State of Conciousness

Ch.4

Consciousness

awareness of internal and external stimuli such as feelings of hunger and pain or detection of light

wakefulness

high levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior

biological rhythm

an internal cycle of biological activity (fluctuations of body temp, menstrual cycle, level of alertness)

Circadian Rhythm

biological rhythm that occurs over 24 hours, generated by the SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus)

Hypothalamus

is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, the tendency to maintain a balance, or optimal level, within a biological system, controls our biological rhythm

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

Serves as the brain’s clock mechanism located in the hypothalamus, sets itself with light information received through the eye, letting it synchronize with the outside world.

Melatonin release

is stimulated by darkness making us sleepy and inhibited by daylight, released by pineal gland

sleep regulation

the brain’s control of switching between sleep and wakefulness as well as coordinating this cycle with the outside world

Person’s chronotype

individual circadian pattern of activity

Disruptions of sleep

Jet lag, rotating shift work

Sleep debt

results of insufficient sleep on a chronic basis

sleep rebound

A sleep-deprived individual will tend to take a shorter time to fall asleep during subsequent opportunities for sleep

sleep

is a state marked by relatively low physical activity and a reduced sense of awareness. (look in notes as well)

why do we sleep?

restores resources, effective memory function, healthier weight, lower stress, mood improves, increased coordination.

Alpha

relatively low frequency, relatively high amplitude, synchronized

Theta

Low frequency, low amplitude

Delta

Low frequency, high amplitude, desynchronized

Stage 1

transitional phase between awake/sleep, rates of respiration/heartbeat slow down, muscle tension/core body temperature decreases, alpha waves

Stage 2

body goes into deep relaxation, theta waves, characterized by the appearance of both sleep spindles and k-complexes

sleep spindles

rapid bursts of high frequency brainwaves

k-complexes

very high amplitude patterns

stage 3

slow-wave sleep, delta waves, respiration/heart rate slow down more

rapid eye movement (REM)

rapid eye movements, paralysis of voluntary muscles, dreams, brain waves are similar to those during wakefulness

hypnogram

is a diagram of the stages of sleep as they occur during a period of sleep

Sigmund Freud Dreams

saw dreams as a way to gain access to the unconscious, manifest content, latent content

Manifest content

the actual content of the dream

Latent content

the hidden message of the dream

Carl Jung Dreams

believed that dreams allowed us to tap into the collective unconscious

Collective unconscious

The theoretical repository of information shared by all people across cultures believed that certain symbols in dreams reflected universal archetypes.

Lucid dreams

Certain aspects of wakefulness are maintained during a dreaming state, and a person becomes aware that they are dreaming.

Insomnia

difficulty falling/staying asleep for at least 3 nights a week for at least one months time. Factors: age, drug use, exercise, mental status, bedtime routines. Treatment: stress management techniques, changes in problematic behaviors, cognitive-behavioral therapy

Parasomnia

sleepwalking, REM sleep behavior disorder (high levels of physical activity, treated with clonazepam), restless leg syndrome, night terrors, sleep apnea

Sleep apnea

when individuals stop breathing during their sleep, usually for 10-20 seconds or longer which can increase fatigue.

obstructive

airways become blocked and air is prevented from entering the lungs

central

CNS fails to initiate breathes CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines as treatment

Substance use disorder

is a compulsive pattern of drug use despite negative consequences

Physiological dependence

involves changes in normal bodily functions and withdrawal upon cessation of use

Psychological dependence

emotional need for drugs

tolerance

A person requires more and more of a drug to achieve effects previously experienced at lower doses, linked to physiological dependence

withdrawal

negative symptoms experienced when drug use is discontinued

Depressants

drugs that suppress the CNS activity, GABA agonists, which have a quieting effect on the brain, make neurons less likely to fire

types of depressants

alcohol (decreased reaction time/visual activity/alertness/behavioral control, can result in (blacking out), barbiturates (anticonvulsant), benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety)

GABA-gated chloride channel

is embedded in the cell membrane of certain neurons, multiple receptor sites where the types of depressants bind to exert their effects, pushes negatively charged Cl into the cell body and pushes neurons away from firing quitting effect on brain.

Stimulants

increase overall levels of neural activity, Rewards and Craving, Effects (nausea, elevated blood pressure/heart rate, feeling of anxiety, hallucinations/paranoia

types of stimulants

Cocaine, amphetamine, cathinones (bath salt), caffeine, Nicotine

Opiods

serves as analgesics (decreased pain) through their effects on the endogenous opioid neurotransmitter system, Highly addictive

types of opioids

Heroine, morphine, methadone, codeine

Hallucinogens

causes changes in sensory and perpetual experiences, vivid hallucinations

Hypnosis

Maybe used to alter the thoughts/perception of a patient, draw out information that’s buried in someone’s’ memory, in control of own behavior/vary in ability to be hypnotized. Uses: pain management, treatment of depression/anxiety, quitting smoking, and weight loss

meditation

relaxed, yet focuses awareness, stress management, sleep quality, pain management, treatment of mood/anxiety disorders.