Chapter 3 Flashcards
Consciousness
Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.
States of Consciousness
- Spontaneous (ex. daydreaming)
- Physiologically Induced (ex. hallucinations)
- Psychologically Induced (ex. hypnosis)
Cognitive Neuroscience
The study of brain activity linked with cognition.
Selective Attention
Focusing conscious awareness on a particular stimulus.
Inattentional Blindness
Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere.
Inattentional Numbness
Failing to account for a stimulus when distracted.
Change Blindness
A form of inattentional blindness that fails to notice changes in an environment.
Dual Processing
The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.
Blindsight
A condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it.
Parallel Processing
Unconsciously processing many aspects of a stimulus or problem simultaneously.
Sequential Processing
Consciously processing one aspect of a stimulus or problem at a time.
Circadian Rhythm
Our biological clock that manages bodily rhythms occurring in a 24-hr. cycle.
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus
A pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that control the circadian rhythm. In response to light, the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production, thus modifying our feeling of sleepiness.
Alpha Waves
The relatively slow brain wave of a relaxed, awake state.
Delta Waves
The large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep.
N1 Sleep
Slowed breathing, hallucinations, perceptual window mostly closes.
N2 Sleep
Sleep spindles (bursts of brain activity which helps memory) Lasts about 20 minutes.
N3 Sleep
Slow delta waves, hard to awaken. Lasts about 30 minutes.
REM Sleep
Rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Muscles are relaxed but other body systems are active.
Why We Sleep
- Sleep Protects
- Sleep Helps Us Recuperate
- Sleep Helps Us Restore and Rebuild Memories
- Sleep Feeds Creative Thinking
- Sleep Supports Growth
Effects of Sleep Loss
- Sleep Debt
- Can Cause Weight Gain
- Decreases Quality Cognitive Function
- Decreases Quality Physical Function
- Suppresses Immune Cells
REM Rebound
Tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation.
Sleep Disorders
- Insomnia- chronic tiredness, risk for depression/obesity
- Sleep Apnea- fatigue, depression, obesity
- Narcolepsy- falling asleep at dangerous moment
- Sleepwalking/talking- no concerns
- Night Terrors- stress on heart/breathing
What We Dream
- The previous day’s experiences
- Nightmares after a traumatic event
- Doing things we aren’t able to do in real life
- Can’t learn recorded info, but can learn to associate sounds with stimuli
Why We Dream
- To Satisfy Our Own Wishes- manifest and latent content
- Information Processing- memories
- Physiological Function- develop/persevere neural pathways
- Activation Synthesis- make sense of random neural activity
- Cognitive Development
Psychoactive Drugs
A chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods.
Substance Use Disorder
A disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk.
Depressants
Drugs, such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates, that reduce neural activity and slow brain functions
Alcohol
A disinhibitory, which slows brain activity that controls judgement and inhibitions by releasing dopamine into the brain.
Effects of Alcohol
- Slows Neural Processing- reactions slow/speech slurs
- Disrupts Memory- nerve/cell death, reduces birth of new cells, impairs growth of synaptic connections, suppresses REM
- Reduces Self-Awareness- focuses or arousing situations and distracts from inhibitions/consequences
- Causes Expectancy Effects
Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use.
Barbiturates
Drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement.
Opiates
Depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety. May lead to the lack of naturally produced endorphins.
Stimulants
Drugs, such as caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, meth, and ecstasy, that excite neural activity and speed up body functions. They cause people to feel alert, lose weight, boost mood, or boost athletic performance.
Nicotine
A stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco products that can diminish appetite, boost alertness/mental efficiency, calm anxiety, and reduce sensitivity to pain. Tolerance can lead to painful withdrawal.
Cocaine
A powerful and addictive stimulant derived from the cocoa plant which produces temporarily increased alertness and euphoria, followed by a crash of aggravated depression. Crack cocaine heightens both high and crash.
Methamphetamine
A powerful addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, which accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes. Overtime, it reduces baseline dopamine levels.
Ecstasy (MDMA)
A synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces long spouts of euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition.
Hallucinogens
Psychedelic drugs, like LSD and Marijuana, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input. These drugs can be synthetic or natural.
LSD
A powerful hallucinogenic drug that causes an interrupted stream of fantastic pictures and extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors.
Marijuana
A hallucinogenic drug that relaxes, disinhibits, and may produce a euphoric high. Has similar effects as alcohol, and is known as the gateway drug.
Biopsychosocial Influences on Drugs
- Genetics
- Mental Illness
- Low Self-Esteem
- Peer Pressure
- Family/Cultural Examples
Drug Prevention
- Educate Young People
- Help Young People Find Other Ways
- Teach Young People To Say No
