CHAPTER FOUR: CONSCIOUSNESS

CHAPTER FOUR: CONSCIOUSNESS

Instructor

  • Dr. Erica Gelven

  • Course: Psychology 101

DEFINITION OF CONSCIOUSNESS

  • Consciousness is:

    • The subjective state of being aware of oneself, one’s thoughts, and/or the environment.

    • Categorized into:

    • Internal Consciousness:

      • Awareness of physical sensations (e.g., pain, hunger, sleepiness).

      • Awareness of thoughts and emotions.

    • External Consciousness:

      • Alertness.

      • Self-awareness.

      • Having free will.

      • A person’s mental content, thoughts, and imaginings.

FORMS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

  • Forms of consciousness can be categorized based on how they are induced:

    • Spontaneous Occurrences:

    • Daydreaming

    • Drowsiness

    • Dreaming

    • Physiologically Induced:

    • Hallucinations

    • Orgasm

    • Food or oxygen starvation

    • Psychologically Induced:

    • Sensory deprivation

    • Hypnosis

    • Meditation

SLEEP AND BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS

  • Biological Rhythm:

    • Defined as the internal cycle of biological activity regulated by the body.

  • Circadian Rhythm:

    • A 24-hour biological “clock” that controls various physiological processes.

  • Sleep:

    • A periodic, natural loss of consciousness.

    • Encompasses different stages and cycles.

  • 90-Minute Sleep Cycle:

    • Sleeps consist of stages regulated in approximately 90-minute intervals.

DAILY RHYTHMS AND SLEEP

  • Circadian Rhythm:

    • Regular bodily rhythms occurring on a 24-hour cycle (e.g., changes in body temperature, arousal/energy, mental sharpness).

    • Influences daily alertness peaks:

    • General patterns:

      • Evening peak found in “owls” (younger individuals, often around 20 years old).

      • Morning peak found in “larks” (older individuals, often around 50 years old).

REASONS WHY WE SLEEP

  • Factors affecting sleep patterns:

    • Biology and Age:

    • Newborns require approximately 16 hours of sleep; adults typically need 8 hours or less.

    • Individual differences exist (some function well on 6 hours, others need 9).

    • Cultural Aspects:

    • North Americans tend to sleep less, potentially influenced by technological advancements like light bulbs.

  • Light and the Brain:

    • Light suppresses melatonin production, affecting sleep regulation.

    • Circadian rhythms are stable:

    • They can be disrupted but are typically difficult to shift (as experienced with jet lag).

STAGES AND CYCLES OF SLEEP

  • Sleep Stages:

    • Comprise distinct patterns of brain waves and muscle activity representing different types of consciousness and sleep.

    • Four distinct stages of sleep are identified.

  • Sleep Cycles:

    • Patterns of transitioning through all four sleep stages occur over the course of a night, roughly every 90 minutes.

REM SLEEP

  • Discovery:

    • In 1953, Eugene Aserinsky discovered that REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is characterized by periods of heightened brain activity, coinciding with dreams.

  • Physiological Characteristics of REM Sleep:

    • Increased heart rate and rapid breathing.

    • Sleep paralysis (the brainstem inhibits signals to the motor cortex, preventing limb movement).

    • Genital arousal occurs, not necessarily linked to dream content, and persists after REM.

NREM (NON-REM) SLEEP

  • Stage 1:

    • Transitional phase between wakefulness and sleep characterized by alpha and theta brain waves.

  • Stage 2:

    • Body reaches a state of deep relaxation, typically with sleep spindles evident in brain activity.

  • Stage 3:

    • Deep sleep is characterized by the presence of delta brain waves.

SLEEP WAVES

  • Types of Sleep Waves:

    • Alpha Waves:

    • Low frequency, high amplitude waves indicative of an awake state when they become synchronized.

    • Theta Waves:

    • Low frequency, high amplitude waves occurring in stages 1 and 2 of sleep.

    • Delta Waves:

    • Low frequency, high amplitude waves observed during stage 3 sleep.

EFFECTS OF SLEEP LOSS BY BODY SYSTEM

  • Brain:

    • Impairs attentional focus and memory consolidation.

    • Increases risk of mood disorders like depression.

  • Immune System:

    • Reduces immune cell production and increases susceptibility to viral infections, such as colds.

  • Fat Cells:

    • Promotes increased production of fat cells and a higher risk of obesity.

  • Heart:

    • Enhances risk of hypertension.

  • Stomach:

    • Elevates levels of hunger-inducing ghrelin while inhibiting appetite-suppressing leptin.

  • Joints:

    • Associated with increased inflammation and arthritis.

  • Muscles:

    • Leads to reduced strength, slower reaction times, and impaired motor learning.

DREAMS

  • Defined as a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts that pass through a sleeping person’s mind.

  • Common Themes in Dreams:

    • Dreams frequently encompass negative emotions or events, including feelings associated with failure (being pursued, rejected, or experiencing bad luck).

    • Rarely do dreams contain sexual content.

    • Dreams can incorporate real-world sounds and stimuli.

    • They may also consist of images derived from recent or traumatic experiences.

ALTERING CONSCIOUSNESS: DRUGS

  • Psychoactive Drug:

    • A chemical substance that alters brain function, resulting in changes in perception and mood.

    • Importance of awareness regarding dependence and addiction due to potential harm.

DEPENDENCE

  • Definitions:

    • Physical Dependence:

    • Occurs when the body is altered to create cravings for the drug, particularly to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.

    • Psychological Dependence:

    • Arises when an individual’s coping mechanisms deteriorate without the drug, becoming essential for relaxation, socializing, or sleeping.

DEPENDENCE ON A SUBSTANCE (OR ACTIVITY)

  • Signs of Dependence:

    • Tolerance:

    • Diminished effects of the same drug dose with regular use.

    • Withdrawal:

    • Discomfort experienced when stopping the use of an addictive drug or behavior.

    • Behavioral Patterns:

    • Using more of the substance than intended, persistent struggles to control use, preoccupation with the substance, reduced engagement in significant activities due to substance use, and continued usage despite adverse consequences.

WITHDRAWAL

  • Definition:

    • Occurs when the positive effects of a substance diminish after tolerance develops, leading to significant discomfort prompting users to resume use to stop withdrawal symptoms.

DEPRESSANTS

  • Examples of Depressants:

    • Alcohol:

    • Barbiturates:

      • Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants that reduce anxiety but impair memory and judgment.

    • Opioids:

      • Includes opium and its derivatives, which depress neural activity and enhance body functions.

      • Notable for their addictive properties.

BARBITURATES

  • Description:

    • Class of tranquilizers that significantly diminish anxiety and aid in inducing sleep.

    • Examples:

    • Includes Nembutal, Seconal, Amytal.

    • Problems Associated:

    • Can impair memory, judgment, and concentration; may lead to fatal outcomes if mixed with alcohol.

OPIOIDS: HIGHLY ADDICTIVE DEPRESSANTS

  • Description:

    • Opioids are effective in reducing anxiety and pain by depressing nervous system activity.

    • High doses can elicit euphoria.

    • Function at the body's natural pain receptor sites (endorphins).

    • Common opioids include morphine and heroin.

STIMULANTS

  • Examples of Stimulants:

    • Caffeine

    • Nicotine

    • Amphetamines (including Methamphetamine)

    • Cocaine

    • Ecstasy

  • Effects of Stimulants:

    • Excite neural activity, accelerate body functions.

    • Physical manifestations:

    • Dilated pupils.

    • Increased heart rate and breathing.

    • Elevated blood sugar.

    • Decreased appetite.

CAFFEINE

  • Key Effects:

    • Increases energy levels.

    • Disturbs sleep for 3-4 hours post-consumption.

    • Can induce withdrawal symptoms upon daily use, including:

    • Headaches

    • Irritability

    • Fatigue

    • Difficulty concentrating

    • Depression.

NICOTINE

  • Key Effects:

    1. Arouses the brain to heightened alertness.

    2. Increases heart rate and blood pressure.

    3. At higher doses, relaxes muscles and triggers the release of neurotransmitters, potentially reducing stress.

    4. Suppresses appetite for carbohydrates.

    5. Main Effect: Addiction.

COCAINE

  • Mechanism:

    • Blocks reuptake at the synapse, enhancing dopamine (rewarding feeling), serotonin (mood enhancement), and norepinephrine (boosting energy).

  • Effects on Consciousness:

    • Produces intense euphoria for about 45 minutes; followed by agitation, depression, and pain.

    • Users often develop tolerance, leading to worsening withdrawal symptoms, increasing intake for normalcy, and risk of overdose, which can have severe consequences (convulsions, heart attacks, and death).

METHAMPHETAMINE

  • Description:

    • A highly addictive drug stimulating CNS functions, accelerating body functions, leading to alterations in energy and mood.

  • Consequences of Use:

    • Possible side effects include irritability, insomnia, seizures, hypertension, violence, and depression.

ECSTASY/MDMA

  • Description:

    • A synthetic stimulant with mild hallucinogenic properties.

  • Effects on Consciousness:

    • Euphoria, CNS stimulation, hallucinations, and an artificial sense of social connectedness.

  • Consequences:

    • Short-term risks include regrettable behavior, dehydration, overheating, and increased blood pressure.

    • Long-term potential consequences involve damaged serotonin-producing neurons, leading to a permanently depressed mood, disrupted sleep, impaired memory, and suppression of the immune system.

HALLUCINOGENS

  • Examples:

    • LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide):

    • A potent hallucinogenic drug.

    • THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol):

    • The primary mind-altering compound in marijuana.

INFLUENCES ON DRUG USE

  • Biological Influences:

    • Genetic predispositions and variations in neurotransmitter systems.

  • Social-Cultural Influences:

    • Difficulties in environment, cultural acceptance of drug use, and negative peer influences.

  • Psychological Influences:

    • A lack of purpose, significant stress, and psychological disorders like depression.