Psych States of Consciousness

Consciousness

our awareness of ourselves and our environment

Hypnosis

A systematic procedure that typically produces a heightened state of suggestibility.

Suggestibility

The tendency to incorporate misleading information from external sources into personal recollections

REM

a recurring sleep state during which dreaming occurs

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

Stimulant

A drug that increases the action of the central nervous system, the heart, and other organs

Somnambulism

Sleep disorder in which one carries out actions in his or her sleep; also called sleepwalking.

Sleep terrors

episodes in which sleepers wake up suddenly in an extreme state of arousal and panic

Narcolepsy

Uncontrolled sleep attacks; sufferer falls directly into REM sleep

Sleep apnea

A respiratory disorder in which the person intermittently stops breathing many times while asleep

Depressant

A drug that slows the central nervous system

Dissociation

A splitting off of mental processes into two separate, simultaneous streams of awareness.

Withdrawal symptoms

Illness or discomfort that occur because of a physical dependence on a drug

Circadian Rhythm

the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24.2-hour cycle if all time cues are removed

hypnogogic sensations

sensations/images that occur during Stage 1 sleep

Stage 2 sleep

appearance of sleep spindles. Clearly asleep, but still easily awoken; about 20 minutes.

Stage 3 and 4 sleep

The deepest stage of sleep, during which we are least responsive to outside stimulation. Sleepwalking may occur

Alcohol

Depressant - most widely used drug in the U.S.

Cocaine

stimulant that releases more dopamine in the brain to help us feel satisfaction or pleasure

Nightmares

Anxiety-arousing dreams that lead to awakening, usually from REM sleep.

Insomnia

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

nREM

refers to sleep during which there is no rapid eye movement

Latent content

According to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream

Manifest content

According to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

A cluster of neurons in the hypothalamus in the brain that governs the timing of circadian rhythms.

Melatonin

A hormone manufactured by the pineal gland that produces sleepiness.

Human sleep cycle

90 minutes

Sleep deprivation

Any significant loss of sleep, resulting in problems in concentration, irritability, and low immunity

Tolerance

A drug user's neuroadaptation lowers a person's responsiveness to a drug.

Psychological dependence

A desire to obtain or use a drug, even though there is no physical dependence

Sleep paralysis

state of being unable to move just after falling asleep or right before waking up

Wish Fulfillment theory

Dreams are an expression of otherwise unacceptable feelings

Information-processing theory

Dreams may help sift, sort, and fix day's experiences in our memories.

Substance abuse disorder

continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk

activation-synthesis theory

theory that dreams reflect inputs from brain activation originating in the pons, which the forebrain then attempts to weave into a story