Consciousness and Sleep

These flashcards cover the key concepts related to consciousness, levels of awareness, hypnosis, and sleep disorders, as explained in the lecture.

What is consciousness as sensory awareness?

Being aware of your environment to maximize safety.

Define consciousness as direct inner awareness.

Awareness of things inside yourself.

What does consciousness as a sense of self refer to?

Being aware of oneself and one’s existence.

What is the Default Mode Network?

A brain network that activates when not performing a task, involved in daydreaming and mind-wandering.

What is the function of the Salience Network?

It switches between sensory and limbic inputs.

What does the Central Executive Network do?

It engages the conscious brain to think and maintain attention on a prioritized task.

List the levels of consciousness.

Conscious, Preconscious, Subconscious (or Unconscious).

What is the Preconscious level?

Information not in the conscious but can be retrieved, such as past memories.

What characterizes the Unconscious level?

It contains unacceptable thoughts and memories that influence behavior, but are not accessible to awareness.

What are altered states of consciousness?

Changes in one's sense of self or sense of the world, which can occur through hypnosis, meditation, sleep, etc.

What are the myths of hypnosis?

That it only affects weak-willed people and enhances the accuracy of memory.

What is biofeedback?

The process of learning to control bodily states with the help of machines monitoring those states.

What stage of sleep is characterized by rapid eye movement?

REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep.

What is the circumcadian rhythm?

The biological clock that regulates bodily rhythms occurring on a 24-25 hour cycle.

What sleep disorder involves waking up screaming with no recollection?

Night terrors.

Describe narcolepsy.

A disorder where a person experiences uncontrollable sleep episodes, falling asleep at unpredictable times.

What are the effects of stimulants?

They increase neural activity and speed up body functions, raising heart and breathing rates.

What happens during REM sleep?

The brain is active, heart rate increases, breathing becomes irregular, and vivid dreaming occurs.

What is the psychological dependence?

A psychological need to use a drug, often to relieve negative emotions.

What are psychoactive drugs?

Chemical substances that alter perceptions and moods.

What is the difference between physical and psychological dependence?

Physical dependence is marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, while psychological dependence is the need to use a drug to relieve emotional distress.