Unit 3: Altered States of Consciousness

Types of altered states

asleep, hypnosis, daydreams, meditation, coma, drug induced, hallucinations, anesthesia

amount of time in altered states over lifetime

1/3 of life

Sleep stage 1

breathing becomes even, eyes roll, brain waves grow irregular (10 mins)

Sleep stage 2

brain waves begin fluctuation between high and low voltages (20-30 mins)

sleep stage 3

deepest stage of sleep, large regular delta waves (30 mins - 1st cycle 10 mins - last cycle)

EEG (electroencephalograph)

records electrical activity in the brain

Quiet sleep

non-REM (orthodox)

active sleep

REM (paradox) 25% of sleep

dreams

mental activity during sleep (REM, easiest to remember)

Freud and dreams

believed dreams were full of hidden meanings

Kleitman and dreams

believed dreams weren't important and serve no purpose

life stage: newborns

16-18 hours of sleep (50% REM)

life stage: 16-18 years old

9-11 hours of sleep

life stage: young adult

8 hours of sleep

life stage: average adult

6-8 hours of sleep (25% REM)

sleep cycle

1-2-3-2-1-REM (90 mins)

hypnosis

person becomes highly suggestible and does not use their critical thinking skills

hallucinogens

natural (mescaline, psilocybin) or synthetic (LSD, ecstasy, PCP) and marijuana

meditation/relaxation

intended to clear your mind and achieve "inner peace"

insomnia

the inability to sleep at night (not disorder)

hypersomnolense

excessive daytime sleepiness (not disorder)

apnea

to cease to breathe (obstructive sleep apnea + central sleep apnea)

nocturnal myoclonus

shock-like contractions of major muscles or groups of muscles

narcolepsy

sudden almost uncontrollable need to go to sleep for about 15-20 minutes

cataplexy

sudden loss of muscle tone for a minute or less

parapsychology

systematic study of ESP (extra sensory perception) and other unusual phenomena