Consciousness and the Two-track mind

consciousness

Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.

(Eg. Aware of your
feeling of anger and frustration)

Hypnosis

A state of focussed attention and heightened suggestibility.

(Eg. Used to help
someone relax or help
reduce pain)

Cognitive neuroscience

Study of how brain activity links to cognitive mental processes.

(Eg. Prefrontal cortex
guides choices in
decision making)

Selective Attention

Focusing conscious awareness on a particular stimulus.

(Eg. Listening to your
friend talk in a noisy
cafeteria)

Inattentional blindness

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere.

Change Blindness

Failing to notice changes in the environment; a form of inattentional blindness.

Dual Processing

The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.

(Eg. When you’re reading: consciously learning information and unconsciously
recognizing words)

Blindsight

A condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it. (Eg. A blind person avoids obstacles while walking in a hallway)

Parallel Processing

Processing many aspects of a stimulus or problem simultaneously.

(Eg. While driving: watch the road, move the wheel, listen to sounds, etc)

Sequential processing

Processing one aspect of a stimulus or problem at a time; generally used to process new information or to solve difficult problems

(Eg. Solving a hard math problem)

Sleep

A natural, periodic state of rest for the body and mind, marked by altered consciousness and brain activity

Circadian rhythm

Biological clock. Regular bodily rhythm that occur in a 24 hour cycle.

REM Sleep

Sleep stage with rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and brain activity similar to being awake.

Alpha Waves

The relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

(ex: closing your eyes but not asleep yet)

Hallucinations

False sensory experiences. Seeing smth in the absence of an external visual stimulus.

Delta Waves

The large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep.

Suprachiasmatic nucleus

Pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm (biological clock)

In response to light the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production.

Insomnia

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.

effects: chronic tiredness, obesity, hypertension, irritability, mood issues etc.

Narcolepsy

Sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks.

• may lapse directly into REM sleep

Sleep Apnea

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

Night Terrors

High arousal and an appearance of being terrified. Night terrors occur during N3 sleep. (within 203 H of sleep) seldom remembered.

Dream

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

Manifest content

According to freud. the storyline of a dream that you remember.

Latent Content

According to Freud, the hidden, symbolic, meaning of a dream.

REM Rebound

The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation.

ex: staying up = more likely to sleep in REM sleep the next night.

Psychoactive drug

A chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood

ex: alcohol, nicotine, marijuana

Substance use Disorder

A disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and or physical risk.

Tolerance

Repeated drug use makes the dose less effective so you need more of that substance to feel the same effect.

addiction

Compulsive craving for a substance, despite negative consequences.

Withdrawal

Experiencing discomfort or distress when stopping or reducing a drug after dependence.

depressants

drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

ex: alcohol, and opiates

alcohol use disorder

alcoholism

alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal and a drive to continue problematic use.

Barbiturate

drug that depress central nervous system activity, reduces anxiety but impairing memory and judgement.

Opiates

Opium and its derivatives. depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.

Stimulant

Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

ex: caffeine, nicotine, cocain, amphetamines, etc.

amphetamines

drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes.

nicotine

a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco products

cocaine

powerful addictive stimulant derived from coca plant. produces temporarily increased alertness and euphoria.

methamphetamine

powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system. accelerated body functions associated energy and mood changes. over time reduces baseline dopamine levels.

ecstasy/MDMA

synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short term health risks and longer term harm to serotonin producing neurons.

hallucinogen

Psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

Near-Death Experience

Altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death; often similar to drug induced hallucinations.

ex: cardiac arrest

LSD

Lysergic acid diethyl-amide

powerful hallucinogenic drug

THC

Delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol; The major active ingredient in marijuana

mild hallucinations