ch.5 conciousness

sleep…

• a natural, active state where awareness and acitivty decrease, yet the brain stays busy

  • restores energy, regulates mood, and supports memory and learning

  • Disruptions throw these rhythms off, affecting focus and health

4 types of rhythms

1. circannual - yearly (bear hibernation)

2. infradian - longer than a day (menstrual cycle)

3. ultradian - short cycles (heart rate)

4. circadian

circadian

• 24 hour cycle regulating sleep, hunger, focus

how does the sleep cycle work?

• light →retina →SCN (hypohalamus) → pineal gland →melatonin release

  • Melatonin peaks at night and drops during the day

  • Artificial light and screens can disrupt this rhythm

    • using devices within 30 minutes of bedtime - reduces sleep quality, duration, suppresses melatonin; leads to grogginess and poor alertness

      • Blue light tricks the brain's SCN into thinking it's day time.

Theories of Sleep

• Restore & Repair Hypothesis

• Preserve & Protect Hypothesis

restore and repair hypothesis

• sleep helps restore energy and repair daily wear and tear

• supports immune function, memory, and emotional balance

• during deep sleep, brain waves + fluid pulses flush out waste

  • without sleep: toxins build up →cognitive decline and health problems

preserve & protect hypothesis

• sleep saves energy and keeps us safe during risky time

  • species sleep patterns match their survival needs

sleep deprivation

• too little or no sleep

  • lower attention, memory, multitasking, judgement

  • lower emotional control and immune strength

sleep displacement

• sleeping at the wrong time throws off body clock

  • e.g. jet lag, shift work

    • easier to adjust when travelling west than east

    • Night shift mimic chronic jet lag

Sleep disorders

1. Dyssomnias - affects the amount, quality or timing of sleep

2. Parasomnias - involves abnormal behaviour or experiences

Dyssomnias

1. Insomnia

2. Hypersomnolence

3. Narcolepsy

4. Breathing-related sleep disorder

5. Circadian Rhythm sleep-wake disorder

Insomnia

1. initial - difficulty falling asleep

2. middle - diffulty staying asleep

3. late - early morning awakening w/ an inability to return to sleep

hypersomnolence

• excessive sleepiness during the day

narcolepsy

• causes extreme daytime sleepiness and sudden “sleep attacks”

• causes people to fall asleep anywhere, anytime at random times

• episodes last seconds to mins

  • enter REM sleep instantly, skipping earlier stages

• linked to low orexin, strong emotions, and abnorma acitivity in emotuona dn reward braina areas

breathing-related sleep disorder: Apnea

• temporary loss of breathing

  • caused by airway obstruction

    • more commen in and overwieght individuals

• symptoms:

  • loud snorings, gasping and fatigue

  • may not fully wake up

  • mild sleep depravation

    • leads to poor sleep quality, concentration, reduced attention and memory problems

parasomnias

1. Nightmare disorder

2. sleep/night terror disorder

3. sleep walking disorder

nightmare vs night terrors

nightmares

• vivid, disturbing dreams that occer during REM SLEEP.

• involves fear, sadness, or anger → can wake you up

• linked to anxiety, emotional distress and negative mood

  • normal part of dreaming

night terrors

• sudden panic and arousal during NREM SLEEP not a dream

• can invlovle screaming, running, or fighting imaginary threats

• usually no memory of the event

theories of dreaming

1. psychoanalytic approach

2. problem solving theory

3. activation synthesis

psychoanalytic approach

• dreams are expressions of unconcious desires/wishes

  • outlet for suppressed urges which surface when self-control relaxes during sleep

    • usually people who bottle up anger, fear, or guilt

      • the brains way of processing what's unexpressed (work them out)

  • what we suppress tends to resurface

mainfest content

• the storyline or images of the dream

latent content

• the hidden meaning - symbolic expression on unconcious desires

problem solving theory

• dreams help us work through real-life problems

  • thoughts and concerns continue from waking life into sleep

    • the content often reflects our current worries or challenges

  • may help the brain process emotions and test solutions to waking issues

activation synthesis

• brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity during REM sleep

  • bursts of signals from pons activate the cortex → creates random images, sounds, and emotions

    • cortex tries to organize the chaos into a story

      • can possibly aid in learning and memory

how does REM sleep/dreaming relate to learning?

• if REM is lost the brain catches up later →REM rebound

  • REM sleep resembles wakefulness → active brain processing, emotions, movement, & learning

• REM is not critical for basic memory

  • It is essential for complex learning.

    • DOES NOT CAUSE better memory, but CAN SUPPORT it.

disrupted conciousness

• during altered stated (or after falling asleep) our brains show enchanced associative thinking which is linked to creative output

  • short term sleep loss can lead to a boost in divergent thinking.

  • chronic lack of sleep can hurt creativity and brain function

how are drugs related to creativity?

• psychedelics

  • can give a strong short-term creative boost

    • increases novel ideas and dievrgent thinking by decreasing prefrontal filtering which allows for freer associations

• stimulants - help execution/focus, not imagination

how are sleep and creativity related?

• short sleep loss

  • temporary idea boosts

    • short shifts in conciousness can inspire breakthroughs

• chronic sleep loss

  • decreases problem solving and brain connectivity

    • destorys the neural flexibility creativity depends on

sleep paralysis

• occurs when the mind wakes up before the body causing breif paralysis while falling asleep or waking.

  • can include vivid hallucinations - sensing a presence, pressure on the chest, or hearing sounds

• it is a mix of REM sleep and wakefulness

  • they body is still in REM atonia while the brain is alert

• usually harmless but can be distressing

  • to reduce improve sleep hygiene, stress management, and keep a regular sleep schedule ir meditation can also help.

repeated sleep paralysis

• known as Recurrent Isolated Sleep Paralysis

  • linked to poor slepe, stress, irregular schedules, trauma, and anxiety disorders

  • can also occer with sleep disorders

    • frequent episodes cause: fear of sleep, bedtime anxiety, and worsened sleep quality

      • which can cause more episodes and a cycle of it.

mind-wandering

• when your thoughts drift away from the task at hand

  • like daydreaming

    • it’s an altered state because awareness shifts from present moment to internal thoughts/fantasies

    • reduces: attention, comprehension, and memory

dissociation

• also known as auto-pilot mode

  • when the brain is energy-efficient → it automates routine tasks to save effort

    • brain uses stored memory instead of concious thought to run on autopilot

      • e.g. driving, typing, tying shoes

    • allows people to handle everyday life without overloading the brain

      • however lacks full awareness (mental check out)

depersonalization

• feelings of unreality/detachment from oneself or one's body

  • e.g. feelings, thoughts, body parts

  • a form of dissociation (deeper detachment) which is caused by extreme stress, fatigue or emotional overload

    • seems robot-like or functioning on automatic pilot

      • obeserving oneself from the outside

normal dissociation vs. chronic dissociation

normal

• daydreaming

• zoning out

• highway hypnosis

chronic

• feeling disconnected from yourself

• feeling like the world is not real

• memory problems

• problems with depression, anxiety or both

when do we tend to dissociate?

1. when faced with extreme stress

• “mentally check out”

• movies, books, video games, etc.

2. when engaging int addictive behaviour

• substance use, shopping, gambling, etc.

3. during an absorbing/automatic activity

• traumatic event

dissociation can be…

• can be a denfense mechanism

  • form of emotion-regulation (trying to forget/avoid/minimize difficult emotions)

• can be a coping tool

  • movies, social media, video games

• can be involved in addictive behaviour

  • numbing yourself

hypnosis

• a procedure that increases suggestibility →NOT a trance or mind control

  • a hypnotist suggest changes; the person may choose to follow them

• popular hypnotic images are misleading.

  • hypnosis cannot force someone to do/act against their morals or will

  • hypnosis can make familiar, acceptable behaviours more likely under suggestion

types of hypnotic suggestions

• ideomotor - suggest actions

  • e.g. lifting an arm

• challenge - suggest inability to act

  • e.g. can't move hand

• cognitive-perceptual - suggests memory or perception changes

  • e.g. forgetting a name, feeling less pain

how does hypnosis work?

• hypnosis is not sleep but an interaction between automatic process (unconcious actions/thoughts) and executive control (attention, decision-makin, problem solving.)

  • 2 theories: dissociation theory and social-cognitive theory

dissociation theory

• conciousness splits into TWO systems

  • lower-level: handles movement and perception

  • executive system: monitors & evaluates actions

• under hypnosis, suggestions can bypass concious monitoring

  • brain scans show reduced activity in executive regions

    • e.g. driving automatically while focused on smth else

social cognitive theory

• hypnosis works through beliefs and expectations

  • people act how they expect to act under hypnosis

• expectancy can even influence pain relief outcomes

uses of hypnosis

• therapeutic uses

  • called Cognitive Hypnotherapy

    • used for:

      • depression, anxiety, eating disorders, hot flashes (cancer survivors), irritable bowel syndrome

    • Not a cure-all, but can enhance other treatments

• pain management

  • reduces pain

    • works especially well for acute pain but less effective for chronic pain (especially if strong expectations of pain remain)

conciousness disorders

1. brain death

2. coma

3. persistant vegetative state

4. minimally conscious state

5. locked-in syndrome

brain death

• no brain or brainstem activity; no recovery possible

  • brainstem functions (breathing, heartbeat) are permanently lost

coma

• no wakefulness or awareness

  • often due to brainstem or widespread brain damage

• some recover within 2-4 weeks, but outcomes vary

persistent vegetative state (PVS)

• eyes open, sleep-wake cycles present but no concious awareness

  • brainstem is intact, but severe cortical damage

• chance of recovery drops sharply after 3 months

minimally concious state

• shows inconsistent but real awareness of self or surroundings

  • may follow commands, make yes/no gestures, or show emotional reaactions

• brain scans reveal higher activity than vegetative states, especially in thinking and sensory areas

locked-in syndrome

• fully awake and conscious but completely paralyzed

  • caused by brainstem damage

    • communicates through eye movements or technology that tracks gaze

hidden consciousness (awareness during coma)

• people in comas can show signs of covert consciousness

  • awareness w/o movement or response

    • some can report breif memories

  • hearing familiar voices can activate the brain or even aid recovery.

drugs

• any substance taken to a produce an intende effect on mood, perception or body

  • drugs act on the central nervous system, changing both physical states and psychological experiences

    • alters neurotransmitter activity in the synapse (space between neurons)

drugs act as..

1. agonists - mimic or boost neurotransmitter activity

2. antagonists - blocks or reduce it

short term effects of drugs..

• changing how much neurotransmitter is released

• blocking reuptake (making effects last longer)

• blocking or mimicking receptor activity

dopamine high

• most addictive drugs releases dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and ventral tedmental area

  • pleasure reinforces use of the drug.

psychological & situational factors

• setting matters: same drug, different context = different effect

• environment cues can trigger the body to prepare for a drug → which changes tolerance and overdose risk

• expectations also shape how a drug feels → belief can alter brain activity and outcomes

long-effects of drug use

1. tolerance and brain adaptation

2. dependence and withdrawal

tolerance & brain adaptation

• repeated use → builds tolerance which leads to needing more of the drug to achieve the same effect

  • caused by down-regulation: receptors move away from synapse to reduce overstimulation

    • e.g. daily coffee drinkers stop feeling that “wired” buzz

Dependence & withdrawal

• physical dependence

  • body needs the drug to avoid withdrawal

    • e.g. headaches, nausea, tremors

• psychological dependence

  • emotional reliance on the drug to avoid negative feelings

why addiction happens

• biological - may have specific genes to make people more/less linked to drug effects

• psychological - habits, triggers, and learned associations

  • e.g. coffee = start of the day

• social - culture, family nborms, and social isolation increase risk (rat park study)

• personality - impulsivity and senssation-seeking raise vulnerability

psychoactive drugs

• alters thinking, perception, emotion, and behaviour

  • they affect nervous system by:

    • speeding it up (stimulants)

    • slowing it down (depressants)

    • triggering pleasue centres (opioids)

    • distorting perception (hallucinogens)

legal vs. illegal drugs

• a blurry line…

  • many prescription drugs are chemically similar to illegal ones

  • some legal meds are misused or sold illegally

why does drug abuse happen?

• drug is legal, meaning people have easy access to it (over the counter)

• crushing/snorting it for faster, stronger high

  • oxycontin frequently misused:

    • crushing it releases a powerful opioid high

      • many patients and prescribing doctors were LIED to about the drug's addictive potential or other associated risks w/ it’s use

oxycontin 12 hour lie

oxycontin is…

• not 12-hrs for most

  • twice daily causes mini withdrawal

• flawed from the start

  • mice survived → “safe”

  • human trials → 50%+ needed early dose

    • cancer study: 1/3 dropped out due to pain/side effects

• FDA green light

  • mice didn’t die

  • more than 50% felt relief

    • seemed good to them

FDA

in a nutshell..

• tiny agency - relies on company data

• doesn't test drugs itself

• reviews what companies submit

steps:

1. testing - done by the company only

2. review - only one FDA reviewer

3. decision - based on THEIR WORD

oxycontin vs. opium

oxycontin (oxycodone)

• semi-synthetic opioid made form compounds

• stronger and more concentrated than raw opium

• designed as a slow-release pain med but highly addictive

• 1.5x more powerful than morphine

  • 10 mg = 15mg morphine

• clean, intense pain relief + euphoria

opium (raw poppy)

• natural substance from the opium poppy

• contains morphine and codeine in varying amounts

• potency depends on how it’s prepared → effects are less consistent

• weaker & diluted

  • needs 125g-150g to match 10mg oxycontin

• milder, “dreamy” effect”

why do some drugs stay legal?

1. historical precedent & cultural norms - centuries-old norm

2. political & economic interests - laws protect profit and power (based on money)

3. perceived vs. actual harm - laws ignore science, follows fear, profit and culture

4. international treaties - 1961 UN drug treaty

• no non-medical use

• even if science changes

5. public health vs. moral control - laws not worried about health, more about who's in charge

BOTTOM LINE

• keeps some drugs legal for power

public health vs. moral control

• legal drugs = control

  • regulated: age limits, taxes, warnings

  • Gov't keeps: revenue + control

• illegal drugs = chaos

  • black markets, violence, fentanyl-laced drugs

indigenous culture

uses drugs for treatment programs and healing

• social & historical context

  • higher rates of substance use are linked to poverty, unemployment, and poor living conditions

    • however there are factors linked to use, such as cultural and historical ones

      • intergenerational trauma & disconnection from tradional culture

• culturally grounded treatment

  • programs blend medical treatment w/ cultural reconnection

    • seeking safety model

      • incorporates indigenous languages

      • addresses intergenerational trauma & cultural identity

      • aim to build pride, connection and community support