states of consciousness

Circadian rhythm

Biological clock across the 24 hour wake cycle

Consciousness

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment

Superchiasmatic nucleus

In hypothalamus; stops melatonin production when senses light

How long is a sleep cycle

Approx 90 minutes

Awake state

Alpha waves

NREM 1

Light sleep, alpha waves, easily awoken

Hypnagogic sensations

Jerking, sensations of falling

When do hypnagogic sensations happen?

NREM1

NREM2

Fully asleep

Sleep spindles

random bursts of brain activity

When do sleep spindles happen?

NREM2

NREM3

Deep sleep, delta waves, hard to wake up

When does nrem3 occur?

Towards beginning of night

Nrem 3 benefits

Restoration/immune support, growth hormone released, night terrors

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement/ paradoxical sleep/ beta waves

What does rem sleep have?

Vivid dreams; good and nightmares

Rem rebound

If deprived of rem, more rem will happen next sleep

Narcolepsy

Lack of orexin

Rem sleep behavioral disorder

People act out their dreams

Night terrors

NOT nightmares; nrem3

Samnambulism

Sleep walking; nrem3

Consolidation theory

Dreams aid in consolidation and processing of memories

Activation synthesis

Mind attempts to make sense of random neural firings while sleeping

Information processing

Way to deal with daily stress/ consolidate memories

Cognitive theory

An expression of thoughts

Wish fulfillment (Freud)

A way to play out what we want; “hidden wishes”

Manifest content

Content of a dream

Latent content

Hidden meaning of dream

Hypnosis

Hypnotist suggests to a subject that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors will occur

What is hypnosis used for?

To treat phobias, cure addictions, overcome traumatic experiences and treat pain

Dissociation

Split in consciousness which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously

Meditation

Practices that train attention to heightened awareness; focused attention and open monitoring

Physical dependence

Physiological need for drug; unpleasant withdrawal symptoms

Psychological dependence

Psychological need for drug; “need to unwind”

Depressants

Reduce neural activity

Alcohol

Memory disruptor, depressant, disinhibitor

Benzodiapines

Antianxiety; vallum/xanax

Opiates

Highly addictive; depress CNS, endorphin agonist. Powerful high, intense relaxation, pupils constrict

Types of opiates

Oxycontin, morphine, heroine, fentanyl

Stimulants

Excite neural activity

Types of stimulants

Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamines

What do stimulants do?

Speed up bodily processes, decreases appetite, increase energy, euphoria

Amphetamines

Increase focus, physical energy, restlessness, dilated pupils

Cocaine

Fast euphoria/highly addictive

Nicotine

Highly addictive, arousal and relaxation

Hallucinogens

Distort perceptions/psychedelics

MDMA/Ecstasy

Stimulant and hallucinogen love drug

LSD(mushrooms)

Crazy hallucinations

Marijuana(THC)

Relaxation, mild euphoria

Barbiturates

Mimic alcohol/depressant and are called tranquilizers