Psychology Chapter 3 (Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind)

Consciousness

Subjective awareness of self and environment

Conscious Awareness

Helps make sense of life, focuses attention when learning a behavior, fluctuates between different states of consciousness

Cognitive Neuroscience

Interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with cognition

Cognitive Neuroscientists

Explore and map conscious cortex function and can sometimes “read” minds

Selective Attention

Focusing consciousness on a particular stimulus (Cocktail party effect)

Inattentional Blindness

Failure to see visible objects when attention is directed elsewhere

Change Blindness

Failure to notice changes in the environment: form of inattentional blindness

Sleep

Periodic, natural loss of consciousness- as distant from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia or hibernation

REM Sleep (R Sleep)

Rapid eye movement, sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Ascension from initial sleep, only sleep where dreams are made

Alpha Waves

Relatively slow brainwaves of a relaxed, awake state

N1 Sleep

First stage of non-rem sleep

Microsleep

Very short sleep period

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences that occur without a sensory stimulus from the outside world; hypnagogic (hyping) sensations

N2 Sleep

Bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain-wave activity that aid memory processing; speed spindles

N3 Sleep

Deep, slow-wave sleep

Delta Waves

Large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep (N3)

Sleep Deprivation

Causes fatigue and irritability, impairs concentration, productivity, memory consolidation. Can also lead to weight gain, depression, joint pain, and a suppressed immune system

Insomnia

Every 1 in 4 adults, ongoing difficulty falling or staying asleep; results in chronic tiredness, increased depressions, obesity, and hypertension

Narcolepsy

Every 1 in 2000 adults, sudden attacks of overwhelming sleepiness; results in risk of falling asleep at a dangerous moment

Sleep Apnea

Every 1 in 20 adults, stopping breathing repeatedly while sleeping; results in fatigue, depression, associated with obesity in men

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Every 1 in 100 adults, 2 in 100 older adults, dream-enacting behaviors and dramatic motor behaviors during REM sleep; may cause serious injury to self or others and associated with distress or embarrassment

Sleepwalking and Sleepwalking

Every 1-15 out of 100 in the general population, doing normal activities while sleeping

Night Terrors

Every 1 in 100 adults, 1 in 30 children, appearing terrified, talking nonsense, sitting up, or walking around during N3, different than nightmares.

Dream

Sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind

Substance Use Disorder

Disorder characterized by continued substance use despite significant life disruption.

Psychoactive Drug

Natural or synthetic chemical substance that alters the brain, causing changes in perceptions, moods, thoughts and behaviors.

Tolerance

With repeated use, desired effect requiring larger doses

Addiction

Compulsive craving of drugs or certain behaviors, despite known harmful outcomes

Withdrawal

Discomfort and distress that follow discontinuation of addictive behavior or drug

Depressants

Drugs such as alcohol, barbiturates and opiates that calm neural activity and slow body functions

Barbiturates (Tranquilizers)

Depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment. Are lethal when paired with alcohol

Stimulants

Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amephetamine, and methamphetamine) that excite neutral activity and speed up body functions

Cocaine

Produces psychological effects dependent on dosage and form consumed and users expectations and personality

Methamphetamine

Powerfully addictive drug, stimulates central nervous system, accelerated body functions, and associated energy and mood changes. Reduces baseline dopamine levels

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic (mind manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input. Synthetic: LSD and ecstasy, Natural: Psylocybin, ketamine

LSD

Powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid (lysergic and diethyl amide)

Ecstasy (MDMA)

Synthetic stimulant and hallucinogen, produces euphoria and social intimacy but with short term health risks and long term changes to serotonin producing neurons and to mood and cognition

Addiction

Increasing larger doses (tolerance); withdrawal symptoms, endorphin production decreases