3B Self: Cognition

Question 1

Name the range of states from total awareness to complete lack of awareness (hint: 8 states)

Answer 1

• Selective attention
• Divided attention
• Daydreaming
• Meditative
• Hypnotised
• Asleep
• Anaesthetised
• Unconscious

Question 2

What is waking consciousness?

Answer 2

When we are alert and aware of our surroundings and thoughts, experienced in our everyday life.

Question 3

Explain what selective attention is as a type of waking consciousness.

Answer 3

• Selective attention: focus on something and excluding everything else around us purposefully. We focus on things which are new, important or of interest (e.g. focus on teacher in class and excluding a conversation going on behind you)
• High levels of awareness given to some tasks, e.g. student studying for exams
• Low levels of awareness given to some tasks, e.g. person watching tv whilst using laptop
• Priority is given to some stimuli over others - important stimuli = large, bright, loud unexpected

Question 4

Explain what divided attention is as a type of waking consciousness.

Answer 4

• Divided attention: where attention is divided between numerous tasks and stimuli that demand the same or less attention as each other (e.g. driving a car, diving in the ocean, playing a video game)

Question 5

Explain habituation as a type of waking consciousness.

Answer 5

• Habituation: when predictable and unchanging stimuli fail to command an individual’s attention, where repetitive stimuli is ignored (e.g. ticking clock, humming fridge, barking dog)

Question 6

Explain dishabituation as a type of waking consciousness.

Answer 6

• Dishabituation: a change in events or activities that causes us to become aware of them, where if repetitive stimuli changes slightly, then our attention is commanded (e.g. humming fridge stops humming - realise it has broken down)

Question 7

Explain sleep as an altered state of consciousness.

Answer 7

• Sleep: a naturally reccurring state characterised by reduced or absent consciousness, relatively suspended sensory activity and inactivity of nearly all voluntary muscles

Question 8

Explain daydreaming as an altered state of consciousness.

Answer 8

• Daydream: a visionary fantasy, particularly one of happy or pleasant thoughts, hopes, or ambitions, experienced while awake

Question 9

Explain meditation as an altered state of consciousness.

Answer 9

• Meditation: training of the mind or self-inducing a mode of consciousness to realise some benefit - a personal practice

Question 10

Explain hypnosis as an altered state of consciousness.

Answer 10

• Hypnosis: induction of a state of consciousness where a person apparently loses the power of voluntary action and is highly responsive to suggestion or depiction

Question 11

Name the four types of brain waves in brainwave recordings and what level of consciousness they may infer.

Answer 11

• Beta: fully alert and working
• Alpha: relaxed
• Theta: drowsy or daydreaming
• Delta: sleeping or dreaming

Question 12

Describe the measure of state of consciousness in relation to measuring heart rate.

Answer 12

• Normal heart rate resting is 70 beats per minute
• Higher rate infers higher arousal
• Exercise, fear and drugs can all increase heart rate

Question 13

Describe the measure of state of consciousness in relation to measuring body temperature.

Answer 13

• Normal body temp is 37 degrees

- Drinking, drugs and fever can change body temperature

Question 14

Describe the measure of state of consciousness in relation to measuring galvanic skin response.

Answer 14

• The change in electrical conductivity of the skin

- The change in current after perspiration from excitement or anxiety