PSY 105 CH 4 - States of Consciousness

What is Consciousness?

When you are aware of both internal and external stimuli, such as light detection and hunger.

What is Wakefulness?

When your levels of awareness, sensory behavior, and thoughts are very high.

What is a biological rhythm?

A cycle of internal biological activity, such as menstrual cycle, sleep/wake cycle.

What brain part controls our biological rhythms? 🦛

The Hypothalamus.

What is the suprachiasmatic nucleus? 🦛 🕐👁🌞🌚

located in the hypothalamus, serves as the, brain’s clock mechanism. The clock is in tune with light projections from the retina, which is why light is important for sleep/wake cycle.

What is sleep debt?

Means you don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis.

What is Sleep rebound?

People who don’t sleep enough fall asleep faster.

What areas of the brain are involved in sleep?

Hypothalamus, thalamus, pituitaray gland, superchiasmic nucleus, pineal gland, pons

What are the three brainwaves during sleep?

Alpha, Theta, Delta.

Alpha brain waves are:

low frequency, high amplitude, synchronized, 

Theta brain waves have:

Low frequency & amplitude.

Delta brain waves have:

low frequency, high amplitude, not synchronized.

Difference between delta and alpha brain waves is:

Alpha brain waves are synchronized, but delta waves are not.

What occurs in stage 1 of sleeping?

- Transitional phase occurring between wakefulness and sleep.
- Rates of respiration and heartbeat slow down.
- Overall muscle tension and core body temperature decrease.
- Alpha waves

What happens during stage 2 of sleep?

- The body goes into deep relaxation.
- Theta waves
- Characterized by the appearance of both sleep spindles and K- complexes.

What is a sleep spindle?

Rapid burst of high frequency brainwaves

What are K-complexes?

very high amplitude pattern of brain activity.

What happens during stage 3 & 4 sleep?

- Known as slow-wave sleep.
- Delta waves.
- Respiration and heart rate slow down further.

What happens during REM sleep?

Rapid eye movement. Muscles are paralyzed, you dream. Brain waves are similar to those seen during wakefulness.

How did Freud see dreams? 2 points.

He believed in manifest content (the actual content of the dream) and the latent content (the hidden meaning of the dream.

What is the collective unconscious, and who penned this term?

Carl Jung. Theoretical repository of information shared by all people across cultures. Like shared archetypes.

What is parasomnia? What are the three types of it?

Unwanted motor behavior during sleep. REM sleep behavior disorder, Restless leg syndrome, Night terrors

What is REM sleep behaviour disorder?

When muscles do NOT paralyze during rapid eye movement stage of sleep.

What is restless leg syndrome?

When you try to fall asleep and your legs hurt.

When do night terrors occur?

Occur during NREM sleep.

What is obstructive vs central sleep apnea?

Obstructive is when your airway gets blocked, and central is when the central nervous system fails to initiate breaths.

Treatment for sleep apnea?

CPAP machine pumps air into the lungs.

What is narcolepsy?

The irresistible urge to fall asleep during waking hours.

What is narcolepsy caused by? 2 factors.

Triggered by states of heightened arousal or stress.

What characteristics does narcolepsy share with REM sleep?

Cataplexy – loss of muscle tone while awake or in some cases complete paralysis of the voluntary muscles.
Hypnagogic hallucinations - vivid, dream-like hallucinations.

What is the difference between psychological and physiological dependence on drugs?

Physiological dependence means that your body can’t function without it, like withdrawal in alcohol. Psychological dependence means that you have an emotional need for the drug.

What are depressants?

They suppress central nervous system activity. They work by binding to GABA receptors which makes the neuron less likely to fire. GABA agonists have a quieting effect on the brain.

Includes:

- Alcohol
- Barbiturates (anticonvulsant medication)
- Benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety medication)

What do stimulants do?

Increase overall levels of neural activity.

How is dopamine involved in the stimulant process?

Usually dopamine agonists which work by preventing the reuptake of dopamine.
Dopamine activity is associated with reward and craving, therefore these drugs can be highly addictive

Examples of dopamine stimulants:

- Cocaine
- Amphetamine
- Cathinones (i.e., bath salts)
- MDMA

What are opioids? BUT YOU’RE FRIENDS AND IF ANYONE THINKS YOU’RE DATING THEN THAT’S THEIR PROBLEMMMMMMMM

They decrease pain through their effects on the endogenous opioid neurotransmitter system.

Examples of opioids

- Heroine
- Morphine
- Methadone
- Codeine

What do hallucinogens do? 

They change the way you perceive and sense things.

Examples of hallucinogens:

- Mescaline and LSD (serotonin agonists).
- PCP and ketamine (NMDA glutamate receptor antagonists).

Hypnosis Info Dump (bc im just so good at studying and totally not lazy lolll but it’s halloween and I have to finish my costume

Hypnosis is an extreme focus on the self that involves suggested changes of behavior and experience.
- Clinicians may use relaxation and suggestion in an attempt to alter the thoughts and perceptions of a patient.
- Has been used to draw out information believed to be buried in someone’s memory.
- Unlike portrayals in the media, individuals undergoing hypnosis are in control of their own behaviors.
- People vary in their ability to be hypnotized.
- Uses include pain management, treatment of depression and anxiety, quitting smoking and weight loss