Alterd States of Consciousness

Consciousness

Being aware of and responsive to the world around us

Preconsciousness

We are not consciously aware of something, but it is there

Subconsciousness

There are things that we can’t express, we just know

Unconsciousness

Our hidden deposit of experiences and feeling that shape who we are. This is pretty much how we were raised to be

Controlled Processes

Things that require our 100% focus

Automatic Processes

Things that we can multitask

Daydreaming

What we do when our minds want something interesting to focus on. Similar to flipping channels on tv

Meditation

A practice of directing your focus from your day to day life

Hypnosis

Directing your focus SOLEY on one thing

What is needed for Hypnosis?

Willingness, focus, and trust

The Hidden Observer Theory

You can somehow separate your mind from your body. Disassociation

The Sociocognitive Theory

We have been trained to meet certain requirements, and there are positive outcomes. Rule-followers

Post-hypnotic suggestion

Plant a prompt that is dormant until activated (1,2,3 in Hypnosis videos)

Imagined Perception

You experience the world as you are told, rather than what's real

Hypnotic Analgesia

Using hypnosis for pain relief

Post-hypnotic amnesia

Memory loss after hypnosis (kids in video not remembering what they did during hypnosis)

Age Regression

When you think that you are younger in Hypnosis so that they can figure out things of your childhood

Prosopagnosia

You see a face, but you can not figure out who it is

Fusiform face area

The place of the brain where we recognize that a face is a face

Coma

Being unaware and unresponsive to the world around us

Persistent vegetative state

You have responsiveness but no awareness of the world. You can make some sound and movement

Brain death

In the absence of blood flow, the brain will die

Seizures

A brain attack, too much electrical activity

Partial seizures

Sometimes seizures will only affect one part of the brain

Generalized seizures

Seizure in which you loose total body control

Absence seizures

The absence of normal behavior, you loose functionality. Your body will just simply stop moving

Memory consolidation

Brain processing and organizing information during sleep

Human growth hormone

Helps us to grow during sleep

Superchiasmatic nucleus

Drives all of our sleep, determines whether we are asleep or awake. This triggers the pineal gland.

Melatonin

Sleep hormone

Sunlight

Chief influence of superchiasmatic nucleus. Jetlag comes from time zones.

Circadian Rhythym

Daily cycle of alertness and awakeness

The Reticular Formation

Paralyzing our voluntary muscle movement so we don’t act out our dreams

REM Sleep

Stage where we dream - Beta Waves

Stage 1

Theta Waves - light sleep

Stage 2

Solid Sleep - K Complex

Stage 3

Delta Waves - Deepest sleep - when we might sleepwalk/talk etc.

When we pass through stage 1-3…

Brain waves become larger and less frequent, and autonomic functions are dimished

Cycling back to REM

The process reverses for both the brain and body

Major voluntary muscles

They will become unresponsive during REM stage, and the vast majority of dreaming will take place

Sleep time with aging

As we age, we sleep less, and spend a larger time NOT in REM stage

Night Terrors

Takes place during stage 3. Some people will have terribly intense negative dreams

Somnambulism

Movement in sleep that also occurs during stage 3. Most common is sleep-walking and sleep-talking

Onset Insomnia

Trouble falling asleep

Maintenance Insomnia

No problem falling asleep, but trouble staying asleep

Narcolepsy

Falling asleep rapidly during the day time, often from stress

Cataplexy (Sleep paralysis)

You are awake but your muscle movements are still paralyzed so that you can’t move

Sleep apnea

Your breathing stops, and your brain recognizes it, which causes snoring

Restless legs syndrome

Makes your legs NEED to move when you wake up

Wish-fulfillment

Dreaming about fantasies our mind wants

Activation-synthesis theory

Dreams are random temps by the brain so we weave something plausible

Extension-of-waking-life or problem-solving theory

You will continue to dream about what you fell asleep too (music, tv, etc)

Sigmund Freud

Developed the psychoanalytic theory

Psychoanalytic theory

We do what we do, we feel what we feel, because of hidden influences from our past

Manifest content

The literal meaning of a dream

Latent content (hidden/underlying)

Hidden content of a dream

Psycho-active drugs

They are used to alter mood, thinking, or perception (Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, etc.)

Reasons for drugs

1. To expand awareness

2. To enhance moods and experiences

3. To solve or escape problems

Dopamine

Drugs stimulate dopamine production (reward neurotransmitter) from the nucleus acumbens

Addiction

When you feel the need for something that has a negative, consuming affect on your life

Physical dependency

When you can NOT operate normally without a drug

Tolerance

Being able to use something with less affect than when started

Withdrawal

Symptoms experienced when stopping something, and it makes you feel worse

Stimulants 

Drugs that arouse us, stimulate our mood, metabolism and focus

Caffeine 

Makes us less tired (not awake)

Adenosine antagonist (Caffeine)

Naturally relaxing kind of like melatonin

Nicotine

Acetylcholine agonist that increases Ach. Suppresses appetite and increases metabolism

ADHD medications

Have an effect on dopamine and norepinephrine, and can suppress appetite

Ecstay

Elevates levels of serotonin and oxytocin. Elevates autonomic processes, body temp goes up, and become dehydrated. Causes little pockets of dead tissue

Hallucinogens

Drugs that cause you to hallucinate

LSD

Affects serotonin levels. Does not cause addiction, but the problem is people want to remember what they did/what happened.

Psilocybin mushrooms

Mushrooms that cause hallucinations. Arouses the sympathetic nervous system.

PCP

Decreases glutamate while increasing dopamine. This is a very hard drug, and people do not sense pain, so situations can become out of control quickly.

Marijuana

THC is the active ingredient.

Opiates

Heroin, morphine, and prescription narcotics. When taken, your body stops producing its natural painkillers: endorphins

Depressants

Depresses your inhibitions. Tranquilizers and barbiturates. GABA agonists, makes you more relaxed. Alcohol