Psychology - States of Consciousness

consciousness

awareness with one’s self and one’s environment

circadian rhythm

biological clock that is genetically programmed to regulate physiological responses within a time period of 24 hours

stage one

the “dozing off” stage 

1-5 minutes

Your brain slows down-from alpha to theta waves

Your heartbeat, your eye movements, and your breathing slow with it

Your body relaxes, and your muscles may twitch

stage two (NREM)

stage where sleep spindles appear

stages three and four

Delta (slow) wave sleep

Muscles are completely relaxed

Metabolic rates are very low

Physical repairs happen:

Immune system goes to work

Endocrine glands secrete growth hormones

Blood is sent to muscles to be reconditioned

Brain consolidates declarative memories

for example, general knowledge, facts or statistics, personal experiences, and other things you have learned.

REM

eyes move rapidly in their sockets during this stage

REM sleep progression

REM periods lengthen throughout the night; most vivid dreams occur; essential for learning and memory.

REM muscle paralysis

Voluntary muscles are paralyzed to prevent movement during dreams.

NREM sleep

Restorative; involves body repair, growth hormone secretion, and is associated with sleepwalking and night terrors.

REM sleep

Involves vivid dreams, brain activity, memory processing, and muscle paralysis; necessary for brain development.

repair theory

Suggests sleep restores energy, supports immune function, and promotes physical and mental repair.

adaptive theory

Proposes sleep evolved to protect organisms from nighttime dangers and conserve energy.

sleep deprivation effects

Weakens immune system, increases stress hormones, disrupts metabolism, causes mood swings and focus issues.

information processing theory

Dreams help sort and store daily experiences into memory, aiding learning.

physiological functioning theory

Dreams maintain neural pathways and support brain development through stimulation.

cognitive development theory

Dreams reflect current knowledge and cognitive maturity, resembling real-world thinking.

lucid dreaming

Dreaming while aware that one is dreaming.

id

The primitive, unconscious part of the mind driven by desires and instincts.

ego

The rational, conscious self that mediates between the id and superego.

superego

The moral center that enforces ethical conduct and societal rules.

jung’s view on dreams

Dreams are spiritual messages from the unconscious guiding the self toward wholeness.

shadow

The repressed, darker side of the self; often appears in dreams as threatening figures.

freudian projection

A defense mechanism where personal desires are projected onto others in dreams.

causes of hallucinations

Hypnosis, meditation, drugs, withdrawal, sleep deprivation, fatigue, intense emotion, or breakdowns.

hypnosis

A suggestible state of consciousness where individuals may follow guided instructions.

post-hypnotic suggestion

A command given during hypnosis, carried out after the session.

effects of meditation

Reduces stress, depression, anxiety, pain, and insomnia; improves quality of life.

drug effects on consciousness

Alter perception, mood, and cognition; may induce hallucinations.

activation synthesis theory

Dreams are the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity during REM sleep by creating a story from signals sent by the brainstem.