chap 6 - consciousness

consciousness

subjective awareness of internal and external events

attention

internal processes that set priorities for mental functioning

dichotic listening

2 message in separate ears, asked to repeat one aloud and ignore the other

cocktail party effect

able to zone out unwanted noise around you. but if you heard your name is brought up suddenly hear the conversation

automaticity

• fast and effortless thinking with little attention

• can measure through a divided attention task, when one task (automatic) doesnt interfere with performance of another

visual neglect

caused by damage to right parietal lobe of cerebral cortex, ignore things that appear on left side of body

ADHD

believed that it can be genetic

biological rhythm + circadian rhythm

transition from waking to sleep. circadian is activities that rise and fall along 24 hour cycle

biological clock

• structure in brain that controls rhythmic activities 

• suprachiasmatic nucleus: part of the hypothalamus, plays a role in regulating clock

alpha waves

• high amplitude and cycle in slower manner, when brain is in relaxed state

theta waves

• dominant pattern of N1 sleep (official first stage of sleep)

• lower in amplitude and slightly more irregular 

stage N2

• theta waves interrupted by short bursts of activity (sleep spindles) also sudden sharp waveforms ( K complexes ) 

• definitely asleep, brain sensitive to outside world

stage N3

• deeper state, synchronized slow wave patterns

• delta activity

• higher amplitude and slow cycle 

REM + REM rebound

• patterns reflect waking state, but deeply asleep

• if woken up, very alert

• cycle REM 4-5 times

• rebound: the more rem sleep lost, the more body tries to make it up the next night

manifest content

actual symbols of dreams

latent content

hidden desires too disturbing to be expressed consciously 

why do we sleep? (theories)

• repair + restoration: sleep restores body and brain; why: increase in growth hormone during slow wave sleep

• survival value: sleep increases chance of survival; why: cat sleeps more than cow

why do we dream? (theories)

• wish fulfillment (freud): psychological mechanism for fulfillment of wishes (unsure0

• activation-synthesis hypothesis: dreaming as a consequence of random activity in the brain during rem (dreaming isn’t only during rem tho)

• problem solving: helps put current events to find solutions (doesnt affect behavior irl tho)

• threat simulation: dreaming evolved tohelp us practice skills needed to avoid threats (unsure) 

insomina

difficulty maintaining/starting sleep; has to last for over a month to be legit

hypersomnia

• too much sleep

• can be caused by sleep apnea: repeatedly stops breathing throughout the night which wakes up the person

narcolepsy

• sudden extreme sleepiness

• linked to absence of certain neurotransmitters

nightmares

• anxiety dreams during rem that cause person to wake up

• can cause insomnia

night terrors

sleeper awakens suddenly in extreme state of panic; non rem sleep, not linked to serious condition

sleepwalking

rises during sleep and walks; not during rem, no serious condition

psychoactive

drugs labeled as affecting behavior and mental processes through changes in conscious awareness

drug tolerance / dependency

increasing amounts needed to produce same effect. dependency is physical/phycological need for continued use to the point of withdrawals where body develops symptoms from not using 

depressants

• slow ongoing activity in central nervous system

• ethyl alcohol, barbiturates, tranquilizers

• alc. increases effect of number of neurotransmitters

opiates

• depress nervous system activity

• decrease anxiety increase mood

• opium, heroine, morphine

• mimics endorphines

stimulant

• increases central nervous system activity

• caffeine, nicotine, cocaine

• increase alertness, increase norepinephrine and dopamine

hallucinogens

• LSD mimics serotonin

• some people report synthesia (blending of senses) 

hypnosis

• form of social interaction that produces heightened state of suggestibility in a willing participant

• people who are hypnotized don’t go to sleep 

• doesn’t only target weak willed people

• hypnotic hypermnesia: myth that hypnosis can improve memory 

• patterns mimic someone who is awake, not asleep

hypnotic dissociations

• divided consciousness: one side follows the commands of the hypnotist and the other side, the observer, experiences pain but doesn’t reveal it to the observer 

meditation

• participant alone seeks to manipulate awareness

• leads primarily to alpha waves rather than theta waves