100_9.1_Conciousness.pdf
1. Introduction to Consciousness
Psychology 100 Lecture 9.1: Focus on consciousness and the human mind.
2. Definition and Forms of Consciousness
Definition of Consciousness:
Awareness of ourselves and our environment.
Consciousness is a subjective experience.
Forms of Consciousness:
Wakefulness: State of being alert and able to respond.
Sleep and Dreams: Vital aspects of consciousness featuring various sleep stages.
Alternative Forms of Consciousness: Daydreaming, hallucination, hypnosis, etc.
3. Psychological Phenomena During Wakefulness
Key phenomena like selective attention and change blindness will be addressed in cognition and perception chapters; not repeated here.
The lecture will focus on forms of consciousness other than wakefulness.
4. Awareness and Self-Consciousness
Reflected by famous philosopher Descartes, asserting personal existence leads to conscious experience.
Self-Consciousness:
The process of being aware of and reflecting on one’s own experiences and others’ perceptions.
5. The Mirror Self-Recognition Test
Used to evaluate an animal's self-recognition capabilities.
Animals which can recognize themselves typically include:
Chimpanzees
Elephants
Magpies
Dolphins
Most other primates fail this test.
6. Consciousness in Non-Human Entities
Robots and Consciousness:
Information processing in robots does not equate to conscious experience.
Current robots lack emotions and sensations; therefore, they lack conscious feelings.
7. Spontaneous and Induced Forms of Consciousness
Conscious experiences can occur spontaneously (e.g., daydreaming, dreaming), physiologically induced (e.g., hallucinations caused by oxygen deprivation), or psychologically induced (e.g., sensory deprivation, hypnosis).
8. Sleep and Dreams
Understanding Sleep: Mysteries of sleep and dreams being examined in laboratories worldwide.
9. Circadian Rhythms
24-hour cycles including sleep and wakefulness, known as the biological clock.
Influenced by sunlight; artificial light can alter this cycle.
Light triggers changes in melatonin production by the pineal gland (decrease in morning; increase at night).
10. Sleep Stages
Measuring Sleep: Adults experience a cycle of five distinct stages every 90 minutes.
Brain Activity:
Eyes closed, awake: Slow alpha waves (9-14 cps).
Early sleep (stages 1-2): High-amplitude theta waves (5-8 cps).
Deep sleep (stages 3-4): Delta waves (1.5-4 cps).
REM Sleep: After deep sleep, cycles back to stage 1 with rapid eye movements and vivid dreams.
Brain engages in waking-like activity during REM but is temporarily paralyzed.
11. Importance of Sleep
Why Sleep? Non-REM sleep aids body repair, while REM sleep is crucial for memory tasks.
Sleep Deprivation: Insufficient sleep leads to severe tiredness and impaired consciousness.
Sleep Disorders: Medical conditions disrupting sleep patterns, including:
Insomnia: Difficulty in falling asleep.
Narcolepsy: Sudden, uncontrollable sleep episodes.
Sleep apnea: Episodes of halted breathing during sleep.
12. Sleep Tips
Maintain a consistent sleeping schedule.
Avoid late-day exercise, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and large meals.
Relax before bed and create a conducive sleeping environment.
13. Dream Research
Connection between REM sleep and dreaming spurs new research directions.
Content of Dreams (Schwartz, 2004): Often includes:
Work/school-related activities.
Interactions with romantic partners/family.
Sports.
Themes of flying, fighting, or shopping.
Generally, dreams have more negative than positive themes.
14. Dream Theories
Dream Theories Include:
Wish Fulfillment Theory (Freud): Dreams express unconscious desires (limited evidence).
Activation-Synthesis Theory (Hobson, 1988): Dreams are the brain's attempts to interpret random signals.
Threat Simulation Theory (Revonsuo, 2000): Dreams provide a simulation to prepare for real-life threats.