Chapter 4: Consciousness Flashcards
What is consciousness?
Awareness of everything around you and inside your mind
What is a waking state?
Alert state, thoughts are organized
What is an altered state?
A shift in quality/pattern of mental activity
Give an example of an altered state
Day dreaming or sleep
What is selective attention?
It allows us to focus on one stimulus and block out others
Give an example of selective attention
Focused on taking notes, not focused on our clothes on our skin
What is the cocktail party phenomenon?
Conversations are going on around you, you only pay attention to one
Give an example of the cocktail party phenomenon
You are talking in the lunch room with friends and then you hear your name in another conversation so you focus on that conversation
What is divided attention?
Multiple tasks can be performed at once
Give an example of divided attention
When you first drive, you are very attentive, when you have driven for awhile, you know where you are going and paying less attention
What are circadian rhythms?
The cycle of bodily activity that occurs over 24 hours
What are circadian rhythms controlled by?
The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus
What happens to the sleep-wake cycle when the SCN is deprived?
It lengthens to 25 hours
What happens when sleep deprivation occurs for one night?
Concentration and simple tasks are difficult, focusing becomes hard
What happens when sleep deprivation occurs for three nights?
Micro-sleeping occurs (zoning out into sleep period)
What happens when sleep deprivation occurs for four nights?
Paranoia and hallucinations
What is the adaptive theory?
Sleep has survival value because you store energy during sleep
What is the restorative theory?
Sleep allows us to repair
What form of technology identifies REM and nREM sleep?
EEG
What happens in stage 1 of sleep?
Very light sleep, hypnic jerks
What waves occur in stage 1 sleep?
Beta, alpha, theta.
What happens in stage 2 sleep?
Sleep is deeper, spindles appear
What happens in stage 3 sleep?
Deep sleep, spindles disappear, delta waves appear
What happens in stage 4 sleep?
Continuous delta waves, growth hormone is produced
What is somnambulism?
Sleepwalking