MODULE 5 CONSCIOUSNESS ITP

Consciousness

Sensory awareness of the environment, selective attention, direct inner awareness, and the sense of self .

Preconscious

Ideas and memories that are not currently in awareness but are readily available and can be brought into awareness .

Unconscious

Information that is unavailable to awareness under most circumstances, such as unacceptable desires, fears, and traumatic memories (according to Freud) .

Nonconscious

Bodily processes (like growing hair or firing neurons) that cannot be experienced through sensory awareness .

Circadian Rhythm

A biological cycle connected with the 24-hour period of Earth's rotation, regulating wakefulness and sleep .

NREM Sleep (Non-Rapid Eye Movement)

The first four stages of sleep, ranging from Stage 1 (lightest) to Stage 4 (deepest) .

REM Sleep (Rapid Eye Movement)

A stage of sleep occurring about 90 minutes after falling asleep, characterized by rapid eye movements, paralysis of the body, and vivid dreams (also called paradoxical sleep) .

Stage 1 Sleep

The lightest stage of sleep where brain waves slow down from alpha to theta waves; hypnagogic states may be experienced .

Stage 2 Sleep

A stage characterized by slowing heart rate, dropping body temperature, and the appearance of sleep spindles and the K complex .

Stages 3 and 4 Sleep

Deep sleep stages characterized by delta waves; muscles and tissues repair during this time .

Insomnia

A sleep disorder characterized by the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by sudden, uncontrollable sleep attacks and sleep paralysis .

Sleep Apnea

A sleep disorder in which breathing temporarily stops during sleep.

Sleep Terrors

A deep sleep disorder (occurring in Stage 3 or 4) involving frightening dream-like experiences, more common in children .

Activation-Synthesis Model

The theory that dreams are the brain's attempt to synthesize random neural activity (stimulated by acetylcholine and the pons) into a coherent story .

Hypnosis

An altered state of consciousness in which people are highly suggestible and behave as though in a trance .

Meditation

The act of focusing consciousness to alter the relationship between the self and the environment (e.g., Transcendental Meditation, Mindfulness Meditation) .

Biofeedback

A system that provides information about a bodily function (like muscle tension via EMG) to help an individual gain control over it .

Substance Abuse

Repeated use of a substance despite it causing impaired functioning .

Substance Dependence

A condition characterized by loss of control over substance use, organizing life around the substance, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms .

Alcohol

A depressant that slows the central nervous system, lowers inhibitions, and impairs cognitive functioning and coordination .

Opiates

A group of narcotics (like morphine and heroin) derived from the opium poppy or synthetic analogs that relieve pain and provide a strong euphoric rush .

Barbiturates

Depressants with medical uses (relaxation, pain management) that can rapidly lead to dependence .

Amphetamines

Stimulants that produce a euphoric feeling in high doses but can cause restlessness, insomnia, and a "crash" upon withdrawal .

Cocaine

A stimulant that produces euphoric feelings but carries physical dangers like sudden rises in blood pressure and cardiorespiratory collapse .

Nicotine

An addictive stimulant found in tobacco that appears to reduce stress, depress appetite, and raise metabolic rate .

Marijuana

A hallucinogen (active ingredient THC) that may produce relaxation, perceptual distortions, and feelings of empathy, but impairs memory and learning .

LSD

A synthetic hallucinogen that produces vivid, colorful hallucinations and can cause flashbacks weeks or years after use .