Consciousness and Sleep in Psychology

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts related to consciousness, sleep, and the effects of psychoactive drugs.

Consciousness

The subjective awareness of one's thoughts, feelings, actions, and the external environment.

Properties of Consciousness

Includes intentionality, unity, selectivity, and transience.

Selective Attention

The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus.

Inattentional Blindness

Failure to see visible objects when attention is directed elsewhere.

Blindsight

A condition where a person is unaware of visual stimuli but can still respond to them.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A device used to measure electrical activity in the brain, especially during sleep.

Circadian Rhythm

The internal clock-driven process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.

REM Sleep

A sleep stage characterized by rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and increased physiological activity.

Sleep Deprivation

A condition resulting from insufficient sleep, leading to fatigue, impaired concentration, and emotional irritability.

Manifest Content

The elements of a dream that are consciously experienced and remembered.

Latent Content

The underlying thoughts and meanings of a dream that are concealed in its manifest content.

Hypnosis

A cooperative social interaction where the participant responds to suggestions made by the hypnotist.

Psychoactive Drugs

Chemical substances that alter perceptions and dispositions.

Depressants

Substances that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

Stimulants

Substances that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Opiates

Drugs that depress neural activity, relieve pain, and produce feelings of euphoria.

Psychedelics

Substances that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images without sensory input.