Chapter 2&3 Flashcards
0
Q
What are the 4 characteristics of consciousness?
A
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
1
Q
Define consciousness
A
The awareness of objects & events in the external world, and of our own existence & internal mental processes at any given moment
2
Q
Consciousness can be described as ranging along a what?
A
Continuum
3
Q
The continuum of conscious ranges from what?
A
Total awareness to complete lack of awareness, with many states in between
4
Q
Are there distinct boundaries between the different states of the continuum?
A
No
5
Q
Starting from total awareness, name the 8 main states of consciousness to complete lack of awareness
A
- Focused/selective attention (controlled processes)
- Divided attention (automatic processes)
- Day dreaming
- Meditative state
- Hypnotized
- Asleep
- Anaesthetized
- Unconscious/coma
6
Q
Most times consciousness is classified as what?
A
Either normal waking conscious or altered state of consciousness
7
Q
What does normal waking consciousness refer to?
A
The states of conscious of being awake & alert and aware of: •thoughts •feelings •memories •sensations
8
Q
What are 2 characteristics of perceptions in NWC?
A
Perceptions are
•organised
•real
9
Q
During a waking day, our states of consciousness shifts between what?
A
Different NWC states
10
Q
What is an altered state of consciousness?
A
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
11
Q
What are the two ways and ASC can occur?
A
Naturally- eg in sleep
Be induced- eg meditation/alcohol
12
Q
What are ASCs categorised by?
A
A change in brain wave patterns
13
Q
What are the 8 qualities that differentiate the different SOCs?
A
- awareness
- attention
- content limitations
- sensations/perceptions
- cognitive distortions
- emotions
- self control
- time perception
14
Q
Describe the characteristic of awareness in NWC compared to ASC
A
NWC- aware of surroundings/alert end of continuum
ASC- little awareness/further down continuum
15
Q
Describe the characteristic of attention in NWC compared to ASC
A
NWC- high level
ASC- less/distorted
16
Q
Describe the characteristic of content limitations in NWC compared to ASC
A
NWC- organised/logical, restricted by selective attention
ASC- less organised/logical, less control over what enters
17
Q
Describe the characteristic of sensations/perceptions in NWC compared to ASC
A
NWC- normal
ASC- dull/distorted, loss of identity
18
Q
Describe the characteristic of cognitive distortions in NWC compared to ASC
A
NWC- normal, logical thinking
ASC- less organised, distortions
19
Q
Describe the characteristic of emotions in NWC compared to ASC
A
NWC- normal, appropriate
ASC- altered, inappropriate
20
Q
Describe the characteristic of self control in NWC compared to ASC
A
NWC- can be maintained
ASC- unable to maintain
21
Q
Describe the characteristic of time perception in NWC compared to ASC
A
NWC- normal estimation, aware of past, present and future
ASC- distorted estimation, either sped up or slowed down
22
Q
What does attention refer to?
A
Concentration or a mental activity, involving focusing on certain stimuli, while ignoring others
23
Q
What are the two types of attention?
A
Selective/focused attention
Divided attention
24
What does selective attention refer to?
Selectively attending to certain stimuli while ignoring others
25
What is limited during the use of this attention?
Consciousness content
26
What level of mental effort & consciousness is required in selective attention?
High mental effort, high level of consciousness
27
What is selective attention influenced by?
Personally important stimuli
Changes in stimulation
New stimulus
28
What processes are involved in selective attention?
Controlled processes
29
What does divided attention refer to?
Undertaking 2 or more activities simultaneously
30
What level of mental effort and consciousness is required in divided attention?
Little mental effort, lower level of consciousness
31
What is divided attention influenced by?
Complexity of the task
32
What processes are involved in divided attention?
Automatic processes
33
What do controlled processes involve?
Tasks requiring conscious, alert awareness & mental effort
34
What characteristics are involved in controlled processes?
Serial- one activity at a time
| Difficult, unfamiliar tasks
35
What do automatic processes involve?
Handling 2 or more activities at the same time, involves little conscious awareness/mental effort, minimal attention
36
What is a characteristic of automatic processes?
It does not interfere with the performance of other activities
37
What is daydreaming?
A shift of attention from external stimuli to internal thoughts, feelings and imagined scenarios
38
When is daydreaming most likely to occur?
When stationary
39
Is an individual usually aware or unaware of the shift of attention when daydreaming?
Unaware
40
What brain waves are involved in a daydream?
Alpha brain waves
41
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
```
42
In an ASC, a common psychology characteristic reported is changes in openness to what?
Suggestibility
43
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)
44
Can these methods be used in isolation?
No
45
What does EEG stand for and what does it do?
Electroencephalograph- a device that detects, amplifies and records general patterns of brain electrical activity
46
What can the brain waves vary in?
Frequency- how many waves/second
| Amplitude- size of the peaks
47
Describe the pattern of beta waves
High frequency, low amplitude
48
Which SOCs are involved with beta waves?
Awake & alert
| REM sleep state
49
Describe the pattern of alpha waves
```
Medium frequency (lower than beta)
Low amplitude (higher than beta)
Overall irregular pattern
```
50
Which SOCs are involved with alpha waves?
Awake & relaxed
Daydreaming
Meditating
51
Describe the pattern of theta waves
```
Medium frequency (lower than alpha)
Low amplitude (higher than alpha)
Irregular pattern (with sleep spindles, k complex)
```
52
Which SOCs are involved with theta waves?
Light sleep- NREM stages 1&2 and early NREM stage 3
53
Describe the pattern of delta waves
Low frequency, high amplitude
54
What SOCs are involved with delta waves?
Deep sleep- NREM later stage 3 and only stage 4
55
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
56
What is heart rate measured by?
An electrocardiogram (ECG). A device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of the heart muscles
57
When may heart rate be increased from NWC?
When using stimulants
58
When May heart rate be decreased from NWC?
When asleep, unconscious or meditating
59
How is body temperature measured?
Using a thermometer
60
Is body temperature more or less variable than heart rate?
Less variable, stays around the same
61
How much does body temp drop during sleep?
About 1 degree celcius
62
What does GSR stand for?
Galvanic skin response
63
What is the GSR?
The electrical resistance of the skins surface to an electrical current (electrical conductivity of the skin)
64
Where are the electrodes of a GSR placed?
To the palm or finger
65
What changes can be detected by the GSR?
Changes in emotional reactions
66
An increase in what triggers an increase in electrical conductivity of the skin/GSR reading?
Sweat
67
High arousal of what can cause an increase in sweat?
High emotional arousal
68
The GSR can detect what changes?
Changes in emotional reactions in different SOCs
69
What is sleep?
An ASC
Loss of conscious awareness
A naturally occurring phenomenon
70
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
71
What kind of data are the data sources for sleep labs?
Quantitative
72
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
```
73
Can measurements be made without waking the subject?
Yes
74
To obtain qualitative data from the individual what must happen?
The individual is woken to describe their experience (self reports, sleep diaries)
75
What are the 6 physiological measures of sleep?
```
EEG
EMG
EOG
Heart rate/body temp
Video monitoring
Self reports
```
76
What is an EMG and what does it do?
Electromyograph- a device that detects amplifies and records electrical activity of the muscles
77
Where are the electrodes of the EMG placed?
Attached to the chin, neck and leg muscles
78
What does an EMG indicate?
Changes in muscle activity (movement) and muscle tone (tension)
79
What is the term referring to a muscle spasm during sleep?
Hypnic jerk
80
Does a Hypnic jerk usually occur in lighter or deeper sleep?
Lighter sleep
81
When there is no muscle tension, what kind of sleep is the individual in?
REM sleep
82
What is this called?
Muscle atonia- the individual is 'paralysed' from the neck down
83
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
84
Where are the electrodes of the EOG placed?
Attached to areas of the face surrounding the eyes
85
When is the EOG especially useful?
When dreaming
86
In a typical 8 hours of sleep, we experience what 2 types of sleep?
REM- rapid eye movement
| NREM- non rapid eye movement
87
How many continuous cycles of REM/NREM sleep occur in a typical 8 hour sleep?
4-5 cycles
88
How is one cycle made?
A period of REM sleep follows each NREM period
89
When we first fall asleep are we in NREM or REM sleep?
NREM before REM
90
As the night progresses, which stages of NREM do we see less of?
Stages 3 & 4
91
What happens to REM periods as we get closer to wakening?
They get longer
92
How long does a complete NREM cycle last?
70-90 minutes
93
What percentage of sleep time is taken up by NREM sleep?
80%
94
How many stages of NREM are there? What are these characterised by?
4 stages, characterised by different EEG recordings (brain wave patterns)
95
Describe the waves experienced in stage 1 NREM sleep
Alpha waves decrease, replaced by theta waves
96
What do we gradually lose awareness of during stage 1 NREM sleep?
Internal and external stimuli
97
What may we experience during stage 1 NREM sleep?
A Hypnic jerk
98
How long does stage 1 NREM sleep last?
5-10 minutes
99
Describe the brain waves experienced during stage 2 NREM sleep
Mainly theta waves
100
What are two characteristics unique to this stage?
Sleep spindles- burst of high frequency waves
| K complex- spike of high amplitude waves
101
How long does stage 2 NREM sleep last?
Around 20 minutes
102
In the early stages of stage 2 NREM sleep, we can still respond to what?
External stimuli
103
Stage 3 NREM sleep marks the start of what?
The deepest period of sleep
104
Describe the brain wave patterns experienced in stage 3 NREM sleep
Delta waves appear and replace theta waves
105
How long does stage 3 NREM sleep last for?
Around 30 minutes
106
Stage 4 NREM sleep is classified as what?
The deepest stage of sleep, very hard to waken as muscles are completely relaxed
107
Describe the heartbeat and respiration in stage 4 NREM sleep
Regular slow heartbeat, slow rhythmic respiration
108
Describe the brain wave patterns experienced in stage 4 NREM sleep
Delta waves dominate
109
What stage does sleepwalking occur in?
Stage 4 NREM sleep
110
Which brain waves indicate a deep sleep?
Theta and delta
111
What are the two characteristics of paradoxical sleep?
Externally- inactive
| Internally- highly active
112
Describe brain wave patterns experienced in REM asleep
Beta waves, similar to alert wakefulness, but while in a deep sleep (brain is very active)
113
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
114
When does most dreaming occur?
In REM sleep- 80% of dreaming occurs
115
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
116
In an 8hour sleep, how many hours of REM sleep do we have?
1-2 hours
117
How is total sleep affected as we age?
We have less total sleep as we age
118
At what age is NREM sleep greatest?
2-3 years of age
119
REM sleep at birth is ___% compared to adults at ___%
50, 20
120
An adolescent requires how many hours of nightly sleep?
9 hours
121
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
122
What are some causes of the shift in the biological clock in adolescents?
Homework demands, socialising, internet, puberty hormones
123
This nightly sleep loss can accumulate as what?
A sleep debt
124
What does sleep deprivation involve?
Lack of sleep leading to lethargy, irritability, loss of concentration, headaches and difficulty completing low level tasks
125
Where does most information on sleep deprivation come from and why?
Animals, for ethical reasons research can't be done on humans
126
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
127
What long lasting effects are a result of prolonged PARTIAL sleep deprivation?
There are no long lasting effects
128
What are some psychological effects of prolonged partial sleep deprivation?
Lapses in attention
Low level of motivation
Difficultly making decisions
129
What are some physiological effects of prolonged partial sleep deprivation?
Tiredness
Lack of energy
Slower reaction time
130
What are some immediate psychological effects of total sleep deprivation?
Anxiety
Depression
Hallucinations
131
What are some immediate physiological effects of total sleep deprivation?
Slurred speech
Increased sensitivity to pain
Impaired immune system functioning
132
Why is total sleep deprivation difficult to measure?
Individuals involuntarily drift into microsleeps
133
What is a microsleep?
Short periods of drowsiness/sleeping occurring while apparently awake
No recollection of happening
134
After sleep deprivation how long will we sleep longer for?
2-3 nights
135
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
136
What are the two theories of the purpose of sleep?
Restoration theory and survival theory
137
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
138
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)
139
What is the purpose of NREM and REM as proposed by the restoration theory?
NREM- restore & repair body
| REM- restore brain & consolidate memory
140
What is a criticism of the restoration theory?
The need for sleep does not disappear following physical rest
141
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
142
What is the evidence of the survival theory?
Animals with few predators sleep longer
143
What is a criticism of the survival theory?
Sleep involves loss of awareness/consciousness which could mean a greater risk to predators
