Chapter 4 Consciousness

Chapter 4: Consciousness

• Week 4 of Intro Psychology

Announcements

• Information related to class updates or changes.

Attendance

• Record of student attendance for the week.

Sleep

• Overview of the importance of sleep in consciousness and well-being.

Sleep Habits Test

• Link or QR code provided for students to assess their sleep habits.

Consciousness

• Definition: Awareness of internal (feelings) and external stimuli (sounds).

Biological Rhythms

• Description: Internal rhythms of biological activity that are recurring and cyclical.

• Examples: Menstruation, body temperature.

Circadian Rhythms

• Definition: Biological rhythms occurring over a 24-hour period.

• Example: Sleep-wake cycle.

Hypothalamus and Homeostasis

• The hypothalamus is responsible for maintaining balance in a biological system.

• Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN): regulates circadian rhythms.

  • Position: Above the optic chiasm where optic nerves cross in the brain.

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

• Stimulated by light, including artificial light.

• Implications: Screens at night can disrupt sleep cycles.

• Primary function: Synchronizes body rhythms with the external environment.

Melatonin

• Secreted by the pineal gland.

• Function: Crucial for regulating sleep-wake cycles.

• Regulation: Released in darkness, inhibited by light.

Sleep Duration Recommendations

Newborns (0-3 months)

• Recommended sleep: 14-17 hours

Infants (4-11 months)

• Recommended sleep: 12-15 hours

Toddlers (1-2 years)

• Recommended sleep: 11-14 hours

Preschool (3-5 years)

• Recommended sleep: 10-13 hours

School Age (6-13 years)

• Recommended sleep: 9-11 hours

Teenagers (14-17 years)

• Recommended sleep: 8-10 hours

Young Adults (18-25 years)

• Recommended sleep: 7-9 hours

Adults (26-64 years)

• Recommended sleep: 7-9 hours

Older Adults (65+ years)

• Recommended sleep: 7-8 hours

Disruptions of Normal Sleep

Jet Lag

• Definition: A mismatch between internal circadian cycles and external environmental changes.

• Symptoms: Fatigue, sluggishness, irritability, insomnia.

Rotating Shift Work

• Definition: Work schedule that changes from early to late, affecting circadian rhythms.

• Consequences: Leads to persistent exhaustion and potential mental health issues.

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

• Behavioral consequences: Irritability, cognitive impairment, memory lapses.

• Physical effects: Increased heart rate variability, risk of heart disease, impaired immune function.

Why Do We Sleep?

Adaptive Functions

• Purpose: To reduce energy expenditures and respond to predatory risks.

Cognitive Function

• Importance: Critical for memory consolidation and cognitive tasks; increasing sleep deprivation leads to more significant deficits.

Common Sleep Myths

• Discussions on prevalent misconceptions regarding sleep.

Stages of Sleep

Stage 1

• Characteristics: Respiration and heartbeat slow down, muscle tension decreases.

Stage 2

• Characteristics: Deep relaxation occurs, marked by sleep spindles and K-complexes.

Stages 3 and 4

• Characteristics: Slower heart rate and respiration.

REM Sleep

• Features: Rapid eye movements, dreaming, paralysis of voluntary muscles; brain waves resemble wakefulness.

Hypnogram of Sleep Stages

• Definition: A diagram showing the sequence and duration of stages throughout a sleep cycle.

Dreams

• Research indicates dreams may reflect significant life events for the dreamer and serve practical purposes in real life.

Insomnia

• Definition: Difficulty falling/staying asleep occurring at least three nights per week for one month.

• Common associations: Symptoms of depression.

• Contributing factors: Age, substance use, exercise habits, and bedtime routines.

Treatment for Insomnia

• Approaches: Stress management, behavior modification, cognitive-behavioral therapy focusing on thoughts and behaviors.

Parasomnias

• Unwanted motor behaviors or experiences during sleep

Sleepwalking

• Occurs during slow-wave sleep.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

• Lack of muscle paralysis during REM sleep leading to physical activity during dreams.

• Treatment: Clonazepam (anti-anxiety medication).

Restless Leg Syndrome

• Symptoms: Discomfort in legs alleviated by movement.

• Treatment: Various medications.

Night Terrors

• Symptoms: Overwhelming panic; occurs during NREM sleep.

Sleep Apnea

• Definition: Occurrences of stopped breathing during sleep, lasting 10-20 seconds or more.

• Consequences: Increases fatigue levels; common in overweight individuals.

• Types:

  • Obstructive: Airway blockage.

  • Central: CNS fails to initiate breathing.

• Treatment: CPAP device.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

• Definition: Occurs when an infant stops breathing during sleep, often resulting in death.

• Risk factors: Infants under 12 months, male infants, premature birth, and exposure to smoke.

Practicing Safe Sleep

• Recommendations:

  • Sleep alone in crib with narrow slats.

  • Share a room with parents without secondhand smoke exposure.

  • Maintain a clean crib without extras; fitted sheets only.

Narcolepsy

• Definition: Irresistible urge to sleep during the day, triggered by stress or arousal.

• Symptoms: Cataplexy involves muscle tone loss.

• Treatment: Psychomotor stimulant drugs.

Selective Attention

• Definition: Focusing on a single aspect of experience while neglecting others.

• Analogy: Attention is a spotlight, illuminating one focus at a time.

Attention and Inattentional Blindness

Change Blindness

• Definition: Inability to notice changes in visual stimuli due to focus.

• Real-world implication: Example of distracted driving.

Substance Use Disorders

• Involves both physical and psychological dependence on substances.

Tolerance and Withdrawal

• Definition: Increased use required for the same effect; negative symptoms when usage stops.

Depressants

• Function: Suppress CNS activity; reduce neuron firing likelihood.

• Examples: Alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines.

Stimulants

• Function: Increase neural activity and dopamine; highly addictive.

• Examples: Cocaine, amphetamines, caffeine, nicotine.

Opioids

• Function: Pain relief; highly addictive.

• Examples: Heroin, morphine, methadone, codeine.

Hallucinogens

• Function: Alter sensory experiences and perceptions; may cause vivid hallucinations.

Drug Sorting Activity

• Categories: Stimulants, depressants, opioids, hallucinogens.

  • Examples: Nicotine, alcohol, fentanyl, mushrooms, cocaine, etc.

Conclusion

• Emphasizes the importance of understanding consciousness, sleep, and substance use.