Psychology: Consciousness, Sleep, and Psychoactive Drugs Overview

What is consciousness?

Personal awareness of internal and external stimuli.

Who proposed the concept of 'stream of consciousness'?

William James.

What is the unconscious according to Freud?

A part of the mind that contains thoughts and memories not accessible to consciousness.

What was Karl Lashley's research focused on?

The search for the 'engram,' or physical memory trace in the brain.

What did Lashley conclude about memory?

Memory emerges from the mass action of the entire brain rather than a specific location.

What instruments are used in sleep/waking research?

Electroencephalograph (EEG), electromyograph (EMG), and electrooculograph (EOG).

What does an EEG measure?

Brain electrical activity.

What are the four types of brain waves measured by EEG?

Beta, Alpha, Theta, and Delta.

What are circadian rhythms?

24-hour biological cycles that regulate sleep and other body functions.

What physiological pathway regulates circadian rhythms?

Light levels → retina → suprachiasmatic nucleus → pineal gland → secretion of melatonin.

What are the stages of sleep?

Stage 1 (transitional), Stage 2 (sleep spindles), Stages 3 & 4 (slow-wave sleep), and REM sleep.

What happens during REM sleep?

EEG patterns resemble wakefulness, and vivid dreaming occurs.

What are some hypotheses on why we sleep?

Energy conservation, immobilization to reduce danger, and restoration of bodily resources.

What is sleep deprivation?

Lack of sleep that can lead to impaired attention, reaction time, and decision-making.

What is insomnia?

Difficulty falling or staying asleep.

What is narcolepsy?

A disorder characterized by uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep.

What is sleep apnea?

A condition where breathing repeatedly stops and restarts during sleep.

What are nightmares?

Anxiety-arousing dreams that occur during REM sleep.

What are night terrors?

Intense arousal and panic occurring during NREM sleep.

What is somnambulism?

Sleepwalking.

What is the memory consolidation hypothesis related to sleep?

REM sleep strengthens neural circuits involved in remembering important information.

What is hypnosis?

A systematic procedure that increases suggestibility.

What are some effects produced through hypnosis?

Anesthesia, sensory distortions, hallucinations, and posthypnotic suggestions.

What are psychoactive drugs?

Substances that alter perception, mood, and consciousness.

What are narcotics?

Pain-relieving drugs.

What are stimulants?

Substances that increase central nervous system activity.

What is the significance of tolerance in psychoactive drugs?

It refers to the body's reduced response to a drug after repeated use.