Module 8: Basic Consciousness Concepts

Consciousness

Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment

In what ways to states of consciousness occur?

Occur spontaneously, physiologically, psychologically

Examples of spontaneously occurring consciousness

Daydreaming, drowsiness, dreaming

Physiologically occurring consciousness

Hallucinations, orgasm, food/oxygen starvation

Psychologically occurring consciousness

Sensory deprivation, hypnosis, meditation

Cognitive Neuroscience

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (perception, thinking, memory, and language) 

Conscious thinking can be revealed by brain…

activity

Conscious experience arises from…

synchronized activity across the brain

Selective Attention

Focusing consciousness awareness on a particular stimulus

Our limited attention is captured by things we deem…

important

Inattentional Blindness

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

Inattentional Numbness

Ignoring obvious information when distracted

Change Blindness

A form of inattentional blindness, failing to notice changes in the environment

Dual Processing

The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

Blindsight

A condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without constantly experiencing it

Visual perception allows us to…

reorganize things, plan future actions,

Visual processing guides our

moment-to-moment movements

Unconscious parallel processing is… than conscious parallel processing (but both are essential)

faster

Parallel Processing

Processing multiple aspects of a stimulus or problem simultaneously

Parallel processing allows your mind to take care of…

routine business

Sequential Processing

Processing one aspect of a stimulus or problem at a time

Sequential processing is generally used to…

process new information or solve difficult problems