Dualism and Monism: Perspectives on thought and matter.
Dualists: Believe in the separation of thought and matter.
Matter: Physical substance.
Thought: Non-material aspect arising from matter.
René Descartes: Prominent dualist.
Monists: Argue that thought and matter are one entity.
Thomas Hobbes: Notable monist.
Conscious Level: Awareness of oneself and the environment.
Nonconscious Level: Bodily processes (e.g., heart rate, breathing) not usually perceived.
Preconscious Level: Information that is not actively thought about but can be accessed (e.g., favorite color).
Subconscious Level: Information not consciously available but inferred from behavior (e.g., Mere Exposure Effect).
Circadian Rhythm:
Metabolic processes follow a pattern within a 24-hour cycle.
Studied using EEG (electroencephalogram) to measure brain activity.
Sleep Cycle Duration: Approximately 90 minutes.
Stages of Sleep:
Wake/Alert
NREM-1 (Non-rapid Eye Movement 1)
NREM-2 (Non-rapid Eye Movement 2)
NREM-3 (Non-rapid Eye Movement 3)
REM (Rapid Eye Movement)
Brain Waves:
Delta Wave: 0.5 - 3 Hz (Deep sleep)
Theta Wave: 4 - 7 Hz (Light sleep)
Alpha Wave: 8 - 13 Hz (Awake, relaxed)
Beta Wave: 14 Hz+ (Awake, excited)
Stimulants (e.g., caffeine) suppress Theta and Alpha waves and increase Beta waves, affecting mood and stress levels.
Hypothalamus: Regulates sleep onset.
Hippocampus: Memory context during dreaming.
Amygdala: Processes emotions during dreams.
Thalamus: Blocks sensory signals during sleep.
Reticular Formation: Manages sleep-wake transitions.
Pons: Initiates REM sleep.
Common Disorders:
Insomnia: Difficulty in sleeping; treat with lifestyle changes.
Narcolepsy: Unpredictable sleep episodes; managed with medication.
Sleep Apnea: Breathing interruptions during sleep; treated with a CPAP machine.
Night Terrors: Panic episodes during sleep; usually decrease with age.
Somnambulism (Sleepwalking).
Definition: Narrative experiences during sleep, primarily occurring in REM.
Dream Theories:
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory: Recognizes manifest (literal) & latent (symbolic) content in dreams
Example: Dream of being naked at school can indicate vulnerability.
Activation-Synthesis Theory: Dreams result from the brain interpreting random neural activity.
Information Processing Theory: Links dreaming with stress processing; increased daily stress correlates with intense dreams.
Nature of Hypnosis: A questionable state of consciousness.
Posthypnotic Amnesia: Forgetting events during hypnosis.
Posthypnotic Suggestion: Instructions to behave in specific ways after hypnosis.
Theories of Hypnosis:
Role Theory: Hypnosis is not an altered state; suggestibility varies among individuals.
State Theory: Hypnosis exhibits characteristics of altered consciousness.
Research demonstrates 'hidden observer' phenomenon; people can report pain under hypnosis, indicating multiple levels of consciousness.
Definition: Chemicals affecting brain chemistry and functions.
Drug Impacts:
Agonists: Mimic neurotransmitters.
Antagonists: Block neurotransmitter receptors.
The blood-brain barrier protects but can be crossed by psychoactive substances.
Stimulants: Increase metabolic activity (caffeine, cocaine).
Depressants: Decrease metabolic activity (alcohol, opiates).
Hallucinogens: Alter perceptions (LSD, marijuana).
Some drugs, like THC, may remain in body fat and lead to heightened effects with lesser amounts due to accumulation.
Review key concepts and definitions for assessment preparation.