why We Need Sleep

• Memory consolidation
• Assimilating new memories into existing frameworks
• Learning and problem solving
• Promotes creativity and insight into problems

What are the 3 different patterns of Insomnia

• Trouble falling asleep
• Trouble remaining asleep
• Persistent early morning awakening

What is Narcolepsy

Sudden and irresistible onsets of sleep during normal waking hours - goes directly into REM sleep from being awake
•Usually lasts a short period of time (10-20 minutes)

What is the main cause of Narcolepsy

loss of orexin neurons in the hypothalamus - treated with drugs

What is Sleep Apnea

• Reflexive gasping for air that awakens the sleeper
• Usually involves loud snoring
• The person stops breathing for a minimum of 10
second
• Interrupts their sleep cycle
• Can cause heart and lung damage
• Declines in attention, memory, and other
cognitive functioning

What is the treatment of sleep apnea

changes to lifestyle (diet and exercise), dug therapy, masks or oral devices to increase airflow, surgery

What are nightmares

• Anxiety-arousing dreams that lead to awakening
• Usually occur during REM
• Often recall a vivid dream
• May have difficulty getting back to sleep
• Associated with significant stress

What are Night Terrors

• Intense autonomic arousal and feelings of panic causing abrupt awakening
• Associated with Non-REM sleep
• May let out piercing cry, bolt upright, and stare into space
• Don’t recall coherent dream
• Panic typically fades quickly and little trouble falling back to sleep

what is Somnambulism

• Sleepwalking

• Tends occur during first 3 hours of sleep during slow-wave sleep
• Last a couple minutes to half hour

REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (RBD)

• Not having sleep paralysis during REM and acting out one’s dreams
• May involve talking, yelling, moving limbs, leaping out of bed
• Can be violent and hurt themselves or bed partner

REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (RBD) causes

deterioration in brainstem structures that are usually responsible for the paralysis seen in REM

What are dreams

• May involve vivid imagery, be story-like, bizarre, and appear real
• While typically during REM, can also occur during non-REM

Define Day residue

Waking life spillover

What are the theories of Dreaming

1. Wish fulfillment: Sigmund freud- Attempt to fulfill ungratified needs from daily life through wishful thinking in dreams
2. Cognitive problem-solving: Rosalind Cartwright - Dreams provide an opportunity to work through problems of everyday life
3. Activation-synthesis: Hobson and McCarley- Dreams are the side effects of the neural activation that produces “wide-awake” brain waves during REM sleep

What are the two types of dream content

• Manifest = plot of the dream (surface level)
• Latent = hidden or disguised meaning

Define Hypnosis

A systematic method that increases suggestibility, relaxation, focus, and imagination.

Hypnotic susceptibility

individual differences in how easily they can be hypnotized

What are the effects produced through hypnosis

• Anesthesia
• Sensory distortions and hallucinations
• Disinhibition
• Posthypnotic suggestions and amnesia

What are the two main theories of hypnosis

1. Social Cognitive Theory: Role playing
2. Altered State of Consciousness: Dissociation

What is Dissociation

hypnosis splits consciousness into two streams

What is Meditation

practices that train attention to heighten awareness and bring mental processes under greater voluntary control

What are the 2 styles of meditation

1. Focused attention = tries to concentrate on one mantra, or object, or idea while shutting out all other distractions

2. Open monitoring = being mindful and receiving sensory and other stimulation in an objective, nonjudgmental fashion

What are the physiological benefits Of meditation

• Decreased heart rate and respiration rate,
• Relaxed EEG, with predominant theta and alpha rhythm patterns

What are Psychoactive drugs

substances that modify mental, emotional, or behavioural functioning

What are Opioids

Natural or synthetic substances capable of relieving pain
High doses produce an overwhelming sense of euphoria

What are sedatives

• Sleep inducing
• Used in higher doses than are prescribed for medical purposes

What are stimulants

• Increases CNS activity
• The euphoria created by these drugs is very different from a “who cares” relaxed state and instead increase alertness and excitement

what are Hallucinogens

• Distort sensory and perceptual experience
• These experiences may be pleasant, but they can also produce nightmarish feelings of anxiety and paranoia

What is cannabis

• The hemp plant from which marijuana, hashish, and THC are derived
• THC is the active chemical ingredient which causes a mild, relaxed euphoria and enhanced sensory awareness

What is alcohol

• Most widely used psychoactive drug

• Impairs motor functioning and results in mood swings

• temporarily boosts self-esteem and decreases inhibitions

What are MDMA (ecstasy)

• Produces a warm, friendly euphoria

• may have long-term cognitive and emotional effects

Factors Influencing Experience of Drug Use

• Age and body weight
• Mood
• Motivation and personality
• Expectations of the drug’s effects
• Previous experience with drug

• Setting in which drug is consumed, dose, and potency of drug

What is physical dependence

must continue to take a drug to avoid withdrawal illness

What is Psychological dependence

must continue to use a drug to satisfy mental and emotional craving.