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Untitled Flashcards Set

The Study of Consciousness

  • Does consciousness exist?

    • What is it? How is it measured?

    • Many believe it exists, but difficult to identify

  • Studied as a “construct”

    • A concept used to talk about something we cannot see, touch, or measure directly

    • Includes intelligence and emotion

  • Meanings of Consciousness

    • Sensory Awareness

      • Your scenes make it possible for you to be aware of your environment

      • Conscious of things outside yourself, but can be unaware of sensory stimulation

        • Selective listening

    • Direct Inner Awareness

      • Think of abstract concepts — emotions, memories

    • Sense of Self

      • Realize existence, unique, separate from source — only after infancy

  • Various Levels of Consciousness

    • Conscious — Awareness of surroundings and thoughts. (Altered states of consciousness)

    • Preconscious — Ideas are not in awareness right now, but could be recalled. Memories

    • Subconscious — Information is hidden but still influences us. Can be used as a defense mechanism.

    • Unconscious — Primitive or painful thoughts. Freudian.

    • Nonconscious — Biological functions (fingernails growing, pupils adjusting to light)

Altered States of Consciousness

Awareness that is distinctly different in quality or pattern from waking consciousness. A person's sense of self or sense of the world changes.

  • Consciousness is NOT an all-or-nothing phenomenon—it exists on a continuum

Biological Rhythms vs. Pseudoscientific Biorhythms

Biological Rhythms are controlled by internal “biological clocks.”

Biorhythms — Idea that our intelligence, emotions, etc. have cycles

Pseudoscientific — literally means “false science.”

Characterized by exaggerated claims, like being able to predict the timing of events far in the future.

Biological Rhythm: Circadian

  • Biological rhythms that occur approx. every 24 hours

  • Example: Sleep-wake cycle

Rhythm of Sleep

Light triggers suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus to decrease (morning) melatonin from pineal gland and increase (evening) it at night fall.

Biological Rhythm: Infradian

  • Biological rhythms last longer than 24 hours (monthly, seasonally, or annually)

  • Example: phases of the moon, menstruation, breeding, seasons, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Biological Rhythms: Ultradian

  • Biological rhythms last less than 24 hours

  • Example: stages of sleep, appetite, hormones

Sleep cycle and its stages

Sleep measured using EEG. About every 90-minutes we pass through a cycle of five distinct sleep stages. Brain waves are based on being awake, relaxed, and sleeping.

Awake & Alert

During strong mental engagement the brain exhibits low amplitude, fast, irregular beta waves (15-30 cps). A person awake in conversation shows beta activity.

Awake but Relaxed

When eyes are closed, but the individual is awake, brain activity slows down to large amplitude, slow, regular alpha waves (9-14 cps). A meditating person exhibits alpha brain activity.

  • Microsleep — very short episodes of sleep, Fraction of a second to longer. Some people microsleep with their eyes open. Unaware it occurs

NREM Sleep: Stages 1-2

During early light sleep (stages 1-2) the brain enters a high amplitude, slow, regular wave form called theta waves (5-8 cps). A person daydreaming shows theta activity. Hypnagogic sensations, K complexes, and Spindles

NREM Sleep: Stages 3-4

During deepest sleep (stages 3-4) brain activity slows down. There are large amplitude, slow delta waves (1-4 cps). Sometimes called “delta sleep”

REM Sleep: Stage 5

After reaching the deepest sleep stage (4) the sleep cycle starts moving backwards towards stage 1. Although still asleep, the brain engages in low amplitude, fast and regular beta waves (15-40 cps) much like an awake-aroused state. Paradoxical sleep.

A person in this sleep phase exhibits Rapid Eye Movements (REM) and reports vivid dreams

Paradoxical Sleep

  • REM sleep is sometimes called paradoxical sleep - physiology is close to that of being awake but the brainstem blocks all muscle movement

    • Also referred to as active sleep

    • Brain wave patterns are similar to when a person is awake — Beta waves

    • Pulse and breathing quickens, body temp rises.

    • Sleep paralysis