CH 3: Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind

Question 1

Consciousness

Answer 1

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Question 2

Cognitive Neuroscience

Answer 2

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language).

Question 3

Selective Attention

Answer 3

The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus.

Question 4

Inattentional Blindness

Answer 4

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere.

Question 5

Change Blindness

Answer 5

Failing to notice changes in the environment.

Question 6

Explain three attentional principles that magicians may use to fool us.

Answer 6

1. Our Selective Attention allows us to focus on only a limited portion of our surroundings.
2. Inattentional Blindness explains why we don’t perceive some things when we are distracted.
3. Change Blindness happens when we fail to notice a relatively unimportant change in our environment. All these principles help magicians fool us, as they direct our attention elsewhere to perform their tricks.

Question 7

Dual Processing

Answer 7

The principal that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious and unconscious tracks.

Question 8

Blindsight

Answer 8

A condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it.

Question 9

Parallel Processing

Answer 9

The processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain’s natural mode of information processing for many functions.

Question 10

Sequential Processing

Answer 10

is best for solving new problems, which requires your focused attention.

Question 11

Sleep

Answer 11

Periodic, natural loss of consciousness - as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation.

Question 12

Circadian Rhythm

Answer 12

The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle.

Question 13

REM Sleep

Answer 13

Rapid Eye Movement sleep; a reoccurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as Paradoxical Sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active.

Question 14

Alpha Waves

Answer 14

The relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state.

Question 15

Hallucinations

Answer 15

False sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus.

Question 16

In what stage of sleep may you experience Hallucinations?

Answer 16

NREM-1

Question 17

Sleep Spindles

Answer 17

Bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain-wave activity.

Question 18

What is an example of a Hypnagogic Sensation?

Answer 18

Having the sensation of falling or floating in your sleep.

Question 19

What stage of sleep do you experience Sleep Spindles?

Answer 19

NREM-2

Question 20

What stage of sleep puts you into a deep slumber?

Answer 20

NREM-3

Question 21

Delta Waves

Answer 21

The large slow brain waves associated with deep sleep.

Question 22

Why would communal sleeping provide added protection for those whose safety depends upon vigilance, such as these soldiers?

Answer 22

With each soldier cycling through the sleep stages independently, it is very likely that at any given time at least one of them will be awake or easily wakened in the event of a threat.

Question 23

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

Answer 23

A pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness.

Question 24

Fill in the Blank:

The _____ nucleus helps monitor the brain’s release of melatonin, which affects our _____ rhythm.

Answer 24

Suprachiasmatic; Circadian

Question 25

What are five proposed reasons for our need for sleep?

Answer 25

(1) Sleep Protects - it has survival value.
(2) Sleep helps us recuperate - it restores and repairs brain tissue.
(3) Sleep restores and rebuilds memories - it helps us consolidate memories.
(4) Sleep fuels creative thinking - dreams inspire creativity
(5) Sleep supports growth - pituitary gland releases a growth hormone.

Question 26

Insomnia

Answer 26

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.

Question 27

Narcolepsy

Answer 27

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

Question 28

Sleep Apnea

Answer 28

A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings.

Question 29

Night Terrors

Answer 29

A sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during NREM-3 sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered.

Question 30

Dreams

Answer 30

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind.

Question 31

What are the five Dream Theories?

Answer 31

(1) Freud’s Wish - Fulfilment
(2) Information Processing
(3) Psychological Function
(4) Neural Activation
(5) Cognitive Development

Question 32

Manifest Content

Answer 32

According to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream (as distinct from its latent, or hidden, content).

Question 33

Latent Content

Answer 33

According to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream (as distinct from its manifest.)

Question 34

REM Rebound

Answer 34

The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation.

Question 35

Psychoactive Drugs

Answer 35

A chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods.

Question 36

Substance Use Disorder

Answer 36

Continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk.

Question 37

Tolerance

Answer 37

The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effect.

Question 38

Addiction

Answer 38

Compulsive craving of drugs or certain behaviors (such as gambling) despite known adverse effects.

Question 39

Withdrawal

Answer 39

The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior.

Question 40

What is the process that leads to drug tolerance?

Answer 40

With repeated exposure to a psychoactive drug, the user’s brain chemistry adapts and the drug’s effect lessens. Thus, it takes bigger doses to get the desired effect.

Question 41

Depressants

Answer 41

Drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

Question 42

Alcohol Use Disorder

Answer 42

(Popularly known as alcoholism) alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use.

Question 43

Barbiturates

Answer 43

Drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement.

Question 44

Opiates

Answer 44

Opium and it’s derivatives, such as morphine and heroine; depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.

Question 45

Stimulant

Answer 45

Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, Ecstasy, and methamphetamine) that excite neural activity and speed up body function.

Question 46

Amphetamines

Answer 46

Drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and moods.

Question 47

Nicotine

Answer 47

A stimulating and highly psychoactive drug in tobacco.

Question 48

Cocaine

Answer 48

A powerful and addictive stimulant derived from the coca plant; produces temporarily increased alertness and euphoria.

Question 49

Methamphetamine

Answer 49

A powerful addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels.

Question 50

Ecstasy (MDMA)

Answer 50

“methylenedioxymethamphetamine”

A synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition.

Question 51

Hallucinogens

Answer 51

Psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

Question 52

Near-Death-Experience

Answer 52

An altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as cardiac arrest); often similar to drug induced hallucinations.

Question 53

LSD

Answer 53

“lysergic acid diethylamide”

A powerful synthetic hallucinogenic drug; also known as Acid.

Question 54

THC

Answer 54

“delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinkol”

The major active ingredients in marijuana; Triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinogens.

Question 55

How does this pleasure-pain description apply to the repeated use of psychoactive drugs?

Answer 55

Psychoactive drugs create pleasure by altering brain chemistry. With repeated use of the drug, the brain develops tolerance and needs more of the drug to achieve the desired effect. (Marijuana is an exception.) Discontinuing use of the substance then produces painful or psychologically unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.