Pyschology

Dreams

  • Definition of dreams: Include all images, events, sounds, and sensations experienced during sleep.

  • Universality of dreaming: Everyone dreams, even if they cannot recall their dreams.

  • Cultural interpretations of dreams:

    • Some cultures believe dreams foretell the future or act as oracles of prophecy.

    • Others view dreams as pathways to other dimensions.

    • Still others see them as routes to an inner world.

What We Dream

  • Prevalence of negative dreams:

    • 8 out of 10 dreams are characterized by negative events or emotions.

  • Common themes in dreams include:

    • Failing in attempts to do something.

    • Being attacked or pursued.

    • Experiencing rejection or misfortune.

Sexual Dreams

  • In males, sexual dreams occur in 1 out of 10 cases.

  • In females, sexual dreams occur in 1 out of 30 cases.

Trauma and Dreams

  • Many individuals report nightmares, which can help extinguish daytime fears.

  • Children in the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip report dreaming of aggression more frequently than those in peaceful areas like Galilee.

Blind People’s Dreams

  • Studies indicate that blind individuals mostly dream using their non-visual senses.

  • Some blind individuals report “seeing” in their dreams.

  • Those born paralyzed below the waist occasionally dream of walking, standing, running, or cycling.

Media Experiences and Dreams

  • A study of 1287 Turkish participants revealed:

    • Those exposed to violent media tend to have violent dreams.

    • Those exposed to sexual media tend to have sexual dreams.

Theories of Dreaming

Psychoactive Drugs

  • Psychopharmacology: Field studying changes induced by drugs in mood, thinking, and behavior.

  • Substance Use Disorder: Characterized by continued craving and use despite significant life disruption or physical risk.

  • Pharmacokinetics: The study of what the body does to a drug, including its absorption, circulation, metabolism, and excretion.

  • Pharmacodynamics: The study of what a drug does to the body, focusing on effects on neurotransmitters, subjective experiences, and physiological effects.

Psychoactive Drugs

  • Definition: Chemicals that change perceptions and moods.

  • Mechanisms of action on nerve synapses and neurotransmitters:

    • Agonists: Bind with receptors to support action.

    • Antagonists: Block receptor sites to suppress action.

  • All mind-altering chemicals can cross the blood-brain barrier, a semipermeable membrane that protects the brain from harmful substances.

Tolerance

  • Definitions:

    • With continued use of alcohol and certain other drugs (excluding marijuana), users develop tolerance.

    • Neuroadaptation: A process where neurons adjust the production of neurotransmitters in response to the ingested chemicals.

Withdrawal

  • Symptoms: A set of symptoms when discontinuing a drug, reversing neuroadaptation.

    • Cravings

    • Tremors

    • Anxiety

    • Depression

    • Seizures

    • Possible death.

Addiction

  • Cause: Often due to increasing doses of psychoactive drugs, including prescription painkillers.

  • Characteristics:

    • Cravings for the drug continue despite adverse consequences.

    • Users struggle with withdrawal.

  • Defined in DSM-5 under substance-related and addictive disorders.

  • Reward pathways involve the nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate cortex, basal forebrain, and amygdala.

  • Motivational alteration results in placing the substance as a primary reward over family, relationships, and career.

  • Impulse control issues are common.

  • DSM has applied addiction to behaviors such as exercise, gambling, and shopping.

States of Consciousness Review

History of Consciousness

  • Psychology's origins were rooted in the study of consciousness.

  • Behaviorist movement aimed to exclude consciousness from psychology.

  • Post-1960: Mental concepts, including consciousness, re-enter psychology.

Consciousness Defined

  • Consciousness: Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Forms of Consciousness: Sleep Patterns and Theories

How Do We Fall Asleep?

  • Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN): The master clock located in the hypothalamus.

    • Interprets information received from the eyes.

    • Signals the pineal gland to secrete melatonin.

Brain Waves to Know

  • NREM1/N1 (Light Sleep): Theta Waves; 4-7 Hz; high frequency/low amplitude.

  • NREM2/N2 (Medium Sleep): Theta Waves; high frequency; includes Sleep Spindles (bursts of activity) and K-complexes.

  • NREM3/N3 (Deep Sleep): Delta Waves; 0-4 Hz; high amplitude slow waves.

  • REM Sleep: Resembles beta waves.

  • Alpha Waves: Signify relaxed but awake states (i.e., meditating).

  • Beta Waves: Indicate wakefulness; 12-30 Hz; classified as low/high amplitude.

Stages of Sleep

Stage 1 - NREM1/N1

  • Characteristics:

    • Hallucination-like images may occur.

    • Hypnagogic sensations: Bizarre experiences without external stimuli.

    • Eyes closed; easy to wake up.

    • Duration: 5-15 minutes.

Stage 2 - NREM2/N2

  • Characteristics:

    • Increased relaxation.

    • Lasts approximately 20 minutes.

    • Contains sleep spindles and K-complexes.

Stage 3 - NREM3/N3

  • Characteristics:

    • Deep sleep; very hard to awaken.

    • Important hormones released for children's growth.

    • Immune system refreshment occurs in this stage.

    • Duration: Approximately 30 minutes.

REM Sleep

  • Definition: Also known as paradoxical sleep; brain waves increase in frequency.

  • Characteristics:

    • Brain is active, but the body is paralyzed (paradoxical paralysis).

    • Dreams occur; irregular heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.

    • Males may have nocturnal emissions; females may experience lubrication, not sexual in nature.

  • REM Rebound: If REM sleep is missed, the body compensates in subsequent sleep cycles.

  • Importance of REM Sleep:

    • Plays a role in memory formation and consolidation, especially procedural and emotional memories.

Theories on Why We Sleep

  1. Sleep Protects: Offers safety.

  2. Sleep Helps Us Recuperate:

    • NREM sleep restores physiological functions; REM sleep restores mental processes.

    • Recent studies suggest that sleep allows the brain to eliminate neurotoxic waste.

  3. Sleep Builds and Strengthens Memories.

  4. Sleep Feeds Creative Thinking.

  5. Sleep Helps with Growth.

Sleep Deprivation

  • Effects of Sleep Deprivation:

    • Memory impairment.

    • Mood swings.

    • Increased cravings for unhealthy foods.

    • Emotional irritability.

    • Weakened immune response.

Chronic Sleep Deprivation

  • Symptoms:

    • Chronic irritability

    • Lack of motivation

    • Anxiety

    • Inability to concentrate

    • Reduced vigilance and longer reaction times

    • Distractibility

    • Reduced energy

    • Restlessness

    • Lack of coordination

    • Poor decision-making

    • Increased errors

    • Forgetfulness

    • Physical manifestations (e.g., high blood pressure, high blood sugar, obesity).

Sleep Deprivation Psychosis

  • A complete break from reality due to lack of sleep.

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia

  • Definition: The inability to fall asleep or stay asleep.

  • Prevalence: 10-20% of the population experiences insomnia.

  • Causes: Includes medical/psychiatric conditions, stress, discomfort, medication use, or disruptions to normal sleep cycles.

Narcolepsy

  • Description: Sudden transitions to REM sleep during waking hours, occurring in moments of excitement or inactivity.

  • Associated symptoms: Cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone).

  • Cause: Insufficient production of orexin in the brain, a modulator influencing wakefulness.

Sleep Apnea

  • Definition: Repeated interruptions of breathing during sleep.

  • Predisposition: Overweight and obese individuals, due to excess fat compressing the airway (known as anoxia).

Sleep Walking (Somnambulism)

  • Occurs during NREM stage 3 (deep sleep).

  • Contrary to myths, sleepwalkers don’t come to harm if awakened.

  • Common in families.

Sleep Talking

  • May happen in any sleep stage.

  • Runs in families, often nonsensical in nature.

Night Terrors

  • Primarily affect children.

  • Characterized by extreme episodes during NREM stage 3, accompanied by sweating, agitation, and dilated pupils.

  • Experience details are often vague or forgotten.