Consciousness and States of Mind

Vocabulary flashcards generated directly from the lecture transcript covering concepts of consciousness, attention, sleep stages, sleep disorders, dream theories, and psychoactive drugs.

Consciousness

Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment

Hypnosis

A social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur

Cognitive neuroscience

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

Selective attention

Focusing conscious awarenes on a particular stimulus

Inattentional blindness

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

Change blindness

Failing to notice changes in the environment; a form of inattentional blindness

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 consciously experiencing it

Parallel processing

Processing multiple aspects of a stimulus or problem simultaneously

Sequential processing

Processing one aspect of a stimulus or problem at a time; generally used to process new information or to solve difficult problems

Sleep

A periodic, natural loss of consciousness—as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation

Circadian rhythm

Our biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body and brain systems are active

Alpha waves

The relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences without sensory stimulation, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus

Delta waves

The large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep (occurs during N3 sleep)

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

A pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness

Insomnia

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by many instances of sleepiness

Sleep apnea

A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings

REM sleep behavior disorder

A sleep disorder characterizeed by acting out dreams while sleeping, through physical movements (such as kicking or striking out) and vocal behaviors (such as talking or yelling)

Night terrors

A sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, these occur during N3 sleep, within 2 or 3 hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered

Dream

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind

Manifest content

According to Freud, the symbolic, remembered story line of dream (as distinct from its latent, or hidden, content)

Latent content

According to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream (as distinct from its manifest content)

REM rebound

The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation

Psychoactive drug

A chemical substance that alters the brain, causing changes in perceptions and moods

Substance use disorder

A disorder characterized by continued substance use despite significant life disruption

Tolerance

With continued use of alcohol and some other drugs, users develop tolerance as their brain chemistry adapts to offset the drug effect (neuroadaptation). To experience the same effect, users require larger and larger doses, which increases the risk of becoming addicted and developing a substance use disorder

Addiction

Caused by ever-increasing doses of most psychoactive drugs (including prescription painkillers). Prompts the user to crave the drug, to continue use despite adverse consequences, and to struggle when attempting to withdraw from it

Withdrawal

The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior

Depressants

Drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opioids) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

Alcohol use disorder

(Commonly known as alcoholism) alcohol use marked by a combination of symptoms that may include tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use

Barbiturates

Drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment

Opioids

Opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

Stimulants

Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, and ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

Amphetamines

Drugs (such as methamphetamine) that stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes

Nicotine

A stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco products

Cocaine

A powerful and addictive stimulant derived from the coca plant; produces temporarily increased alertness and euphoria

Methamphetamine

A powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, reduces baseline dopamine levels

Ecstasy (MDMA)

A synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

Near-death experience

An altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as cardiac arrest); often similar to drug-induced hallucinations

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)

A powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid

THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol)

The major mind-altering ingredient in marijuana

NREM-1 sleep

A stage of nearly awake sleep during which a person may experience hypnagogic sensations, such as feeling as though one is falling.

NREM-2 sleep

A stage of deeper sleep characterized by sleep spindles, which are bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain activity that aid in memory processing.

NREM-3 sleep

The deepest stage of sleep, characterized by large, slow delta waves.

Freud's wish-fulfillment theory

The theory proposing that dreams provide a psychic safety valve expressing otherwise unacceptable feelings, containing remembered manifest content and hidden latent content.

Information-processing theory

The dream theory proposing that dreaming helps sift, sort, and consolidate the day's experiences into memory.

Neurocognitive function theory

The dream theory proposing that REM sleep provides the brain with an opportunity to consolidate memories and process emotional information.

Activation-synthesis theory

The theory proposing that dreams erupt from neural activation spreading upward from the brainstem as the brain attempts to synthesize random neural activity.

Cognitive development theory of dreams

The theory proposing that dream content reflects a dreamer's level of knowledge and understanding, simulating real-life experiences and scenarios.