Introduction to Psychology - Levels of Consciousness

Introduction to Psychology

PSY 1002

Unit 4: Levels of Consciousness

Outline

  • Types of Define Consciousness

  • Stages of Sleep

  • Effects of Sleep deprivation

  • Dreams

  • Sleep disorders

  • Substance abuse vs Substance dependence

  • Drugs: Depressants vs Stimulants

Consciousness

  • Consciousness is defined as an individual's awareness of external events and internal sensations under conditions of arousal.

    • This definition includes awareness of the self and thoughts about one's experiences.

    • Awareness: Involves consciousness regarding the self and the cognition of personal experiences.

    • Metacognition: Refers to thinking about one's own thought processes.

    • Arousal: The physiological state of being engaged with the environment.

Consciousness vs Unconsciousness

  • Unconscious: Refers to a state where an individual is not awake or aware, often induced by force or circumstances.

    • It can also be synonymous with being asleep.

  • Subconscious: Refers to thoughts and mental processes that an individual is not directly aware of, which may include desires, motivations, and fears.

Levels of Awareness

  • There are five levels of awareness:

    • Higher-level consciousness

    • Lower-level consciousness

    • Altered states of consciousness

    • Subconscious awareness

    • No awareness

Higher-level Consciousness

  • This is the most alert state of human consciousness, where individuals focus their efforts toward a goal.

    • It requires selective attention.

    • Includes:

    • Automatic processes: Requires little attention and does not interfere with other ongoing activities.

    • Daydreaming: Occurs between active consciousness and dreaming.

Lower-level Consciousness

  • Involves less alert states of human consciousness.

Altered States of Consciousness

  • Mental states noticeably different from normal awareness.

    • These may include losing one's sense of self or experiencing hallucinations.

    • According to Freud, this encompasses a reservoir of unacceptable wishes and thoughts beyond conscious awareness.

Subconscious Awareness

  • Refers to processing leading to solutions to problems after taking a break from conscious thought.

    • Requires effort in thought processing for successful incubation.

    • Awareness during sleep and dreams is present but to a lesser extent compared to daydreaming, indicating low levels of consciousness.

No Awareness

  • A state of complete unconsciousness.

Biological Rhythms & Sleep

  • Sleep: Defined as a natural state of body and mind rest that involves reversible loss of consciousness.

  • Biological Rhythms: Periodic physiological fluctuations that can impact behavior.

    • These include the rise and fall of hormones and variations in brain activity.

Circadian Rhythms

  • Refers to daily cycles in behavior and physiology including sleep/wake cycles, body temperature, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.

  • Desynchronization of the Biological Clock: Can occur due to factors like jet lag resulting from long-distance travel causing misalignment of biological rhythms.

Stages of Wakefulness & Sleep

  • Stages of sleep correspond to changes in brain activity detectable by EEG.

  • Identified 2 stages of wakefulness and 5 stages of sleep.

Stages of Sleep

Stage 1

  • Characterized by drowsy sleep, inclusion of myoclonic jerks, and decreased muscle activity, leading to unawareness of the environment.

Stage 2

  • A light stage of sleep; if a person is not awakened during this stage, they progress deeper into sleep.

Stages 3 and 4

  • Known as delta sleep, which is the deepest sleep state, where waking individuals can feel confused.

    • Associated with sleepwalking, sleep talking, and bedwetting in children.

REM Sleep

  • Rapid Eye Movement sleep, characterized by vivid dreaming, increased brain activity, and irregular breathing patterns.

  • Physiological changes include increased heart rate and blood pressure.

Summary of Stages of Sleep

  • Awake & Alert: Beta waves (short and quick).

  • Laying Down to Sleep: Alpha waves present.

  • NREM Stages:

    • Stage 1: Light sleep transitioning from alpha waves to slower theta waves.

    • Stage 2: Light sleep transitions without awakening.

    • Stage 3-4: Deep sleep where brain produces delta waves.

  • After about 90 minutes in stage 4, individuals cycle back to 3, 2, 1, then REM.

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

  • Sleep is crucial for physiological and cognitive health.

  • Lack of sleep leads to:

    • Excessive sleepiness, yawning, irritability, and daytime fatigue.

    • Increased risk of early death by about 12% for sleeping less than 6-8 hours per night.

Consequences of Sleep Deprivation

  • Memory Issues: Sleep aids in forging connections for memory retention.

  • Mood Changes: Sleep deprivation can cause mood swings, anxiety, and depression.

  • Weakened Immunity: Increases susceptibility to illnesses.

  • Increased Risk of Chronic Conditions: Diabetes related to impaired insulin release.

  • Cognitive Impairments: Affects concentration, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

  • Accidents: Drowsiness increases the risk of accidents.

  • High Blood Pressure and Weight Gain: Low sleep correlates with hormonal imbalances that influence appetite and metabolism.

  • Low Sex Drive: Due to hormonal disruptions.

  • Heart Disease Risk: Extreme counts of sleep deprivation increase cardiovascular stress.

Why Do We Dream?

  • Residue of the Day: Reflections of daily experiences.

  • Psychoanalytic View: Freud's interpretation where dreams symbolize unconscious wishes.

    • Differentiation between manifest (surface content) and latent (true meaning) dream contents.

  • Biological View: Activation-synthesis theory posits that dreams arise from neural signals during sleep.

  • Cognitive View: Dreams as dramatizations of cognitive processing focusing on memory and personal concerns.

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia

  • Defined as difficulty falling asleep, waking during night, or waking too early.

Sleepwalking & Sleep talking

  • Somnambulism: Formal term for sleepwalking occurring in deep sleep stages.

  • Somniloquy: Sleep talking where individuals communicate while asleep.

Nightmares and Night Terrors

  • Nightmares wake individuals from REM sleep with frightening content.

  • Night Terrors involve intense fear and physiological reactions during sleep.

Narcolepsy

  • Sudden, overpowering urges to sleep that may occur any time or place.

  • Narcoleptics enter REM sleep directly without prior stages.

Sleep Apnea

  • Condition where breathing stops due to partial obstruction of the airway.

  • Characterized by loud snoring, brief awakenings during sleep, and can lead to serious health issues.

Drugs

What is a Drug?

  • Defined as a medicine or other substances affecting physiological state when ingested or introduced into the body.

Psychoactive Drugs

  • Substances that affect the nervous system to alter consciousness, perception, and mood.

    • Often used to address life difficulties or as escapism.

    • Increases dopamine levels in the brain's reward pathways.

Terms Related to Psychoactive Drugs

  • Tolerance: Increased amounts of a drug are needed to achieve the same effect.

  • Physical dependence: Physiological need causing withdrawal symptoms.

  • Psychological dependence: Emotional desire for a drug due to its effects.

  • Addiction: Dependence on a drug, either physical, psychological, or both.

Types of Psychoactive Drugs

  1. Depressants: Slow mental & physical activity (e.g., alcohol, barbiturates).

  2. Stimulants: Increase CNS activity (e.g., caffeine, nicotine).

  3. Hallucinogens: Modify perception and produce unreal experiences (e.g., marijuana, LSD).

Effects of Common Depressants

Alcohol

  • Slows brain activity and reduces inhibition.

  • Varied effects based on individual body weight, amount consumed, and tolerance.

Barbiturates

  • Powerful depressants formerly used as sleep aids, now recognized for risks of addiction.

Opiates

  • Derived from opium, act as powerful painkillers. Highly addictive and lead to significant withdrawal.

Effects of Common Stimulants

Caffeine

  • Most widely used psychoactive drug; excessive use causing caffeinism with various physical effects.

Nicotine

  • Affects reward centers by raising dopamine levels, leading to positive behavioral outcomes and dependence.

Amphetamines

  • Used for energy enhancement, highly addictive with severe side effects.

Cocaine

  • An illegal stimulant producing intense euphoria but also severe addiction potential.

Effects of Hallucinogens

Marijuana

  • THC disrupts various neurotransmitter functions, leading to various physical and psychological effects.

LSD

  • Produces profound alterations in perception and time, causing both pleasurable and anxiety-provoking experiences.

Conclusion: Who is More Prone to Drug Use?

  • Factors influencing drug use include biological, psychological, social, and cultural aspects.

Summary of Psychoactive Drugs

Categories:

  • Antipsychotics

  • Stimulants

  • Depressants

  • Hallucinogens