Ch. 6: Consciousness

Question 1

activation-synthesis hypothesis

Answer 1

the idea that dreams represent the brain’s attempt to make sense of the random patterns of neural activity generated during sleep

Question 2

alpha waves

Answer 2

the pattern of brain activity observed in someone who is in a relaxed state

Question 3

attention

Answer 3

the internal processes used to set priorities for mental functioning

Question 4

attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Answer 4

a psychological disorder marked by difficulties in concentration or in sustaining attention for extended periods; can be associated with hyperactivity

Question 5

automaticity

Answer 5

fast and effortless processing that requires little or no focused attention

Question 6

biological clocks

Answer 6

brain structures that schedule rhythmic variations in bodily functions by triggering them at the appropriate times

Question 7

circadian rhythms

Answer 7

biological activities that rise and fall in accordance with a 24-hour cycle

Question 8

cocktail party effect

Answer 8

the ability to focus on one auditory message and ignore others; also refers to the tendency to notice when your name suddenly appears in a message that you’ve been actively ignoring

Question 9

consciousness

Answer 9

the subjective awareness of internal and external events

Question 10

delta activity

Answer 10

the pattern of brain activity observed in stage N3 sleep; it’s characterized by synchronized slow waves. Also called slow-wave sleep

Question 11

depressants

Answer 11

a class of drugs that slow or depress the ongoing activity of the central nervous system

Question 12

dichotic listening

Answer 12

different auditory messages are presented separately and simultaneously to each ear. The subject’s task is to repeat aloud one message while ignoring the other

Question 13

drug dependency

Answer 13

a condition in which one experiences a physical or a psychological need for continued use of a drug

Question 14

drug tolerance

Answer 14

an adaptation made by the body to compensate for the continued use of a drug, such that increasing amounts of the drug are needed to produce the same physical and behavioral effects

Question 15

hallucinogens

Answer 15

a class of drugs that tends to disrupt normal mental and emotional functioning, including distorting perception and altering reality

Question 16

hypersomnia

Answer 16

(or hypersomnolence) a chronic condition marked by excessive sleepiness

Question 17

hypnosis

Answer 17

a form of social interaction that produces a heightened state of suggestibility in a willing participant

Question 18

hypnotic dissociation

Answer 18

a hypnotically induced splitting of consciousness during which multiple forms of awareness exist

Question 19

hypnotic hypermnesia

Answer 19

the supposed enhancement in memory that occurs under hypnosis; there is little if any evidence to support the existence of this effect

Question 20

insomnia

Answer 20

a chronic condition marked by difficulties in initiating or maintaining sleep, lasting for a period of at least one month

Question 21

latent content

Answer 21

according to Freud, the true psychological meaning of dream symbols

Question 22

manifest content

Answer 22

according to Freud, the actual symbols and events experienced in a dream

Question 23

meditation

Answer 23

a technique for self-induced manipulation of awareness, often used for the purpose of relaxation and self-reflection

Question 24

narcolepsy

Answer 24

a rare sleep disorder characterized by sudden extreme sleepiness

Question 25

nightmares

Answer 25

frightening and anxiety-arousing dreams that occur primarily during the REM stage of sleep

Question 26

night terrors

Answer 26

terrifying experiences, which occur mainly in children, in which the sleeper awakens suddenly in an extreme state of panic

Question 27

opiates

Answer 27

drugs that reduce anxiety, lower sensitivity to pain, and elevate mood; opiates often act to depress nervous system activity

Question 28

psychoactive drugs

Answer 28

drugs that affect behavior and mental processes through alterations of psychological problems

Question 29

REM rebound

Answer 29

the tendency to increase time spent in REM sleep after REM deprivation

Question 30

REM sleep

Answer 30

a stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements and slow-amplitude, irregular EEG patterns resembling those found in the waking brain. REM is typically associated with dreaming

Question 31

sleepwalking

Answer 31

the sleeper arises during sleep and wanders about

Question 32

stimulants

Answer 32

a class of drugs that increase central nervous system activity, enhancing neural transmission

Question 33

theta waves

Answer 33

the pattern of brain activity observed in state 1 sleep

Question 34

visual neglect

Answer 34

a complex disorder of attention characterized by a tendency to ignore things that appear on one side of the body (usually the left side)

Question 35

withdrawal

Answer 35

physical reactions, such as sweating, vomiting, changes in heart rate, or tremors, that occur when a person stops taking certain drugs after continued use