PSYC 1650 CH. 4 FLASHCARDS

Consciousness

defined is a state of awareness - both inner and outer awareness

Unconsciousness

is defined as a lack of awareness

Medical disorders of consciousness (DOC's)

coma, vegetative state and minimally conscious state

Automatic processes

Some things in humans are always working and considered 'automatic processes'

Polysomnograph

is used in sleep research

Stages of sleep

5 stages of sleep - stage 1, stage 2, stages 3&4 (known as slow wave sleep SWS) and REM

NONREM sleep

Stages 1-4 are NONREM

REM sleep

a stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements and a high level of brain activity

Atonia

sleep paralysis - the postural muscles are most relaxed

Evolutionary theory of sleep

'sleep enables us to keep out of harms way at night'

Restoration theory

proposes that sleep provides 'time out' to help us recover from depleting activities during waking time

Information processing theory

dreams help us sort out the day's events and consolidate our memories

Effects of REM deprivation

if deprived of REM, the body's attempts to enter REM increase - you'll see mood alterations, increases in appetite and weight, some mild hallucinations

Sleep deprivation

is a stressor

Dyssomnias

disorders that involve falling or remaining asleep

Insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

Apnea

absence of breathing

Narcolepsy

uncontrollable sleep attacks

Parasomnias

Characterized by unwanted behaviors occurring during the sleep period, often due to partial awakening

REM Behavior Disorder

a disorder in which the muscle paralysis that normally occurs during REM sleep is absent or incomplete, and the sleeper is able to act out his or her dreams

Night Terrors

occur when an individual wakes up in a panic, with no idea why

Hypnosis

Consider hypnosis a placebo effect - there are no experimentally designed studies to validate it as a fact

Meditation

as an altered state in a nutshell all leads to changes that result from a decrease in sympathetic arousal

Dopamine

reinforcement center of the brain

Psychoactive Drugs

chemically alter consciousness - and there are legal (caffeine) and illegal (heroin) ones

Reinforcing drugs

Any drug that is reinforcing works on a particular brain area responsible for reinforcement

Depressants

slow the normal functions of the CNS - they may decrease anxiety (and lower inhibitions), help with sleep etc.

Opiates

heroin (reaches the brain quickly) morphine

Stimulant drugs

increase or enhance the activity of the CNS, these include: (Caffeine, Nicotine, Cocaine, Amphetamines)

Hallucinogens

drugs that produce dramatic changes in mood and perception - some produce hallucinations, perceptual and time distortions or anxiety