AP Psych Unit 5: States of Consciousness

definitions found in Myers, Psychology for AP 3E textbook. Module 22 (Flashcards 1-11), Module 23 (Flashcards 12-25), Module 24 (Flashcards 26-39), Module 25 (40-59)

Consciousness

Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment

Spontaneous States of Consciousness

Daydreaming, dreaming, drowsiness

Physiologically induced States of Consciousness

Hallucinations, orgasms, food & oxygen starvation

Psychologically induced States of Consciousness

Hypnosis, meditation, sensory deprivation

Hypnosis

A social interaction in which one person (hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur

Who experiences hypnosis?

Subjects who are open to suggestion and are able to focus on certain behaviors / images

• Highly hypnotizable people become deeply absorbed in activities

  • Brains display altered activity under hypnosis

Hypnotic Ability

The ability to focus attention totally on a task, to become imaginatively absorbed in it, to entertain fanciful possibilities

Posthypnotic Suggestions

A suggestion (made during a hypnotic state) to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized

• used by some clinicians to help control undesired symptoms or behaviors (hypnotherapy)

Hypnosis as a social phenomenon

HYPNOTIZED OR NOT — An authoritative person in a legitimate context can induce people to perform some unlikely acts

• ex: in a lab setting, even the control group (not hypnotized) did as the lab researchers said because they thought they had to listen to them

Hypnosis as divided consciousness

Hypnotic dissociation is like a vivid form of everyday mind splits

• ex: doodling during a lecture

Disassociation

A split in consciousness

• Allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others

Circadian Rhythm

Our biological clock

Regular bodily rhythms (body temperature, body wakefulness) that occur on a 24 hour basis

• Teens & young adults = more likely to be night owls

• Older people = more likely to be early bird

Four Stages of Sleep

NREM-1, NREM-2, NREM-3, REM

• NREM = Non-REM

• REM = Rapid Eye Movement

We cycle through 4 distinct stages about every 90 minutes

Awake, but relaxed (Pre 4 stages of sleep)

Waves: Alpha Waves

Characteristics: Sleepy, yawning due to reduced metabolism

NREM-1

Waves: Alpha & Theta (Irregular)

Characteristics: Hallucinations, hypnagogic sensations, decrease in body temperature and slowed breathing

• Not deeply sleeping yet

Hallucinations

False sensory experiences

• EX: Seeing something in the absence of a visual stimulus

Hypnagogic Sensations

Bizzare experiences while transitioning to sleep (NREM-1 to NREM-2)

• EX: Head nodding, feeling of falling, feeling of floating weightlessly

NREM-2

Waves: Theta

Characteristics: Sleep spindles, relaxed state

• Clearly asleep (but could still be easily awoken)

• During a normal night’s sleep, this stage’s time increases as the night goes on

Sleep Spindles

Bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain-wave activity

NREM-3

Waves: Delta (large, slow)

Characteristics: Deep sleep

• Kids may wet the bed during this stage

• During a normal night’s sleep, this stage’s time decreases as the night goes on

REM

Waves: For the first 10 mins, Rapid & Irregular (like NREM-1)

Characteristics: Dream stage (if awoken during this stage, you will likely remember your dream)

• INTERNAL AROUSAL: Heart rate rises, breathing becomes rapid & irregular, and every half-minute your eyes dart around in a momentary burst of activity

• EXTERNAL CALM: Motor cortex is active, but brainstem blocks its messages, leaving muscles relaxed

  • We are basically paralyzed during this stage

Progression of Sleep Stages

1. NREM-1 (occurs once the entire night)

2. NREM-2

3. NREM-3

4. NREM-2

5. REM

Sleep Patterns

Everyone needs different amounts of sleep, and sleep is genetically influenced and culturally influenced

• Cultural influence: Bright light from electronics makes us less sleepy / affect our circadian clock

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

A pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm

• In response to LIGHT, SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production —> Sleepiness altered (less melatonin produced)

Sleep Functions / Purposes

1. Sleep helps recuperation

   • Restore immune system & repair brain tissue

2. Memory storage

   • Sleep reactivates recent experiences in hippocampus and permanently stores memories elsewhere

3. Sleep and creative thinking

   • Dreams!!!

4. Sleep and growth

   • The pituitary gland releases human growth hormone during sleep

5. Sleep helps restore and repair damaged neurons.

Effects of Sleep Loss

• Increased conflicts in friendships / relationships

• Predictor of depression

• Worsened alertness / mood

• Weight gain

• Suppresses immune cells

• Slows reaction time

Insomnia

Recurring difficulty falling or staying asleep

• Result: tiredness, increased risk of depression 

• Prevalence: 1 in 10 adults, 1 in 4 older adults

Narcolepsy

Uncontrollable sleep attacks (Five min REM sleep during (sometimes) inopportune moments)

• Inopportune moment: driving, laughing, having sex, etc

• Prevalence: 1 in 2000 adults

Sleep Apnea

Temporarily stopped breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings 

• Result: Snoring, never reaching deep sleep cycle (NREM-3), daytime sleepiness

• Prevalence: 1 in 20 adults

Night Terrors

Sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and a terrified appearance 

• Occurs during NREM-3 (first few hours of night), rarely remembered 

• Result: sit up / walk around in sleep, talking incoherently, doubled heart & breathing rates 

• Prevalence: 1 in 100 adults, 1 in 30 children 

Sleepwalking

Sitting up or walking while asleep

• occurs during NREM-3

• Not that serious of an issue (people just go back to sleep without realizing) 

• Prevalence: 1-15 of 100 gen population for sleepwalking 

Sleep Talking

Talking while asleep

• Occurs during any sleep stage

• Prevalence: About half of young children

Dreams

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind

What we dream

• Repeatedly falling, being attacked, pursued, or rejected

  • 8 out of 10 dreams are negative

• Trauma —> More nightmares

• What you do IRL affects your dreams

  • EX: Musicians are 2x more likely to dream of music, blind people usually dream with their non-visual senses

Freud’s Wish Fulfillment Theory

Dreams are people’s unconscious desires that would be threatened if expressed directly

• Dream’s manifest content (remembered dream) is a censored version of latent content (underlying meaning of a dream)

  • EX: You remember dreaming of a gunfight, but this theory explains that you’re horny and are dreaming of a penis

• NOT AN ACCEPTED THEORY

  • lacks any scientific support

Information Processing Theory

Dreams help us sort out the day’s events and consolidate our memories

• Critics: Doesn’t explain why we dream random stuff (ex: past memories, events we have never experienced before)

Physiological Function of Dreams

Regular brain stimulation from REM sleep may help develop and preserve neural pathways

• Critics: Doesn’t explain why people experience meaningful / symbolic dreams

Activation - Synthesis Theory

REM sleep triggers neural activity that evokes random visual memories, which our sleeping brain weaves into stories

• Critics: A very neurosciencey explanation, so it doesn’t acknowledge that our brain is still trying to tell us something about ourselves

Cognitive Development Theory

Dream content reflects dreamer’s level of cognitive development (knowledge and understanding)

• Critics: Does not address the neuroscience of dreams

Psychoactive Drugs

A chemical substance that alters moods and perceptions

Substance Use Disorder

A disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption or physical risk

• Diminished control

• Diminished social functioning

• Hazardous use (continues to use despite hazards)

• Drug action (more tolerance)

Tolerance

Larger doses to achieve a desired effect of a drug

Withdrawal

Significant discomfort that occurs when trying to quit

Depressants

Reduce neural activity and slow down bodily functions

• Includes alcohol, opiates, barbiturates

Impact of ALCOHOL on the body

Slows neural processing 

• Low doses: Drinker relaxes

• Larger doses: Slow reactions, slurred speech, skilled performances deteriorate 

Disrupts memory formation

• Blackouts (Drinker forgets what they do or say while intoxicated)

Reduces self-awareness

• Mind wanders, but drinker doesn’t notice that their mind is wandering

Alcohol Expectancy Effects

People are more likely to blame their behaviors on alcohol if they think they consumed it, even if they didn’t

• EX: People were more willing to share their sexual fantasies without guilt because they thought they were tipsy or drunk 

Barbiturate

Depresses the central nervous system

• Pleasurable Effects: Reduces anxiety, induces sleep

• Negative Aftereffects: Impairs memory and judgment

Opiates

INCLUDES HEROIN, OPIUM, and MORPHINE

Depresses the central nervous system

• Pleasurable Effects: Temporary pain relief, euphoric rush

• Negative Aftereffects: Depressed physiology, agonizing withdrawal

Stimulants

Excites neural activity and speed up bodily functions

• Include nicotine, amphetamine, meth, and ecstasy 

Caffeine

A stimulant found in sodas, coffee, etc

• Pleasurable Effects: Increased alertness and wakefulness

• Negative Aftereffects: Anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia (in high doses); uncomfortable withdrawal

Nicotine

A stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco

• Pleasurable Effects: Arousal and relaxation, positive sense of well-being

• Negative Aftereffects: Heart disease, cancer

Cocaine

A powerful and addictive stimulant derived from the coca plant

• Pleasurable Effects: Rush of euphoria, confident energy

• Negative Aftereffects: Cardiovascular stress, suspiciousness, depression crash

Amphetamine

Drugs, such as Methamphetamine, that stimulate neural activity

• Causes accelerated body functions

• Associated with energy and mood changes

Methamphetamine

A powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, it appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels

• Pleasurable Effects: Euphoria, alertness, energy

• Negative Aftereffects: Irritability, insomnia, hypertension, seizures

Ecstasy

A synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen

AKA MDMA or Molly (in its powder form)

• Pleasurable Effects: Emotional elevation, high energy

• Negative Aftereffects: Dehydration, overheating, depressed mood, impaired cognitive and immune functioning

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input (hallucinations)

• Includes Marijuana and LSD

Near-death experience

An altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as cardiac arrest)

• Often similar to drug-induced hallucinations

  • EX: Seeing light at the end of the tunnel, out of body sensations, replaying old memories

LSD

A powerful hallucinogen drug

AKA ACID or LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE

• Pleasurable Effects: VISUAL TRIP

• Negative Aftereffects: Risk of panic

Marijuana

A mild hallucinogen that contains THC (main ingredient) in its flowers and leaves

• Pleasurable Effects: Enhanced sensation, pain relief, time feels distorted, relaxation

• Negative Aftereffects: Impaired learning and memory, increased risk of psychological disorders