CH 6: The Aware Mind

Consciousness

Everything of which we are aware at any given time including thoughts, feelings, sensations, and external stimuli

Circadian rhythm

Regular fluctuation from high to low points of certain bodily function and behaviors.

sleep, drugs, hypnosis, meditation

Altered State of Consciousness and changes in awareness produced by…

Blood pressure

Heart rate

Appetite

Secretion of hormones and digestive enzymes

Sensory acuity

Elimination

Body’s response to medication

List the functions that circadian rhythm affect

brain waves, eye movements, chin muscle tension, heart rate, respiration rate

Understanding of sleep increased by the study of:

REM and Non-REM (NREM)

Two types of sleep

Non-REM stage 1

Stage of lightest sleep, a hypnogogic state, theta waves occur

Myoclonia

When you startle awake and feel like you’re falling

Non-REM stage 2

Stage where you’re somewhat more deeply asleep (mid-sleep), sleep spindles occur, K Complex occurs

Non-REM stage 3

Stage of deep sleep, Delta waves 20% (slow wave/deep sleep begins), heart and breathing slow/regular

Non-REM stage 4

Stage of deepest sleep, Delta waves reach nearly 100%, blood pressure and brain activity at lowest points in 24 hr period.

REM or rapid eye movement

Called “active sleep,” “paradoxical sleep,” or “dream sleep”

20-25%

__________of a night’s sleep happen in REM

• Intense brain activity (brain temp rises rapidly)

• Sexual excitement in both genders

• Epinephrine release leads to increases in BP, HR, RR

Internal activity during REM

80%

Dreaming occurs in ______ of people during REM sleep

Consolidation of learning and memory (all night studying doesn’t help)

During REM sleep, the brain conducts…

• Body appears calm

• Large muscles become paralyzed

• Eyes dart around

During REM sleep, what happens externally? 

3

Always get at least _______ hours of sleep each night

8-10

Perceptual or motor skills increase after _______hrs of sleep during REM

• Difficulty concentrating

• General irritability

• Decreases cognitive functioning

• Impairs learning

• Long term health effects (immune system impairment)

• Could be fatal

• Causes many accidents and fatalities

Sleep deprivation is associated with

REM rebound

When the intensity and length of REM sleep increases after a period of sleep deprivation

unpleasant dreams or nightmares

REM rebound is often associated with …

REM

Alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, and LSD use suppress _______ sleep and results in REM rebound

16

Infants and young children sleep _________ hours a day

Ages 6-puberty

Sleep and awake same time daily (most consistent)

Infants and young children

Have the highest amount of REM and slow wave sleep

Adolescents

Sleep patterns are influenced by schedules

Need sleep for brain growth

Poor sleep may contribute to poor school performance

Changing school schedules due to sleep research

• REM dreams have story-like qualities

• More vivid, visual, and emotional than Non-REM dreams

• Brain very active

Describe dreaming during REM sleep

Lucid Dreams

A dream where the individual is aware of dreaming and whose content they are often able to influence while dreaming

Less frequent than REM dreams

Less memorable bc dreams are more fragmented

Describe dreaming during NREM

Freudian Interpretation

Believed dreams satisfy unconscious sexual and aggressive desires and so must be disgused.

Manifest content

The content of a dream as recalled by the dreamer

Latent content

the underlying meaning of the dream

Problem-Focused Interpretation

Dreams are an expression of current ongoing concerns and can resolve or clarify current problems. Relate images in dream to things in your waking life.

Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis

Dreams are the brain’s attempt to make sense of the random brain’s activity during REM sleep. We construct a story around the brain activity.

Somnambulism, AKA sleepwalking

Occurs during partial arousal from stage 4 sleep

Somniloquy

Sleep talking, occurs during any sleep stage, is more frequent among children.

Sleep terror

Happens during partial arousal from stage 4 sleep, usually begins with a piercing scream.

Nightmares

Frightening dreams that occur during REM sleep.

Narcolepsy

Characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and uncontrollable attacks of REM sleep (associated with sleep paralysis)

Sleep apnea

Periods during sleep when breathing stops, the individual must awaken briefly in order to breathe.

Insomnia

Difficulty falling or staying asleep. Sleep that is light, restless, or of poor quality.

Psychoactive drug

Any substance that alters mood, perception or thought.

Tolerance

Needing larger amounts of the substance to achieve the same subjective effect.

Withdrawal

Physical responses to the removal of a habitually used subtance.

Addiction

A compulsive physical or psychological dependence on a substance that continues despite negative consequences.

Stimulants

Drugs that speed up the Central Nervous System

Low-Moderate Levels: excited, confident, euphoric

High Levels: anxious, jittery, hyper

List the effects of stimulants drugs at low-moderate and high levels

caffeine, meth, cocaine, nicotine, Ritalin/Adderall

List common “uppers”

True

True or false: MDMA (ecstasy/”molly”) has stimulant effects

depressants

Drugs that slow down the CNS

Low-Moderate Levels: calm, drowsy, reduced anxiety and inhibitions

High Levels: insensitivity to pain and other senses

List the effects of depressant drugs at low-moderate and high levels

alcohol, valium, xanax

List common “downers”

Opiates/opioids

_________ are pain relievers derived from the poppy plant

endorphines

Opioids/opiates mimic the body’s __________

euphoria, reduced anxiety

List the effects of opiates/opioids

opium, heroine, methadone

List the examples of opiates/opioids

Hallucinogens

Drugs that disrupt normal thought process and can cause pleasant or unpleasant hallucinations

LSD, Mushrooms, peyote, MDMA (ecstasy/”molly”)

Examples of hallucinogens

Marijuana

Does not fit neatly into any of the classes of drugs. Most commonly used illicit drug in North America and Europe

Some stimulating effects (euphoria), also has relaxing effect, can make sensations more intense (psychedelic effect)

Effects of marijuana