ch. 4 - consciousness Flashcards
consciousness
the immediate awareness of the internal (thoughts, sensations, memories) and the external world
William James
said that consciousness is an unbroken stream with a sense of continuity and self
attention
the capacity to selectively focus senses and awareness on a particular stimuli
attentions shortcomings
limited capacity, selectivity, blindness
inattention blindness
the tendency to not notice a significant object in our clear field of vision
inattention deafness
the tendency to not notice a significant sound
change blindness
the tendency to not notice a change in something
multi-tasking
paying attention to 2 or more stimuli at once, each stimuli gets less than normal attention
circadian rhythm
biological and psychological processes that vary over the course of the day (eg sleep-wake cycle)
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
a cluster of neurons in the hypothalamus that governs the timing of the circadian rhythm
melatonin
sleepy hormone (manufactured by the pituitary gland) triggered by the suprachiasmatic nucleus at sunset
free-running cycle
the intrinsic circadian rhythm that occurs when the body has no environment cues (a bit longer than a day)
electroencephalograph
measures rhythmic electrical brain activity (brain waves)
electroencephalogram (EEG)
the graphic record produced by the electroencephalograph
REM sleep
(rapid-eye-movement sleep/active sleep) increase in body and brain activity, dreaming occurs
NREM sleep
(non-rapid-eye-movement sleep/quiet sleep) the body and brain slow down
beta brain waves
occur during wakefulness, alert
alpha brain waves
larger and slower than beta brain waves, drowsiness pre-sleep
hypnagogic hallucinations
brief, vivid sensory phenomena during the transition to light sleep, alpha brain waves are decreasing
sleep paralysis
muscle paralysis of REM sleep carries into the waking state
myoclonic jerk
involuntary muscle spams caused by hypnagogic hallucinations jolts the person awake
stage 1 NREM
(twilight state/threshold period), drowsy alpha brain waves are replaced w/ slow theta brain waves, consciousness can quickly be regained if needed
stage 2 NREM
(light sleep) characterized by sleep spindles (bursts of brain activity) and K complexes (high-voltage brain activity spikes), slow delta brain waves emerge
stages 3 and 4 NREM
(slow-wave sleep) delta brain waves become at least 20% then 50% of total brain activity, physiological processes slow
REM cycles
brain waves are small and active, dreaming occurs, muscle activity is suppressed to not act out dreams, physiological arousal (rapid-eye movement)
when do sleepers shift positions
before and after every REM sleep
sleeps purpose
strengthen and integrate new memories with existing memories
sleep deprivation
causes microsleeps during wakefulness and disrupts moods/skills
sleep restrictions
(type of sleep deprivation) less sleep than usual, decreases mental and motor skills, moods, metabolism
REM rebound
caused by REM deprivation, REM sleep becomes 50% of total sleep as the brain makes up for its missing sleep components
how much of the night is spent dreaming
25%
sleep thinking
(sleep mentation) vague, bland thoughts of real-life events during NREM sleep
dream
an unfolding sequence of perceptions, thoughts, and emotions experienced as real-life events, occur during REM sleep
nightmare
vivid, disturbing dreams that often wake sleepers due to fear, anxiety, or terror, common in childhood, more common in women than men
Sigmund Freud
said that dream imagery acted as a fulfillment of repressed wishes, they had the manifest content (dream images) and latent content (disguised meaning)
activation-synthesis model of dreaming
dreaming is caused by the brain synthesizing and integrating internally triggered memories, emotions, and sensations, the brainstem triggers higher regions (amygdala, hippocampus) to respond to internally generated signals
neurocognitive model of dreaming
dreams reflect people interests, personalities, and worries, they mirror waking concerns and are similar to normal thought process
lucid dreams
awareness and ability to control dreams
sleep disorder
characterized by consistent abnormal sleep patterns, sleep disruptions that cause distress, and interference with daytime functioning
dyssomnia
disruptions in the amount, quality, and timing of sleep
parasomnia
undesirable physical arousal, behaviors, or events during sleep
insomnia
dissatisfaction with sleep quality or duration
onset insomnia
difficulty falling asleep
maintenance insomnia
difficulty staying asleep
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
narrowed airways cause frequent pauses in breathing, increasing blood-carbon dioxide concentration and causing momentary awakenings, disrupts sleep quality and quantity
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
a device that increases through air pressure, keeping airways open and preventing obstructive sleep apnea
narcolepsy
excessive, uncontrollable episodes of daytime sleep called sleep attacks or microsleeps
cataplexy
a sudden loss of voluntary muscle control triggered by sudden intense emotions, the person is still aware
parasomnia
sleep disorders characterized by undesirable physical arousal or behaviors during sleep with a lack of awareness, during stages 3 and 4 NREM
sleep terrors
(night terrors) a sharp increase in physiological arousal (restlessness, sweating, heart rate) from a terrifying sensation (choking, crushing, falling), common in children and most grow out of them
sleepwalking
(somnambulism) a sleeping person can engage in elaborate behavior, waking can make the person aggressive
REM sleep behavior disorder
voluntary muscle movement is not shut down and dreams are physically acted out
hypnosis
cooperative social interaction between a hypnotic participant and a hypnotists suggestions, changes perception, memory, thoughts, and behavior, a highly focused state of attention minimizes competing thoughts
post-hypnotic suggestions
participants carry out suggestions after hypnosis
post-hypnotic amnesia
a hypnotists suggestions can suppress specific memories
Ernest R. Hilgard
believed that hypnotized people experienced dissociation and came up with the neodissociation theory of hypnosis
dissociation
split consciousness into 2 or more simultaneous streams of mental activity
neodissociation theory of hypnosis
during hypnosis, a conscious stream complies with the hypnotist’s suggestions while a dissociated stream (the “hidden observer”) processes not conscious information
social-cognitive view of hypnosis
hypnotic subjects respond to the hypnotists “social demands” and act how they believe a good subject is supposed to act
meditation
techniques that induce an altered state of focused attention and heightened awareness with the goal of controlling attention
focused attention techniques
meditation techniques that focus all awareness on a single thing (like a mantra (a short, repeated word or phrase))
open monitoring techniques
mediation techniques that closely monitor the content of an experience moment-to-moment (eg mindfulness)
psychoactive drugs
chemical substances that can alter arousal, mood, thinking, sensation, and perceptions
addiction
feeling psychologically and physically compelled to take a specific drug, alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine are the most abused and addicted
physical dependence
the body and brain chemistry physically adapts to a dug
drug tolerance
more and more of a drug is needed to gain the original effect, drug use decreases naturally produced dopamine (feel-good hormone)
withdrawal symptoms
unpleasant physical reactions and intense cravings from a lack of a drug
drug rebound effect
withdrawal symptoms seem to be the opposite of the drugs effects (eg caffeine withdrawal includes sleepiness)
drug abuse
(substance use disorder) recurrent drug use and difficulty controlling use disrupts normal interpersonal functions, increasing cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms
depressants
inhibition of the central nervous system activity leads to drowsiness and anxiety relief
alcohol
(depressant) produced an initial good feeling because it depresses the brain centers responsible for judgment and self-control, withdrawal includes rebound hyperexcitability (delirium tremens)
inhalants
(depressants) inhaled chemical substances that alter consciousness (eg paint solvent, spray paint, aroesol sprays), depresses the central nervous system, toxic to organs
barbiturates
(depressants) lower anxiety and promote sleep, depressed brain centers that control arousal, wakefulness, and alertness, withdrawal causes REM rebound nightmares, hallucinations, disorientation, etc.
tranquilizers
(depressants) relieve anxiety and are similar to, but less powerful than, barbiturates
opioids
(narcotics, opiates) relieve pain and produce senses of euphoria, mimic and occupy endorphin (painkillers) receptor sites, lowering pain perception
heroin
(opioid) one of the most dangerous opioids, by injection, causes euphoria, content, peacefulness, withdrawal includes cravings, fevers, and chills
oxycontin
the most commonly used opioid, very dangerous when mixed with alcohol and barbiturates
stimulants
increase brain activity, wide variety of drugs
caffeine
(stimulant) most widely used psychoactive drug, promotes wakefulness, alertness, and faster through processing, blocks adenosine (sleepiness hormone) release, withdrawal includes cravings, irritability, tremors, headaches, drowsiness, and fatigue
nicotine
(stimulant) increases alertness, effects diminish in 1-2 hours, withdrawal includes craving, irritability, tremors, headaches, “brain fog”, etc.
amphetamines
(stimulant) (speed/uppers) suppress appetite, fast tolerance, highs always followed by “crashing”, withdrawal includes fatigue, deep sleep, depression, and an increased appetite
cocaine
(stimulant) causes intense euphoria, alertness, and confidence, blocks dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine reuptake which potentiates (increases) the effects of the neurotransmitters
stimulant-induced psychosis
schizophrenic-like symptoms like auditory hallucinations and paranoia, the psychotic person becomes very aggressive
methamphetamine
(stimulant) highly addictive, leads to brain damage, tissue loss, and a decrease in the number of dopamine receptors
psychedelic drug
causes perceptual distortion and altered moods and thinking (eg psilocybin (shrooms), LSD, marijuana), stimulates serotonin receptors, no significant physical dependence or withdrawal effects
marijuana
(psychedelic) produces a sense of well-being, relaxation, and focused and vivid sensations, interferes with muscle coordination and memory
designer club drugs
collection of psychoactive drugs synthesized in labs
ecstacy (MDMA)
acts as a stimulant and low does and a psychedelic at high doses, produces a sense of euphoria and well-being, side effects include: dehydration, rapid heart beat, tremors, hyperthermia, and depression
dissociative anesthetics (PCP, angel dust, ketamines)
(designer club drug) induces dissociation and depersonalization, affects levels of glutamate and stimulates dopamine release, highly addictive
