Chapter 3 Psychology David Myers (Consciousness & Two-Track Mind)

Consciousness

Awareness of ourselves and our environment

Cognitive Neuroscience

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language).

Dual Proccesing

Information is simoultaniouusly proccesed on seperate concious and unconcious tracks. (Ie. Driving)

Subconcious

That portion of mental activity not directly in the focus of conciousness but sometimes susceptible to recall and makes us do things we're not aware of.

Parallel Processing

The processing of several aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. Contrasts with the step-by-step (serial) processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving.

Serial Concious Proccesing

Requires concious thought and is processed one step at a time.

Selective Attention

The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

Cocktail Party Effect

Our body only allows us to listen to one stimulus. We cannot pay attention to another. (Ie: Athletes, Pregnant Women)

Choice Blindness

Refers to ways in which people are blind to their own choices and preferences

Pop-Out

The ability to notice simuli that is different than other stimulus.

Biological Rhythms

Periodic fluctuations in physiological functioning. (Body Temp, Sleep Cycle, Hormone Cycle) Cannot alter this rhythm, it is a free run cycle.

Circadian Rhythm

Regular body rhythms that occur over a 24 hour period. (Level of alertness. Based on the amount of light the retina receives, it makes the hypothalmus do something such as release of melotonin) , A cycle or rhythm that is roughly 24 hours long; the cyclical daily fluctuations in biological and psychological processes.

Internal Circadian Clock

This helps with sleep cycle. Light affects sleep habits and is the best way to break jet lag.

Relaxed State of Sleep

Measured using EEG --> Shows Alpha Waves which are slow waves of our relaxed state.

Stage 1 of Sleep (Twilight Stage)

1. Very relaxed state right before sleep.

2. Electrical activity, blood pressure, and heart rate go down.

3. Mind starts to wonder--> hallucinations

4. No reccolection between being awake vs. asleep

Stage 2 of Sleep

1. Brain Waves become rhythmic and have spindles.

2. Might talk in sleep.

3. Clearly asleep.

Stage 3 + 4 of Sleep (NREM Sleep)

1. Delta Waves are given out.

2. Hard to wake someone up in this stage

3. Some dreamlike symptoms (are poorly organized)

4. Kids wet the bed in these two stages.

REM Sleep

1. First Dream --> 5 min

2. Dreams increase in length

3. Eyes dart around very fast

4. Paradoxical Sleep - internally aroused and externally calm

5. Breathing/Heart Rate increase

6.Body is paralyzed --> brain stem shuts down signals to extremities

7. As sleep goes on, REM gets longer and Stages 3 + 4 get shorter

Sleep Deprived

Need to catch up and makes you experience REM rebound which increases REM sleep duration and shortens other stages.

blindsight

A condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it

inattentional blindness

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

change blindness

Failing to notice changes in the environment

alpha waves

the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

hallucinations

-False sensory perceptions that are not in response to an external stimulus

delta waves

the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

insomnia

Difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep

narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

sleep apnea

A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings.

night terrors

A sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during Stage 4 sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered

dream

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind. Dreams are notable for their hallucinatory imagery, discontinuities, and incongruities, and for the dreamer's delusional acceptance of the content and later difficulties remembering it.

manifest content

According to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream

latent content

According to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream

REM rebound

The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation (created by repeated awakenings during REM sleep)

hypnosis

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

posthypnotic suggestion

A suggestion, made during a hypnosis session, to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized; used by some clinicians to help control undesired symptoms and behaviors.

dissociation

A split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others.

psychoactive drug

A chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood

tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect

addiction

Compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences.

withdrawal

A pattern of uncomfortable or painful physical symptoms and cravings experienced by the user when the level of drug is decreased or the drug is eliminated.

physical dependence

A physiological need for a drug, marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued

psychological dependence

A psychological need to use a drug, such as to relieve negative emotions

alcohol dependence

Alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal if suspended, and a drive to continue use.

barbituates

drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but imparing memory and judgement

opiates

Opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.

stimulants

Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

amphetamines

Drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes

nicotine

A stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco