States of Consciousness

States of Consciousness

Introduction

  • The lecture covers the topic of states of consciousness, including:

    • Sleep

    • Psychopharmacology

  • The speaker expresses personal enthusiasm for the subjects of sleep and psychopharmacology.

  • Lecture delivery method:

    • Primarily from behind a computer.

    • Use of split-screen for detailed view of writing on the whiteboard.

Definition of Consciousness

  • Consciousness: All that you are aware of at any instant.

    • Includes sensory intake and cognitive processing:

    • Sound of the speaker's voice

    • Visual information on the screen

    • Sensations (e.g., air temperature)

    • Internal thoughts (narration in head)

    • Physical actions (typing or writing)

Types of Consciousness

  • Waking Consciousness:

    • Characteristics:

    • Alertness

    • Organization

    • Clear thought and reason

    • Awareness of sensory environment

  • Altered States of Consciousness:

    • Defined as modifications in perception, reasoning, self-control, emotion processing, memory access, sensory experience, and temporal perception.

Factors Affecting Consciousness

  1. Sleep:

    • Major daily alteration in consciousness

    • Decreased awareness and sensory processing during sleep

  2. Psychoactive Drugs:

    • Focus on drugs that cross the blood-brain barrier and affect neuronal functioning.

    • Do not include medications that do not alter perception significantly.

  3. Fatigue:

    • Extreme tiredness alters perception and processing.

    • Affects emotional interpretations (e.g., irritability increases).

  4. Sensory Overload and Deprivation:

    • Sensory Overload: Conditions like loud concerts or crowded spaces can alter perception (potential hypnotic states).

    • Sensory Deprivation: Complete lack of sensory input can lead to alterations in perception (e.g., hallucinations). Features sensory deprivation tanks for inducing meditation and relaxation.

  5. Extreme Physical Conditions:

    • Hypothermia, extreme hunger, or sleepy alters sensory processing and can generate hallucinations.

  6. Meditation and Hypnosis:

    • Meditation:

      • Calming techniques that lower heart rate and blood pressure, enhancing emotional processing and clarity of thought.

      • Tools available on campus for meditation.

    • Hypnosis:

      • Induced relaxed state allowing for suggestibility and behavior change (e.g., smoking cessation).

Sleep Overview

  • sleep doesn’t make you not responsive, only less responsive

  • small amounts of sleep deprivation causes memory loss, lack of attention, low response time, mood, cortisol levels rise (weight gain)

  • Sleep is not a singular state; it has two main components:

    1. Non-REM Sleep:

    • Consists of several stages (1-4) characterized by different brain wave patterns.

    1. REM Sleep (Rapid Eye Movement):

    • Distinctive stage with high neuronal activity similar to wakefulness.

EEG Patterns of Sleep

  • EEG Recordings: Measures electrical activity of neurons through sensors on the scalp.

  • Brain Activity Patterns:

    • Awake: Features beta (active) and alpha (relaxed) waves.

    • Eyes closed, relaxed: alpha waves occur

    • Stage 1: Transition to sleep, characterized primarily by alpha activity and slight theta waves. Presence of hypnic jerks (muscle contractions).

    • Stage 2: Contains sleep spindles; individuals are fully asleep and more difficult to wake.

    • Stages 3 and 4 (Slow Wave Sleep + Deep Sleep): Characterized by high amplitude, slow delta waves; deep sleep, very hard to awaken.

SleepCycle

  • Sleep consists of cycles lasting about 90 minutes, including:

    • Progression from stage 1 to 4 of non-REM sleep and REM sleep in cycles.

    • Early night dominated by stages 3 and 4; later night has increased REM sleep.

    • REM Sleep: Body is paralyzed except for eye movements; brain activity resembles wakefulness. Crucial for dreaming.

Functions of Sleep

REM sleep

  • Critical for:

    • Thinking and reasoning

    • Emotional processing

    • Memory consolidation (remembered more consistently when sleep follows learning).

Non-REM Sleep

  • Important for physical repair and recovery, particularly after strenuous activity.

Theories on Dreams

  • Dream Classification:

    • Dreams occur during REM sleep, facilitating emotional and memory processing.

    • Most dreams reflect daily experiences with a predominance of negative emotions.

  • Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis:

    • Proposes dreams are the synthesis of memory pathways reactivated during REM sleep.

  • Freudian Psychodynamic Theory:

    • Previously dominant theory, suggesting dreams as symbols of subconscious thoughts (debunked).

Sleep Disorders

  1. Insomnia:

    • Types include:

      • Difficulty falling asleep

      • Frequent waking

      • Waking too early

    • Temporary (stress-related) vs. chronic insomnia.

    • Contributing factors: medication side effects, caffeine consumption.

  2. Somnambulism (Sleepwalking):

    • Occurs during non-REM (stage 4) sleep; characterized by movement without awareness.

    • Safety concerns due to potential risks during sleepwalking.

  3. Night Terrors:

    • Involve extreme arousal during stage 4, presenting as screaming and thrashing.

    • Different from nightmares (which occur in REM).

  4. Narcolepsy:

    • Characterized by sudden sleep attacks and micro-sleep episodes during waking hours, often triggered by excitement.

    • Treatment involves stimulants and possible genetic predispositions.

  5. Sleep Apnea:

    • Defined by sporadic cessation of breathing during sleep due to airway obstruction.

    • Increases risk for cognitive decline and dementia; treated with C-PAP machines.

Conclusion

  • Encourages students to engage with the material, ask questions, and utilize resources for better understanding of sleep and consciousness. Upcoming sections will delve into hypnosis and psychoactive drugs.