Ch 5: Consciousness Flashcards
consciousness
our subjective experience of the world and ourselves
- it is sensitive to brain chemistry, expectations, and culture
circadian rhythm
clinical processes that occur on a 24 hour basis
biological clock
controls sleep/awake cycles
- in the hypothalamus
- releases melatonin
consequences of inadequate sleep
physiological:
- weight gain, depression, decreased immune system activity
cognitive:
- difficulty learning, slower reaction times, trouble problem solving
stages of sleep
- stages 1-4 (non-REM) has fewer dreams
- stage 5 has vivid dreams
brain waves
- EEG scans allow us to read brain waves
- awake = beta waves
- calm wakefulness = alpha waves
- drowsiness = theta waves
- deep level of NREM = delta waves
stage 1 of sleep (5-10 mins)
- barely sleep
- theta waves
- hypnagogic imagery
- myoclonic jerks
stage 2 of sleep (10-30 mins)
- theta waves
- sleep spindles (left) and K-complexes (right)
- heart rate slows, body temp decreases, muscles relax
- spend 65% of sleep here
stages 3 and 4 of sleep (15-20 mins)
- delta waves
- deep sleep
- adults spend 25% of their sleep here
stage 5 of sleep (10-20 mins)
- brain activity similar to wakefulness
- increase heart rate/blood pressure
- 20-25% of sleep occurs here
NREM dreams
- shorter
- more thought-like
- repetitive
- concerned w/ daily tasks
REM dreams
- emotional, illogical
- prone to plot shifts
- biologically crucial
REM behavior disorder (rare)
- brainstem structures usually prevent movement during REM sleep
- someone may try to act out their REM dreams without being aware that they are doing so
REM rebound
- over-activity after REM deprivation
- intense dreams or nightmares
lucid dreaming
the awareness that one is dreaming
dream protection theory (freud)
dreams are meaningful and represent repressed desires
- conscious brain (ego) is asleep, less able to control impulses
- wish fulfillment
activation synthesis theory
- dreams are not meaningful
- they are caused by the physiological processes of the brain
neurocognitive theory
- dreams are meaningful, but they reflect our cognitive abilities
manifest content
any event or experience that happens within a person’s dream
latent content
the underlying or hidden meaning behind the dream
insomnia
difficulty going to OR staying asleep, or waking up tpoearly
narcolepsy
rapid and unexpected onset of sleep
- some experience cataplexy
cataplexy
fully conscious, but can’t control muscles
sleep apnea
blockage of the airway
- heavy snoring, gasping
- may stop breathing
sleepwalking
performing “awake” behaviors while fully asleep
- usually occurs during NREM sleep
night terrors
- suddenly wake up
- scream, sweat, be confused
- return to deep sleep
hallucinations
realistic perceptual experience in the absence of stimuli
sleep paralysis
“wake up” but unable to move
- hallucinations
- difficulty breathing
hypnosis
set of techniques aimed to alter one’s perceptions, thoughts, feelings, etc
- largely pseudoscientific
hypnosis myths
- trance state in which amazing things happen
- hypnotic phenomena are unique
- sleeplike state
- people are unaware of their surroundings
- people forget what happens during hypnosis
- hypnosis enhances memory
out-of-body experiences (OBEs)
sense that consciousness “detached” from the body
- may result from “scrambled” sensory information
near death experiences (NDEs)
light in the tunnel, spiritual beings, seeing loved ones
- cultural differences
- can be experimentally triggered
substance abuse disorder
repetitive, significant impairment or distress from drug abuse
tolerance
when the body gets used to drugs or alcohol so that either more of it is needed or something different to produce the same affect
withdrawal
physical and mental symptoms that a person has when they suddenly stop or cut back the use of an addictive substance
physical dependence
drug use to avoid withdrawal symptoms
psychological dependence
drug use motivated by intense cravings
explanations for drug use
- short term euphoria
- sociocultural influences
- no “addictive personality” profile
- reinforcing “self medication” cycle
- genetics
depressants and alcohol
- decrease functioning of CNS
- at low doses, it can decrease inhibition
- at high doses it acts as a depressant
- ex.: barbiturates, quaaludes, valium
sedative hypnotics
- a class of depressant drugs
- sedative: calming
- hypnotic: sleep inducing
- prescribed for anxiety or insomnia
- ex.: benzos (valium)
stimulants
gets the CNS started
- nicotine most widely used and highly addictive
- cocaine
- amphetamines
amphetamine (stimulant)
- meth
- elevates mood
- prolongs fatigue
- long term use results in lots of neg. health effects
narcotics
- opiates: morphine, heroin, codeine
- relieve pain, induce sleep, euphoria
- lots of withdrawal symptoms when abused
hallucinogenic (psychedelic)
alterations in perceptions, mood, and thought
LSD (aka acid) (psychedelic)
- NTs: serotonin, dopamine
- can cause panic, paranoia, confusion, and bodily discomfort
marijuana (psychedelic)
- “mild hallucinogen”
- fewer side effects than most other “illegal” substances
- relaxed high
