Awareness Flashcards
Consciousness
Immediate awareness of our internal and external states
Altered states of consciousness
change in a person’s ability to be fully aware of surroundings
States of consciousness
level of awareness
Contents of consciousness
specific thoughts we are aware of
Is consciousness connected to awakeness
No, people who have seizures are not aware during seizures but are awake
Attention
- a prerequisite for consciousness
- Awareness that we are paying attending to something
Selective attention
Paying attention to only what you are told to do. Especially if you are told to do a task.
Do we use our whole brain?
When we are awake all neurons are active
What causes conscious awarness to a stimulus?
Multiple neurons becoming active at the same time
Reticular formation
Electrical signals bring the brain to consciouness
Inattention blindness
people who are not paying attention will be unable to report on details
gist
general or overall impression
gist
general or overall impression
Is multitasking possible?
Performing executive mental functions in parallel is a myth
What is the mental process of multitasking
Brain switching rapidly between tasks
Reticular formation damage
Causes a person to fall into a state of unconscious or a coma
hypothalamus
relays signals to the cortex to remain in an awake state
Hypothalamus damage
causes the orexin system to malfunction and causes narcolepsy
Thalamus
connects the different sensory and motor areas to remain aware of surroundings and the location of limbs
Cerebral cortex
brings awareness to the sensory and motor information
Cerebral cortex
brings awareness to the sensory and motor information
Sense of self
being aware of a difference between yourself and other beings
when does development of sense of self occur?
occurs around 18 months
Blindsight
Information about sight is being sent to the brain without the individual being aware of it
