4.3 Consciousness

Question 1

Consciousness

Answer 1

one’s level of awareness of both the world and one’s own existence w/in that world

Question 2

States of consciousness

Answer 2

alertness, sleep, dreaming, and altered states of consciousness.

Question 3

Alertness

Answer 3

the state of being awake and able to think, perceive, process, and express info.

Question 4

How is alertness maintained

Answer 4

• by neurological circuits in the prefrontal cortex at the very front of the brain
• Fibers from the prefrontal cortex communicate w/ the reticular formation, a neural structure in the brainstem, ti keep the cortex awake and alert
• Brain injury → coma

Question 5

Alertness EEG waves

Answer 5

β and α waves

Question 6

β waves

Answer 6

high frequency and occur earn the person is alert or attending a mental to a mental task that requires concentration. Occur when neurons are randomly firing

Question 7

α waves

Answer 7

• occurs when we are awake but relaxing w/ our eyes closed, and are somewhat slower than β wave.
• more synchronized than β waves

Question 8

Stage 1 of Sleep

Answer 8

• light sleep

- dominated by theta waves (irregular waveforms w/ slower frequencies and higher voltages)

Question 9

Stage 2 of Sleep

Answer 9

slightly deeper sleep and includes theta waves, sleep spindles, and K complexes

Question 10

Stage 3 and 4 of Sleep

Answer 10

• even more deeply asleep.
• Aka slow-wave sleep (SWS).
• predominated by Δ waves (low-frequency, high-voltage waves)
• Most sleep-wake disorders occur during these stages

Question 11

slow-wave sleep (SWS)

Answer 11

• associated with cognitive recovery, memory consolidation, inc growth hormone release.
• Dreaming in SWS focuses on consolidating declarative memories

Question 12

non-rapid eye movement (NREM)

Answer 12

Stages 1-4 of Sleep

Question 13

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep aka paradoxical sleep:

Answer 13

• mind appears close to awake on EEG, but the person is asleep.
• Eye movements and body paralysis occur in this stage.
• Mainly β waves.
• Dreaming in REM focuses on consolidating procedural memories.
• happens more frequent towards the morning

Question 14

sleep cycle

Answer 14

• approx 90 minutes for adults, approx 50 mins for children

- Normal cycle is Stage 1-2-3-4-3-2-REM or just 1-2-3-4-REM.

Question 15

Circadian rhythms Circadian rhythms

Answer 15

normally trend around a 24 hour day and is affected by external cues, such as ligh

Question 16

melatonin

Answer 16

• It’s release is triggered by changes in light in the evening (dec light) → sleepiness
• released by the pineal gland

Question 17

Cortisol

Answer 17

• levels inc in the early morning and help promote wakefulness
• Produced in the adrenal cortex

Question 18

dreaming

Answer 18

occurs mainly during REM

Question 19

Activation-synthesis theory

Answer 19

• dreams are caused by widespread, random activation of neural circuitry

Question 20

Problem-solving dream theory

Answer 20

dreams are a way to solve problems while you are sleeping and allow interpretation of obstacles differently than during waking hours

Question 21

Cognitive process dream theory

Answer 21

dreams are merely the sleeping counterpart of stream-of-consciousness

Question 22

Neurocognitive models of dreaming

Answer 22

seek to unify biological and psychological perspectives on dreaming by correlating the subjective, cognitive experience of dreaming with measurable physiological changes

Question 23

Dyssomnias

Answer 23

disorders that make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or avoid sleep
Ex: Insomnia, Narcolepsy, Sleep apnea, sleep deprivation

Question 24

Narcolepsy

Answer 24

lack of voluntary control over the onset of sleep. Sx include cataplexy, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations

Question 25

cataplexy

Answer 25

A loss of muscle control and sudden intrusion of REM sleep during waking hours, usually caused by an emotional trigger

Question 26

hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations

Answer 26

Hallucinations when going to sleep or awakening
Hypnagogic hallucinations happen when one is going to bed. Hypnopompic hallucinations occur when one is popping up out of bed.

Question 27

Parasomnias

Answer 27

abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep such as abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep
Ex: night terrors and sleepwalking

Question 28

Hypnosis

Answer 28

• State of consciousness in which indiv appear to be in control of their normal facilities but are in a highly suggestible state.
• Can be used for pain control, physiological therapy, memory enhancement, weight loss, and smoking cessation

Question 29

Meditation

Answer 29

• Involves a quieting of the mind and is often used for relief of anxiety.
• Resembles Stage 1 slow w/ theta and slow α waves