Chapter 5: States of Consciousness

Consciousness

An organism’s awareness of its external environment and internal mental processes.

waking consciousness

A state of clear, organized alertness.

disorder of consciousness

A condition of awareness that is atypical (e.g., coma; persistent vegetative state).

altered state of consciousness (ASC)

A condition of awareness distinctly different in quality or pattern from waking consciousness.

Hypnosis

State of consciousness characterized by focused attention, reduced peripheral awareness, and heightened suggestibility.

hidden observer

A detached part of the hypnotized person’s awareness that silently watches events.

basic suggestion effect

The tendency of hypnotized persons to carry out suggested actions as if they were involuntary.

Hypnotizability

One’s capacity for becoming hypnotized.

Meditation

Mental exercise for producing relaxation or heightened awareness.

Mindfulness meditation

Mental exercise based on widening attention to become aware of everything experienced at any given moment.

concentrative meditation

Mental exercise based on attending to a single object or thought.

relaxation response

The pattern of internal bodily changes that occurs at times of relaxation.

biological rhythm

Any repeating cycle of biological activity, such as sleep and waking cycles or changes in body temperature.

electroencephalograph (EEG)

Device that records electrical activity in the brain.

beta waves

Small, fast brain waves associated with being awake and alert.

alpha waves

Large, slow brain waves associated with relaxation and falling asleep.

sleep stages

Levels of sleep identified by brain-wave patterns and behavioral changes.

rapid eye movements (REMs)

Swift eye movements during sleep.

REM sleep

Stage of sleep marked by rapid eye movements, high-frequency brain waves, and dreaming.

non-REM (NREM) sleep

Non-rapid eye movement sleep characteristic of sleep Stages 1, 2, 3, and 4.

light sleep (Stage 1 sleep)

Marked by small, irregular brain waves and some alpha waves.

sleep spindles

Distinctive bursts of brain-wave activity that indicate a person is asleep.

delta waves

Large, slow brain waves that occur in deeper sleep (Stages 3 and 4).

deep sleep (Stage 4 sleep)

The deepest form of normal sleep.

REM rebound

The occurrence of extra rapid eye movement sleep following REM sleep deprivation.

repair/restorative theories of sleep

Proposals that lowering body and brain activity and metabolism during sleep may help conserve energy and lengthen life.

sleep deprivation

Being prevented from getting desired or needed amounts of sleep.

microsleeps

A brief shift in brain-wave patterns to those of sleep.

sleep-deprivation psychosis

A major disruption of mental and emotional functioning brought about by sleep loss.

Psychodynamic theories

Any theory of behavior that emphasizes internal conflicts, motives, and unconscious forces.

wish fulfillment

Freudian belief that many dreams express unconscious desires.

dream symbols

Images in dreams that serve as visible signs of hidden ideas, desires, impulses, emotions, relationships, and so forth.

manifest content

The surface, “visible” content of a dream; dream images as the dreamer remembers them.

latent content

The hidden or symbolic meaning of a dream, as revealed by dream interpretation and analysis.

activation-synthesis hypothesis

Proposition that dreams are how brains process the random electrical discharges of REM sleep.

neurocognitive dream theory

Proposal that dreams reflect everyday waking thoughts and emotions.

Sleep–wake disorders

Difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up, or any combination of these, such as insomnia disorder.

Insomnia

Difficulty in getting to sleep or staying asleep.

stimulus control

Linking a particular response with specific stimuli.

Somnambulists

People who sleepwalk; occurs during NREM sleep.

nightmare

A bad dream that occurs during REM sleep.

sleep terror

A state of panic during NREM sleep.

sleep apnea

Disorder in which a person stops breathing during sleep.

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

The sudden, unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant.

Narcolepsy

A sudden, irresistible sleep attack.

psychoactive drug

Any substance that can alter a person’s state of consciousness.

stimulant

A substance that increases activity in the body and nervous system.

depressant

A substance that decreases activity in the body and nervous system.

substance use and addictive disorder

Abuse of, or dependence on, a mood- or behavior-altering drug or equivalent.

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

A behavioral problem characterized by short attention span, restless movement, and impaired learning capacity.

anhedonia

An inability to feel pleasure.

harm-reduction strategy

A treatment approach to drug addiction that seeks to reduce the negative consequences of addiction without necessarily requiring

drug abstinence.

Tranquilizers

A drug that lowers anxiety and reduces tension.

alcohol myopia

Shortsighted thinking and perception that occurs during alcohol intoxication.

Binge drinking

Consuming five or more drinks in a short time (four for women).

detoxification

In the treatment of drug abuse, including alcoholism, the withdrawal of the patient from the drug(s) in question.

hallucinogen

A substance that alters or distorts sensory impressions.

Metacognition

The conscious experience of thinking about your own thinking and performance.