UNIT III Consciousness

High Track mind

Intentional thinking; aware of surroundings.

Low track mind

Not exactly aware (e.g., driving, texting).

Selective attention

The ability to switch attention, exemplified by the cocktail party effect.

Unintentional blindness

Missing things outside of our primary focus.

Change blindness

Missing subtle changes in our environment.

Sleep cycle duration

Each sleep cycle lasts 90 minutes.

Reasons for sleep

Protects our ancestors, restores and repairs the brain, strengthens memories, facilitates creative problem-solving, and activates growth hormones.

Sleep debt

The need to catch up on lost sleep hours.

Effects of no sleep

Loss of brain power, weight gain, increased illness, irritability, and feeling old.

Consciousness

Awareness of ourselves, our environment, and mental thoughts.

Biological rhythms

Rhythms that govern energy, appetite, and sleep.

Circadian rhythms

The body's natural 24-hour cycle aligned with day and night.

Ultradian rhythms

Yearly cycles, such as seasonal depression.

Infradian rhythms

Infrequent rhythms, like the menstrual cycle.

Melatonin

A hormone released by the suprachiasmatic nucleus in response to sunlight, causing sleepiness.

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

A device that measures brain waves.

Spindles

Irregular waves that spike during stage two sleep.

Delta sleep

The heaviest stage of sleep.

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep characterized by active brain waves and paradoxical sleep.

Sleep apnea

A condition where breathing stops several times a minute during sleep.

Narcolepsy

A disorder characterized by sleep attacks and random sleep episodes.

Somnambulism

The act of sleepwalking.

Night terrors

Waking up scared without a clear reason.

Psychoactive drugs

Substances that alter perceptions and mood.

Dependence

Physical pain and cravings experienced in the absence of a drug.

Withdrawal

Undesirable effects experienced upon stopping drug use.

Tolerance

The need for increased drug dosage due to repeated exposure.

Depressants

Substances that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

Barbiturates

Depressants that reduce CNS activity, anxiety, and impair memory and judgment.

Opiates

Highly addictive drugs like morphine and heroin that lessen pain and anxiety.

Alcohol

A depressant affecting motor skills, judgment, and memory.

Stimulants

Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Ecstasy (MDMA)

A stimulant that can damage serotonin-producing neurons, affecting mood and memory.

Cocaine

A stimulant that provides immediate euphoria followed by a crash.

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images without sensory input.

LSD

A powerful hallucinogenic drug known as acid.

THC

The major active ingredient in marijuana.

Examples of psychoactive drugs

Stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens.

Examples of depressants

Alcohol, opiates, and barbiturates.

Examples of stimulants

Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines.

Biological drug use

Genetic tendencies influencing drug use.

Psychological drug use

Drug use stemming from lack of purpose or stress.

Social cultural drug use

Drug use influenced by urban environments or peer pressure.