Consciousness, Attention, Sleep, Hypnosis, and Psychoactive Drugs (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on consciousness, sleep, hypnosis, and psychoactive drugs.

Consciousness

A state of awareness of sensations, thoughts, and feelings; defined in psychology largely by attention and has a limited capacity, like a spotlight that can shift focus one stimulus at a time.

Attention

The focus of awareness on a subset of stimuli or thoughts at a given moment.

Selective attention

The ability to focus awareness on a single stimulus while excluding others, enabling tasks like listening to one conversation in a noisy room.

Cocktail party phenomenon

The ability to attend to one conversation or stimulus while other conversations are present in the background.

Dichotic listening

An experimental task in which different messages are presented to each ear to study selective attention.

Shadowing

A procedure in which a participant repeats aloud one message from one ear while ignoring the other.

Selective looking

A visual analogue to dichotic listening showing that people can attend to one visual event while ignoring another.

Divided attention

The ability to attend to two or more tasks at once, often easier when one task is automatic.

Stroop test

A task showing automatic processing of word meanings interferes with color naming when incongruent, illustrating automaticity of reading.

Subliminal messages

Stimuli presented below conscious awareness that can influence judgments or behavior, though effects are often limited.

Mere exposure effect

The tendency to develop a preference for stimuli simply because they are familiar, even without conscious awareness.

Priming

The facilitation of response to a target due to a recently encountered concept or stimulus.

Subliminal priming

Priming that occurs when the prime is below the level of conscious awareness.

Circadian rhythm

A roughly 24-hour biological cycle that governs sleep-wake patterns and other physiological processes.

Suprachiasmatic nuclei

A pair of hypothalamic brain regions that regulate circadian rhythms, responding to light via signals from the retina.

Pineal gland

A small brain gland that produces melatonin to help regulate sleep.

Melatonin

A hormone produced by the pineal gland that promotes sleep; secretion varies with light exposure.

Jet lag

A temporary disruption of the circadian rhythm following rapid travel across time zones.

Free-running rhythm

An internal clock that can drift away from a 24-hour cycle when not entrained by external cues.

Microsleeps

Brief episodes of sleep that occur while a person is ostensibly awake, often lasting only a few seconds.

Sleep cycle

A roughly 90-minute sequence through sleep stages (presleep, 1-4, REM) that repeats several times per night.

Stage 1 sleep

Light sleep with theta waves; drowsy state with hypnagogic imagery.

Stage 2 sleep

Deeper sleep characterized by sleep spindles and K-complexes; not easily aroused.

Stage 3 sleep

Deep sleep with delta waves; slow-wave sleep characteristics.

Stage 4 sleep

Deepest non-REM sleep with dominant delta waves; very difficult to awaken.

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep; brain activity resembles wakefulness; vivid dreams and muscular atonia.

Non-REM (NREM) sleep

Sleep stages 1-4 without rapid eye movements; deeper stages involve slowing brain activity.

Dreams

ment al experiences during sleep, often more vivid in REM sleep but occur in other stages as well.

REM rebound

Increased REM sleep after REM sleep deprivation.

Restoration theory of sleep

Sleep serves to recharge the body and recover from daytime wear and tear, especially in deep sleep.

Circadian theory of sleep

Sleep evolved to conserve energy and reduce predator exposure; linked to environmental day-night cycles.

Consolidation theory

Sleep helps convert short-term memories into long-term memories, especially during REM and hippocampal activity.

Activation-synthesis theory

Dreams result from the brain’s attempt to make sense of random neural activity during REM sleep.

Lucid dreaming

A dream in which the sleeper is aware they are dreaming and may control aspects of the dream.

Manifest content

According to Freud, the observable content of a dream.

Latent content

According to Freud, the hidden, unconscious meaning behind a dream.

Freud’s dream theory

Dreams express unconscious wishes; interpretation aims to uncover latent content.

Hypnosis

A set of attention-focusing procedures where changes in behavior or mental state are suggested.

Hypnotic susceptibility

The degree to which an individual is responsive to hypnosis.

Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale

A standard test measuring hypnotic susceptibility through a brief induction and suggested actions.

Dissociation

A division of consciousness in which parts of the mind operate independently.

Hidden observer

The part of the mind that remains aware during hypnosis, even if the subject appears to be 'under'.

Posthypnotic suggestion

Suggestion given during hypnosis that is carried out after the session ends.

Posthypnotic amnesia

Temporary inability to recall events that occurred during hypnosis.

Hypermnesia

The claim that hypnosis enhances memory; not consistently supported by evidence.

Hypnosis and pain relief

Hypnosis can reduce pain for some individuals, sometimes without counter-stimuli.

Eyewitness testimony under hypnosis

Hypnosis can increase memory reports but also distort or create false memories.

Is hypnosis an altered state?

Debate between special-process theories (hypnosis as a distinct state) and social-cognitive theories (results of social influence and expectation).

Psychoactive drug

A chemical that alters perceptions, moods, thoughts, or behavior; can be addictive.

Psychoactive drug classes

Four major types: sedatives, stimulants, hallucinogens, and opiates.

Sedatives (depressants)

Drugs that slow CNS activity; include alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines.

Stimulants

Drugs that increase CNS activity; include caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine.

Hallucinogens

Psychoactive drugs that distort perceptions and cause hallucinations (e.g., LSD, psilocybin, PCP; cannabis).

Opiates

Highly addictive drugs (e.g., morphine, codeine, heroin) that depress CNS activity and relieve pain.

Cannabis (marijuana)

Psychoactive plant with THC (psychoactive) and CBD (non-intoxicating); affects perception and mood.

Tolerance

Need for increasing amounts of a drug to achieve the same effect.

Physical dependence

Physiological need for a drug to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological dependence

Emotional or mental craving for a drug’s effects.

Addiction

Chronic pattern of drug use characterized by compulsive seeking and use despite consequences.

MDMA (Ecstasy)

A stimulant with empathy-enhancing effects; can be dangerous and habit-forming.

Caffeine

A mild stimulant found in coffee, tea, and many beverages; can be addictive.

Alcohol

A depressant that slows CNS activity, impairs coordination and cognition, and disrupts REM sleep.

Nicotine

A highly addictive stimulant found in tobacco products.