consciousness

What is consciousness?

One's subjective experience of the world, resulting from brain activity.

Global Workspace Model

Consciousness arises as a function of which brain circuits are active; there is no single area responsible for awareness.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Impairments in mental functioning caused by a blow to or sharp movement of the head.

Coma

A condition of impaired consciousness lasting more than a month, formerly known as a persistent vegetative state.

Brain Death

The irreversible loss of brain function.

Locked-In Syndrome

A condition where one is aware of their environment but unable to respond physically.

Selective Attention

The process of focusing on certain stimuli while ignoring others, often likened to a gate.

Change Blindness

A failure to notice large changes in one's environment.

Subliminal Perception

Processing of information by sensory systems without conscious awareness.

Circadian Rhythms

Biological patterns that occur at regular intervals as a function of the time of day.

Stages of Sleep - Stage 1

Characterized by theta waves on the EEG.

Stages of Sleep - REM sleep

Stage of sleep marked by rapid eye movement, dreaming, and paralysis of motor systems.

Insomnia

A disorder characterized by an inability to sleep that causes significant problems in daily living.

Obsessive Sleep Apnea

A condition where a person stops breathing during sleep due to throat closure.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder where a person experiences excessive sleepiness during waking hours.

REM Behavior Disorder

When sufferers act out their dreams while sleeping.

Freudian Slip

An unconscious thought expressed at an inappropriate time.

Activation-Synthesis Theory

The brain tries to make sense of random brain activity during sleep by synthesizing it with stored memories.

Hypnosis

A state where a person responds to suggestions resulting in changes in memory and perception.

Meditation

A mental procedure focusing attention either on an external object or on a sense of awareness.

Addiction

Drug use that remains compulsive despite its negative consequences.

Physiological factors of addiction

Activation of brain dopamine systems and hereditary factors.

Psychological factors of addiction

High sensation-seeking traits and social learning.

Alpha Waves

Brain activity that occurs when people relax or focus, leading to regular and slower brain signals.

Beta Waves

Short, frequent, irregular brain signals associated with active brain function during alertness.

Sleep Apnea

A disorder where a person stops breathing during sleep due to throat closure.

Somnambulism

Also known as sleepwalking, it is most commonly seen in children.

Freudian Slip

An unconscious thought expressed at an inappropriate time or context.

Circadian Rhythm Theory

The theory that many creatures are inactive at night to reduce exposure to predators.

Dream Manifest Content

The literal plot of a dream.

Dream Latent Content

The symbolic meaning of a dream, according to Freud.

Caffeine

A widely used stimulant that affects consciousness and alertness.

Mindfulness Meditation

A form of meditation that involves letting thoughts flow freely without reaction.

Concentrative Meditation

Focusing attention on a single object, such as breathing or a mantra.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

A neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries.

Terri Schiavo

A notable case that raised questions about the definitions of coma, brain death, and the right to die.

Christine Waddell

An individual known for having locked-in syndrome, experiencing full consciousness without physical response.

Automatic vs. Controlled Processing

Automatic processing occurs unconsciously, while controlled processing requires focused attention.