Chapter 3 - Consciousness And The Two Track Mind Flashcards
Consciousness
Our awareness of ourselves and our environment
Cognitive neuroscience
The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (perception, thinking, memory, and language)
Dual processing
The principle that info is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks, or the controlled or automatic tracks
Blindsight
A condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without conscious,y experiencing it
Parallel processing
The processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brains natural mode of info processing for many functions. Including vision (ch6)
Sequential processing
Solving new problems, which requires focused attention.
The minds two tracks
Our mind has separate conscious and unconscious tracks that perform dual processing
Selective attention
The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus.
Inattentional blindness
Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed else where
Visual perception track
Track that enables us to recognize things and plan future actions
Change blindness
Failing to notice changes in the environment. There is also change deafness and choice blindness
Sleep
Periodic, natural loss of consciousness - as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation
Circadian rhythm
The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (temperature, and wakefulness) that occur on a 24 hour cycle. Age and experience can alter this
Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
A pair of rice size, 20,000 cell clusters in the hypothalamus that take in signals from proteins that regulate production of melatonin. This controls the circadian rhythm. In response to light, the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness
REM sleep
A recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but internal systems are active.
Yawning
Responding to reduced brain metabolism. Increases heart rate and alertness
NREM1
Hallucinations - falling feeling
NREM2
Periodic sleep spindles - bursts of rapid rhythmic brain wave activity. Asleep but could be waken easily (20 mins approx.)
NREM 3
Slow wave sleep (30mins) your brain emits large, slow delta waves. Hard to awaken. Children may wet the bed at the end of slow wave NREM3 sleep
REM sleep
Return to NREM2 (where you spend half the night), entering the most intriguing sleep phase. For 10mins brain waves are rapid and saw toothed-similar to NREM1 sleep. But the difference is heart rate rises, breathing heavy and irregular and every 30 seconds approx your closed eyes dart around. The beginning of a dream. Genitals are aroused during scary dreams in REM. Brains motor cortex is active in REM. and you are essentially paralyzed because of the relaxation in muscles
Alpha waves
The relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state
Hallucinations
False sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus.
Delta waves
The large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep.
Hypnagogic
Sensations associated with drowsiness, the feeling of falling while you’re drifting into sleep
Sleep spindles
Bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain wave activity
Insomnia
Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep
Narcolepsy
A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM, often at inappropriate times
Sleep apnea
A sleep disorder where breathing temporarily stops and sufferers wake up for a moment repeatedly.