Altered Consciousness

Question 1

What is the circadian rhythm? What is it synchronized and regulated by?

Answer 1

• a roughly 24-hour long cycle of fluctuations in biological and psychological processes
• synchronized by environmental cues
• regulated by a cluster of nerves in the hypothalamus

Question 2

What is melatonin?

Answer 2

a hormone which regulates alertness

Question 3

When is more vs less melatonin produced? What detects light and where does it communicate info to?

Answer 3

• more is produced in the absence of light, less is produced in the presence of light
• photoreceptors communicate info the the hypothalamus

Question 4

What are some factors that desynchronize the circadian rhythm?

Answer 4

• exposure to bright sun-like lights late at night
• traveling across time zones

Question 5

What were the variations in brain activity during different sleep stakes identified through?

Answer 5

• the electroencephalogram (EEG) - measures brain electrical activity through probes on the scalp
• each stage has unique patterns of brain waves

Question 6

What is the awake and alert stage of sleep characterized by?

Answer 6

beta brain waves (high frequency with few high peaks)

Question 7

What is the awake and drowsy stage of sleep characterized by?

Answer 7

• alpha brain waves (lower frequency with more peaks
• hypnagogic hallucinations

Question 8

What are hypnagogic hallucinations?

Answer 8

off but vividly realistic sensations experienced during presleep phases

Question 9

What are the two main sleep stages?

Answer 9

• REM (Rapid eye movement sleep)
• NREM (non rapid eye movement sleep)

Question 10

What are the 3 NREM sleep stages? What happens during them?

Answer 10

N1/ Stage 1
- very short
- disengage from sensation of world
- one can easily return back to alertness
N2/ Stage 2
- first true sleep stage
N3/ Stage 3
- deepest sleep stage
- heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing drop to lowest levels

Question 11

What happens durign REM?

Answer 11

• brain is more active than N2 or N3 of NREM
• when most dream happen
• voluntary muscle movement is inhibited
• eyes dart back and forth (rapid eye movement)

Question 12

What is sleep paralysis? What sleep stage does it occur in/ after?

Answer 12

• the experience of muscles still being inactive after REM

Question 13

About how long does one sleep cycle take? What happens to the ratio of REM to NREM sleep with each cycle?

Answer 13

• about 90 minutes (N1-REM)
• 1st cyle has the most NREM and the least REM
• As cycles go on, REM increased and NREM decreases

Question 14

Is there a definite explanation for why we sleep?

Answer 14

no

Question 15

What are some evolutionary explanations of why we sleep?

Answer 15

sleep patterns evolved to conserve energy and prevent organism from interaction with the environment at suboptimal times

Question 16

What are some important processes that occur during sleep?

Answer 16

• removal of metabolic waste in the brain
• support of the immune function
• learning and memory formation
• mood regulation

Question 17

What can happen when one gets insufficient REM sleep?

Answer 17

• increased urge to sleep
• decreased concentration, vigilance, reaction time, memory, and risk assessment
• motor skills decrease
• hormone imbalance disrupted
• metabolic changes associated ith obesity and diabetes
• emotional regulation impacted and increased emotional reactions are more likely

Question 18

What is REM rebound?

Answer 18

after nights of REM sleep deprivation, amount of REM sleep can increase (up to 50%) (same with NREM deprivtion)

Question 19

What is a dream?

Answer 19

an unfolding sequence of thoughts, perceptions, and emotions, that typically occur during REM sleep and is experienced as a series of real-life events

Question 20

When do most dreams occur? for about how long?

Answer 20

• most occur during REM sleep
• most adults dream for about 2 hours each night

Question 21

What is sleep thinking? when does it occur?

Answer 21

• vague, blank, thought-like ruminations about real-life events
• occur during NREM sleep

Question 22

Name two neuro-cognitive theories of dreaming.

Answer 22

the Activation-synthesis model and Neuro-cognitive model

Question 23

Explain the Activation-synthesis dreaming theory

Answer 23

• dreams are brain activity in the brainstem interpreted by the cortex which generates meaning

Question 24

Explain the neuro-cognitive model theory for dreams.

Answer 24

• dreamlike states don’t require sleep
• dreams reflect interest, personality, and personal concerns

Question 25

What is hypnosis?

Answer 25

a cooperative social interaction in which the hypnotized person responds to the hypnotist’s suggestion with changes in perception, memory, thoughts, and behavior

Question 26

What is state explanation?

Answer 26

hypnosis as a splitting of two dissociates streams of consciousness (one subjectively perceived and one not) (theory for hypnosis)

Question 27

What is the social cognitive theory about hypnosis?

Answer 27

people responding to social demands of the situation (they act as they’re expected)

Question 28

What are two methods of altering consciousness?

Answer 28

hypnosis and meditation

Question 29

What is meditation?

Answer 29

the use of mental or physical techniques to induce a state of heightened awareness

Question 30

What kind of techniques does meditation usually involve?

Answer 30

• focused attention techniques (ex: focus on a mantra)
• open monitoring techniques (ex: focus on the moment)

Question 31

What are some physiological effects of meditation?

Answer 31

• reduced arousal
• decreased heart rate and blood pressure

Question 32

What are some psychological effects of meditation?

Answer 32

• improved concentration, perceptual discrimination, and attention
• increased ability to work with information
• improved emotional control and well-being
• reduced stress