Altered States of Consciousness

Question 1

Psychoactive drug

Answer 1

A chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods - wide variety

Question 2

Types of Psychoactive Drugs

Answer 2

Stimulants, Depressants, and Hallucinogens

Question 3

Psychoactive drugs work by altering

Answer 3

synaptic transmission (stimulating, inhibiting, and or mimicking neurotransmitters)

Question 4

Stimulants…

Answer 4

excite neural activity - speed up body functions
(Heart rate, breathing, pupil dilation, increase energy) can lead to “crash” after use

Question 5

Caffeine, Nicotine, Cocaine, Ecstasy and Methamphetamines are …

Answer 5

stimulants.

Question 6

Alcohol, Opioids, and Barbituates are…

Answer 6

depressants.

Question 7

Depressants…

Answer 7

reduce neural activity and slow body functions

Question 8

Hallucinogens…

Answer 8

distort perceptions - may generate sensory images in the absence of sensory input

Question 9

Cannabis…

Answer 9

slows down reaction time, messes with time perception, more senseitive to colors and sounds - Marijuana is a spanish word and was used to associate the plant with Mexican immigrants

Question 10

LSD…

Answer 10

Chemically similar to a form of serotonin - can generate intense emotional experiences that can be either positive or negative

Question 11

DMT…

Answer 11

naturally occuring psychoactive chemical - can be extracted from certain plants - subjective effects

Question 12

Psychological Dependence

Answer 12

absence of drug causes negative emotions
(but not physical symptoms)

Question 13

Physical Dependence

Answer 13

absence of drug causes physical pain, intense
cravings, sign of physical illness

Question 14

Dependency (Addiction)

Answer 14

Physical and or Psychological

Question 15

Tolerance

Answer 15

The drugs effect lessens as the brain adapts - takes larger doses to produce same effect

Question 16

Withdrawal

Answer 16

The discomfort of drug leaving the system, occur even without addiction

Question 17

Operant Conditioning

Answer 17

Behaviors that are positively reinforced are repeated

Question 18

Addictive drugs act on reward system in the brain

Answer 18

Rewards system is tricked by drugs - body gets rewarded even if effects are detrimental

Question 19

Wanting system in the brain

Answer 19

Cravings - motivation and pursuit of a reward

Question 20

Liking system in the brain

Answer 20

Hedonic pleasure from a reward

Question 21

Different neural systems for liking versus wanting

Answer 21

Addictive drugs hyper-sensitize “wanting” centers of brain, but de-sensitize the
”liking” centers)
* Leads to chronic cravings for the drug, but the drug no longer feels good

Question 22

Drug abuse is a…

Answer 22

modern disease

Question 23

Common causes of hallucinations

Answer 23

hallucinogenic drugs, mental illness, extreme duress (sleep deprivation, starvation, illness), ritualized behavior (chanting, deep meditation), sensory deprivation

Question 24

Hallucinations

Answer 24

sensory experiences not caused by environmental stimuli - may involved any of the senses,

Question 25

Form Constant Hallucinations

Answer 25

Common types of visual hallucinations
- Vivid colors
- Geometric shapes
- Tunnels
- Spirals
- Grids
- Cobwebs

Question 26

NDE

Answer 26

Experiences where people feel like they had died or were close to dying - may feel like they have returned from the grave - intense emotions are usually positive - emotionally powerful

Question 27

“Dying Brain” theory

Answer 27

Decreased activity of visual cortex
* Produced “light at the end of tunnel” visions
* Decreased activity at temporal-parietal junction
* Sensory association areas
* Produces sensory hallucinations and feeling of disembodiment
* Feelings of euphoria due to release of natural endorphins

Question 28

Terror Management Theory

Answer 28

Humans only animal aware of own mortality - awareness of mortality creates unique anxiety - want to leave a “legacy”

Question 29

Effects of Mortality Awareness

Answer 29

• Defense of cultural worldview
• Patriotism, religion, family values
• Greater love and tolerance for others you recognize connections with
• Greater support of harsh tactics used against enemies
• Greater dislike of abstract art

Question 30

The God Helmet

Answer 30

a helmet that disrupts activity of temporal (and parietal) lobes with
electromagnetic waves

• 80% of subjects report feeling of a sensed presence, out-of-body, or other
  dissociative state

Question 31

Temporal-Parietal Junction

Answer 31

Where the temporal and parietal lobes meet - adjacent with multiple “association areas”