Intro2Psych.Chapter 9, 11, + 13

Consciousness

The awareness of external stimuli and our own mental activity.

Conscious level

The level of consciousness at which mental activities accessible to awareness occur.

Nonconsciousness level

The level of consciousness at which reside processes that are totally inaccessible to conscious awareness.

Preconscious level

The level of consciousness at which reside mental events that are not currently conscious but can become conscious at will.

Unconscious

The term used to describe a level of mental activity said by Freud to contain unacceptable impulses of which an individual is unaware.

Subconscious

The mental level at which influential but normally inaccessible mental processes occur.

Altered state of consciousness

Changes in mental processes producing noticeable differences in psychological and behavioral functioning.

NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep

Sleep stages 1-3 with slower breathing, calm heartbeat, reduced blood pressure, and slower brain waves.

REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep

Muscle tone decreases dramatically, resembling wakefulness in EEG.

Insomnia

A sleep disorder resulting in inadequate rest.

Narcolepsy

Daytime sleep disorder transitioning abruptly into REM sleep.

Sleep apnea

Brief stops in breathing during sleep.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Sleeping baby stops breathing and dies.

Sleepwalking

Walking during NREM sleep, especially in stage 3.

Nightmares

Frightening dreams during REM sleep.

Sleep Terror Disorder (Night Terrors)

Horrific dream images in stage 3 sleep followed by intense fear.

REM behavior disorder

Dreams acted out due to lack of decreased muscle tone in REM sleep.

Circadian rhythm (human biological rhythm)

Daily cycle of activities like waking and sleeping.

Jet lag

Fatigue and sleeping issues from air travel across time zones.

Sleep deprivation

Inadequate sleep leading to reduced cognitive abilities and inattention.

Dreaming

Production of sequences of images, sensations, and perceptions during sleep.

Lucid dreaming

Awareness of dreaming while dreaming.

Hypnotic susceptibility

Response level to hypnotic suggestion.

Hypnosis

State of responsiveness to suggestions for behavior/experience changes.

State theories of hypnosis

Theories suggesting hypnosis creates an altered state of consciousness.

Nonstate theories of hypnosis

Theories proposing hypnosis doesn't create an altered state of consciousness.

Meditation

Techniques focusing on the present moment for inner peace.

Psychoactive drugs

Chemicals acting on the brain to create psychological effects.

Psychopharmacology

Study of psychoactive drugs and their effects.

Blood-brain barrier

Prevents some substances from entering brain tissue.

Agonists

Drugs mimicking neurotransmitter effects.

Antagonists

Drugs preventing normal neurotransmitter binding.

Drug Abuse/Substance Use Disorder

Deviant use of psychoactive drugs causing problems.

Addiction

Physical need for psychoactive drugs.

Drug withdrawal

Symptoms from stopping addictive substance use.

Drug tolerance

Need for larger doses to produce effects.

CNS depressant drugs

Inhibit CNS function (e.g., alcohol, barbiturates).

CNS stimulating drugs

Increase behavioral and mental activity (e.g., amphetamines, cocaine).

Opiates

Drugs inducing sleep and pain relief effects.

Hallucinogenic drugs

Alter consciousness temporarily (e.g., LSD, marijuana).

Developmental psychology

Studies social, emotional, moral, and intellectual development over the lifespan.

Maturation

Natural growth triggered by biological factors.

Chromosomes

Contain genetic information in genes.

Genes

Hereditary units providing biological instructions.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Genetic code structure.

Embryo

Developing individual from two weeks to two months after fertilization.

Fetus

Developing individual from third month after conception until birth.

Teratogens

Harmful substances causing birth defects.

Critical period

Interval for necessary growth for normal development.

Fetal alcohol syndrome

Defects in babies from alcohol abuse during pregnancy.

Reflexes

Involuntary behaviors directed by the spinal cord.

Schemas

Mental representations of knowledge about the world.

Assimilation

Process of using existing schemas on new objects.

Accommodation

Modifying schemas for new objects.

Sensorimotor period (Piaget)

Infant's cognitive development limited to sensory perception and motor skills.

Object permanence (Piaget)

Knowing objects exist even when not in view.

Preoperational period (Piaget)

Children understand and use symbols representing absent things.

Conservation (Piaget)

Recognizing properties of substances or objects remain constant.