Chapter 2&3 Flashcards
What are the 4 characteristics of consciousness?
Personal- your unique understanding
Selective- you choose what you attend to
Continuous- never empty, no beginning or end
Changing- new info continually coming into our awareness
Define consciousness
The awareness of objects & events in the external world, and of our own existence & internal mental processes at any given moment
Consciousness can be described as ranging along a what?
Continuum
The continuum of conscious ranges from what?
Total awareness to complete lack of awareness, with many states in between
Are there distinct boundaries between the different states of the continuum?
No
Starting from total awareness, name the 8 main states of consciousness to complete lack of awareness
- Focused/selective attention (controlled processes)
- Divided attention (automatic processes)
- Day dreaming
- Meditative state
- Hypnotized
- Asleep
- Anaesthetized
- Unconscious/coma
Most times consciousness is classified as what?
Either normal waking conscious or altered state of consciousness
What does normal waking consciousness refer to?
The states of conscious of being awake & alert and aware of: •thoughts •feelings •memories •sensations
What are 2 characteristics of perceptions in NWC?
Perceptions are
•organised
•real
During a waking day, our states of consciousness shifts between what?
Different NWC states
What is an altered state of consciousness?
Any state of consciousness that is distinctly different from NWC in terms of distortions/changes in levels of: •awareness •intensity of sensations •thoughts •perceptions •feelings •memories
What are the two ways and ASC can occur?
Naturally- eg in sleep
Be induced- eg meditation/alcohol
What are ASCs categorised by?
A change in brain wave patterns
What are the 8 qualities that differentiate the different SOCs?
- awareness
- attention
- content limitations
- sensations/perceptions
- cognitive distortions
- emotions
- self control
- time perception
Describe the characteristic of awareness in NWC compared to ASC
NWC- aware of surroundings/alert end of continuum
ASC- little awareness/further down continuum
Describe the characteristic of attention in NWC compared to ASC
NWC- high level
ASC- less/distorted
Describe the characteristic of content limitations in NWC compared to ASC
NWC- organised/logical, restricted by selective attention
ASC- less organised/logical, less control over what enters
Describe the characteristic of sensations/perceptions in NWC compared to ASC
NWC- normal
ASC- dull/distorted, loss of identity
Describe the characteristic of cognitive distortions in NWC compared to ASC
NWC- normal, logical thinking
ASC- less organised, distortions
Describe the characteristic of emotions in NWC compared to ASC
NWC- normal, appropriate
ASC- altered, inappropriate
Describe the characteristic of self control in NWC compared to ASC
NWC- can be maintained
ASC- unable to maintain
Describe the characteristic of time perception in NWC compared to ASC
NWC- normal estimation, aware of past, present and future
ASC- distorted estimation, either sped up or slowed down
What does attention refer to?
Concentration or a mental activity, involving focusing on certain stimuli, while ignoring others
What are the two types of attention?
Selective/focused attention
Divided attention
What does selective attention refer to?
Selectively attending to certain stimuli while ignoring others
What is limited during the use of this attention?
Consciousness content
What level of mental effort & consciousness is required in selective attention?
High mental effort, high level of consciousness
What is selective attention influenced by?
Personally important stimuli
Changes in stimulation
New stimulus
What processes are involved in selective attention?
Controlled processes
What does divided attention refer to?
Undertaking 2 or more activities simultaneously
What level of mental effort and consciousness is required in divided attention?
Little mental effort, lower level of consciousness
What is divided attention influenced by?
Complexity of the task
What processes are involved in divided attention?
Automatic processes
What do controlled processes involve?
Tasks requiring conscious, alert awareness & mental effort
What characteristics are involved in controlled processes?
Serial- one activity at a time
Difficult, unfamiliar tasks
What do automatic processes involve?
Handling 2 or more activities at the same time, involves little conscious awareness/mental effort, minimal attention
What is a characteristic of automatic processes?
It does not interfere with the performance of other activities
What is daydreaming?
A shift of attention from external stimuli to internal thoughts, feelings and imagined scenarios
When is daydreaming most likely to occur?
When stationary
Is an individual usually aware or unaware of the shift of attention when daydreaming?
Unaware
What brain waves are involved in a daydream?
Alpha brain waves
In an alcohol induced state, where may impairments/distortions occur?
Attention span Perceptions Thinking Memory Reaction times are slower Self awareness reduced Emotional awareness Self control Perception of time Coordination loss Performance on complex tasks
In an ASC, a common psychology characteristic reported is changes in openness to what?
Suggestibility
What methods can be used to study levels of alertness in NWC?
- electrical activity of the brain (brain waves, using an EEG)
- heart rate
- body temp
- GSR (galvanic skin response)
Can these methods be used in isolation?
No
What does EEG stand for and what does it do?
Electroencephalograph- a device that detects, amplifies and records general patterns of brain electrical activity
What can the brain waves vary in?
Frequency- how many waves/second
Amplitude- size of the peaks
Describe the pattern of beta waves
High frequency, low amplitude
Which SOCs are involved with beta waves?
Awake & alert
REM sleep state
Describe the pattern of alpha waves
Medium frequency (lower than beta) Low amplitude (higher than beta) Overall irregular pattern
Which SOCs are involved with alpha waves?
Awake & relaxed
Daydreaming
Meditating
Describe the pattern of theta waves
Medium frequency (lower than alpha) Low amplitude (higher than alpha) Irregular pattern (with sleep spindles, k complex)
Which SOCs are involved with theta waves?
Light sleep- NREM stages 1&2 and early NREM stage 3
Describe the pattern of delta waves
Low frequency, high amplitude
What SOCs are involved with delta waves?
Deep sleep- NREM later stage 3 and only stage 4
As we move from alert & awake NWC states to deep stages of sleep, what happens to the frequency and amplitude of brain waves?
Frequency decreases and amplitude increases
What is heart rate measured by?
An electrocardiogram (ECG). A device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of the heart muscles
When may heart rate be increased from NWC?
When using stimulants
When May heart rate be decreased from NWC?
When asleep, unconscious or meditating
How is body temperature measured?
Using a thermometer
Is body temperature more or less variable than heart rate?
Less variable, stays around the same
How much does body temp drop during sleep?
About 1 degree celcius
What does GSR stand for?
Galvanic skin response
What is the GSR?
The electrical resistance of the skins surface to an electrical current (electrical conductivity of the skin)
Where are the electrodes of a GSR placed?
To the palm or finger
What changes can be detected by the GSR?
Changes in emotional reactions
An increase in what triggers an increase in electrical conductivity of the skin/GSR reading?
Sweat
High arousal of what can cause an increase in sweat?
High emotional arousal
The GSR can detect what changes?
Changes in emotional reactions in different SOCs
What is sleep?
An ASC
Loss of conscious awareness
A naturally occurring phenomenon
What does a sleep laboratory involve?
Polysomnography- an intensive study of a sleeping person involved simultaneous monitoring and recording of various physiological responses of the sleeper during the course of the night
What kind of data are the data sources for sleep labs?
Quantitative
What are some of the different data sources used in sleep labs?
Sleep records (no. of hours) EEG brain waves EMG electrical signals from muscles EOG eye movements Skin/body temp Concentration of O2 in blood Video cameras Respiration rate Heart rate Blood pressure GSR
Can measurements be made without waking the subject?
Yes
To obtain qualitative data from the individual what must happen?
The individual is woken to describe their experience (self reports, sleep diaries)
What are the 6 physiological measures of sleep?
EEG EMG EOG Heart rate/body temp Video monitoring Self reports
What is an EMG and what does it do?
Electromyograph- a device that detects amplifies and records electrical activity of the muscles
Where are the electrodes of the EMG placed?
Attached to the chin, neck and leg muscles
What does an EMG indicate?
Changes in muscle activity (movement) and muscle tone (tension)
What is the term referring to a muscle spasm during sleep?
Hypnic jerk
Does a Hypnic jerk usually occur in lighter or deeper sleep?
Lighter sleep
When there is no muscle tension, what kind of sleep is the individual in?
REM sleep
What is this called?
Muscle atonia- the individual is ‘paralysed’ from the neck down
What is an EOG and what does it do?
Electrooculargraph- a device that detects, amplifies and records electrical activity of the muscles controlling eye movements
Where are the electrodes of the EOG placed?
Attached to areas of the face surrounding the eyes
When is the EOG especially useful?
When dreaming
In a typical 8 hours of sleep, we experience what 2 types of sleep?
REM- rapid eye movement
NREM- non rapid eye movement
How many continuous cycles of REM/NREM sleep occur in a typical 8 hour sleep?
4-5 cycles
How is one cycle made?
A period of REM sleep follows each NREM period
When we first fall asleep are we in NREM or REM sleep?
NREM before REM
As the night progresses, which stages of NREM do we see less of?
Stages 3 & 4
What happens to REM periods as we get closer to wakening?
They get longer
How long does a complete NREM cycle last?
70-90 minutes
What percentage of sleep time is taken up by NREM sleep?
80%
How many stages of NREM are there? What are these characterised by?
4 stages, characterised by different EEG recordings (brain wave patterns)
Describe the waves experienced in stage 1 NREM sleep
Alpha waves decrease, replaced by theta waves
What do we gradually lose awareness of during stage 1 NREM sleep?
Internal and external stimuli
What may we experience during stage 1 NREM sleep?
A Hypnic jerk
How long does stage 1 NREM sleep last?
5-10 minutes
Describe the brain waves experienced during stage 2 NREM sleep
Mainly theta waves
What are two characteristics unique to this stage?
Sleep spindles- burst of high frequency waves
K complex- spike of high amplitude waves
How long does stage 2 NREM sleep last?
Around 20 minutes
In the early stages of stage 2 NREM sleep, we can still respond to what?
External stimuli
Stage 3 NREM sleep marks the start of what?
The deepest period of sleep
Describe the brain wave patterns experienced in stage 3 NREM sleep
Delta waves appear and replace theta waves
How long does stage 3 NREM sleep last for?
Around 30 minutes
Stage 4 NREM sleep is classified as what?
The deepest stage of sleep, very hard to waken as muscles are completely relaxed
Describe the heartbeat and respiration in stage 4 NREM sleep
Regular slow heartbeat, slow rhythmic respiration
Describe the brain wave patterns experienced in stage 4 NREM sleep
Delta waves dominate
What stage does sleepwalking occur in?
Stage 4 NREM sleep
Which brain waves indicate a deep sleep?
Theta and delta
What are the two characteristics of paradoxical sleep?
Externally- inactive
Internally- highly active
Describe brain wave patterns experienced in REM asleep
Beta waves, similar to alert wakefulness, but while in a deep sleep (brain is very active)
How does the internal functioning in REM sleep compare to that of NREM?
Internal functioning is more active in REM- increased heart rate, blood pressure and respiration
When does most dreaming occur?
In REM sleep- 80% of dreaming occurs
How do dreams experienced in REM sleep compare to dreams experienced in NREM sleep?
Dreams in REM sleep are vivid, longer and clearer than that in NREM sleep
In an 8hour sleep, how many hours of REM sleep do we have?
1-2 hours
How is total sleep affected as we age?
We have less total sleep as we age
At what age is NREM sleep greatest?
2-3 years of age
REM sleep at birth is ___% compared to adults at ___%
50, 20
An adolescent requires how many hours of nightly sleep?
9 hours
During adolescent, what is there a shift in?
The biological clock, it is forward by 1-2 hours making them sleep 1-2 hours later and needing to sleep 1-2 hours longer
What are some causes of the shift in the biological clock in adolescents?
Homework demands, socialising, internet, puberty hormones
This nightly sleep loss can accumulate as what?
A sleep debt
What does sleep deprivation involve?
Lack of sleep leading to lethargy, irritability, loss of concentration, headaches and difficulty completing low level tasks
Where does most information on sleep deprivation come from and why?
Animals, for ethical reasons research can’t be done on humans
If humans are used for sleep deprivation what 3 ethical principles are followed?
Informed consent
Right to withdraw
Immediate termination it signs of psychological/physiological distress
What long lasting effects are a result of prolonged PARTIAL sleep deprivation?
There are no long lasting effects
What are some psychological effects of prolonged partial sleep deprivation?
Lapses in attention
Low level of motivation
Difficultly making decisions
What are some physiological effects of prolonged partial sleep deprivation?
Tiredness
Lack of energy
Slower reaction time
What are some immediate psychological effects of total sleep deprivation?
Anxiety
Depression
Hallucinations
What are some immediate physiological effects of total sleep deprivation?
Slurred speech
Increased sensitivity to pain
Impaired immune system functioning
Why is total sleep deprivation difficult to measure?
Individuals involuntarily drift into microsleeps
What is a microsleep?
Short periods of drowsiness/sleeping occurring while apparently awake
No recollection of happening
After sleep deprivation how long will we sleep longer for?
2-3 nights
What is the REM rebound and when is it experienced?
Spending more time than normal in REM than NREM to make up for missed REM. This occurs when sleeping after being sleep deprived
What are the two theories of the purpose of sleep?
Restoration theory and survival theory
What does the restoration theory propose?
The purpose of sleep is for the body to replenish stores of energy, repair of damaged cells, detoxify muscles, growth and development
What is the evidence of the restoration theory?
Sleep lab studies: relaxed muscles, slow heart rate and respiration, ins crease in release of growth hormone (body repair)
What is the purpose of NREM and REM as proposed by the restoration theory?
NREM- restore & repair body
REM- restore brain & consolidate memory
What is a criticism of the restoration theory?
The need for sleep does not disappear following physical rest
What does the survival theory propose?
The purpose of sleep is to protect organisms through making it inactive during the part of the day when it is most risky or dangerous to move about
What is the evidence of the survival theory?
Animals with few predators sleep longer
What is a criticism of the survival theory?
Sleep involves loss of awareness/consciousness which could mean a greater risk to predators
