States of Consciousness

Consciousness

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment

Biological Rhythms

Periodic physiological fluctuations

Circadian Rhythm

The biological clock. It involves regular body rhythms (ex: temperature & sleep) that occur on a 24-hour cycle

Stage 01 of Sleep

Alpha waves; hypnagogic hallucinations; sleep talking; myoclonic jerk; slowdown of biological functions (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, respiration) & a decrease in temperature

Stage 02 of Sleep

Waves are slower (see some theta waves); sleep spindles; K-complexes; sleep talking; biological functions continue to slow

Stage 03 & Stage 04 of Sleep

Deep sleep. All delta waves; bedwetting & sleepwalking most likely. Biological functions are at their lowest. After stage 4, the sleeper moves back to stages 3, stage 2, & then into REM sleep

REM Sleep

Rapid eye movement; dreaming; erections in males; paralysis. Also called "paradoxical sleep" because while the person is totally asleep, their biological function and brain waves appear more like a person who is awake

A Full Sleep-Cycle

Takes about 90 minutes. As the cycles continue throughout the night, stage 4 sleep gets shorter and REM sleep gets longer

Sleep Waves

Beta → Alpha → Theta → Delta

Sleep Cycles

1-2-3-4-3-2-REM (sleep sleep…sleep sleep)

Sleep Theories

1. Possibly certain chemicals depleted during the day are restored during sleep

2. Pituitary gland is more active during deep sleep. So, sleep may be involved in the growth process. (Babies and young people spend more time in deep sleep than older people)

3. Evolutionary view: Sleeping when it was dark kept us safe

Dream Theories: Freudian Theory

Dreams help disguise unconscious conflicts and motives

Dream Theories: Manifest Content

According to Freud, the remembered storyline of a dream

Dream Theories: Latent Content

According to Freud, the underlying "meaning" of a dream

Freudian Theory: Phallic Symbols

Represent male sexuality - Ex. Tall buildings, poles, guns, swords, rockets

Freudian Theory: Yonic Symbols

Represent female sexuality - Ex. Rooms, houses, tunnels, ships, boxes

Freudian Sex Theory 03

Sex itself is never dreamed of but rather is symbolized by the up and down motion of walking, flying, riding, dancing, etc…

Activation - Synthesis Theory

Dreams spring from the mind's relentless effort to make sense of random visual bursts of electrical activity which originate in the brainstem and are given their emotional tone as they pass through the limbic system

Information Processing Theory

The parts of the brain active when we learn something are similarly active later when we sleep and dream

Cognitive Development Theory

Periodic stimulation during dreaming helps form neural connections. Especially important in infants

Physiological Function Theory

Neural activity during REM sleep provides periodic stimulation of the brain. Dreams are purely physical neural firings - no meaning behind them

REM Rebound

This happens when we don't get enough REM sleep; the tendency for REM sleep to increase following a period of REM deprivation

Eric Fromm Theories

1. Dreams solve problems for us (We come up with solutions to daily problems in the dream experience)

2. Dreams give you experience or practice at doing something new or anxiety provoking.

   1. Example: Dream about taking a test, having an interview, attending a funeral, etc.

   2. Repeating Dreams – a problem you keep trying to solve. You will continue to have this dream until the problem is solved

Insomnia

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

Narcolepsy

Disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep at inopportune time

Sleep Apnea

Disorder characterized by temporary cessation of breathing during sleep and momentary awakenings throughout the night

Night Terror

Disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified. Unlike nightmares, these occur during deep stage sleep and are typically not remembered

Somnambulism (sleepwalking)

Person gets up and walks while they are in deep sleep