Chapter 4: States Of Consciousness Flashcards
Stream of consciousness
Term used by William James to describe the mind as a conscious flow of changing sensations images, thoughts, and feelings
Consciousness
An individuals awareness of external events and internal sensations under a condition of arousal, including awareness of the self and thoughts about one’s experiences
Reticular activation system
A network of structures including the brain stem, medulla, and thalamus that determine arousal, one aspect of consciousness
Theory of mind
Individuals understanding that they and others think, feel, perceive, and have private experiences
Autism spectrum disorder
A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction across a variety of settings as well as restrictive repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities
Higher-level consciousness
Involves controlled processing, in which individuals actively focus their efforts on attaining a goal; the most alert state of consciousness. (Ex. Math problem, or playing sports)
Lower-level consciousness
Includes automatic processing that requires little attention, as well as daydreaming (ex. Typing, staring at the sky)
Altered states of consciousness
Can be produced by drugs, trauma, fatigue, possibly hypnosis, and sensory deprivation. (Ex. Taking psychedelics or drinking alcohol; hypnosis for weight loss or quitting smoking)
Subconscious awareness
Can occur when people are awake, as well as when they are sleeping or daydream. (Ex. Sleeping and daydreaming)
No awareness
Frued’s belief that some unconscious thoughts are too laden with anxiety and other negative emotions for consciousness to admit them. (Ex. Having unconscious thoughts, being knocked out)
Controlled processes
The most alert state of human consciousness, during which humans actively focus their efforts towards achieving a goal
Automatic processes
States of consciousness that require little attention and do not interfere with other ongoing activities
Unconscious thoughts
According to Freud, a reservoir of unacceptable wishes, feelings, and thoughts that are beyond conscious awareness
Sleep
A natural state of rest for the body and mind that involves the reversible loss of consciousness
Biological rhythms
Periodic physiologic fluctuation in the body such as the rise and fall of hormones and accelerated/decelerated cycles of brain activity, that can influence behavior
Circadian rhythms
Daily behavioral or physiological cycles that involve the sleep/wake cycle, body temperature, blood pressure, and blood sugar level
Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
A small brain structure that uses input from the retina to synchronize its own rhythm with the daily cycle of light and dark; the body’s way of monitoring change from day to night
Stage W (wake)
Contains two types of brain waves. Beta waves which are high frequency patterns that reflect concentration and alertness. And alpha waves which are lower frequency patterns associated with being relaxed or drowsy
Stage N1 (non-REM1) sleep
First stage of sleep. Muscle jerks can occur. Light sleep lasting around 10 minutes. Includes theta waves (Low frequency, low amplitude)
Stage N2 (non-REM 2) sleep
Slightly deeper sleep than N1, but still light sleep. Muscle activity releases and person is no longer consciously aware of the enviroment. This stage is characterized by “sleep spindles” (brief high frequency waves). Sleep spindles are important for memory consolidation and play a role in communication between the hippocampus and neocortex. This stage lasts up to 20 minutes
Stage N3 (non-REM 3) sleep
Stage N3 is characterized by delta waves, the slowest and highest amplitude brain waves during sleep. This is the time when our brain waves are least similarly to our brain waves when we are awake. This is when we sleep deeply and are hard to wake up. This is where bedwetting, sleep walking, and sleep talking occur. People are often confused and disoriented if awakened during this stage.
Stage R (REM) sleep
A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movement. This is where most vivid dreams occur. Lasts about 10 minutes in first sleep cycle, and up to an hour in the last. Brain waves are most similar to waking brain waves in this stage
Insomnia
The inability to sleep. This can involve having trouble falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night, and waking up too early without being able to fall back asleep.
Narcolepsy
Involves the sudden and overpowering urge to sleep. The urge is so strong that people may fall asleep while talking, standing, or driving. When people with narcolepsy fall asleep they immediately enter REM sleep. Narcolepsy may involve issues with the amygdala and hippocampus
Sleep apnea
A sleep disorder in which individuals stop breathing because the windpipe fails to open or because the brain processes involved in respiration fail to work properly. People with sleep apnea awaken multiple times throughout the night to breathe properly, but are often unaware of these awakenings
Manifest content
According to Freud, the surface content of the dream, containing the dreams symbols that disguise the dreams true meaning
Latent content
According to Freud, a dream’s hidden content; its unconscious and true meaning.
Cognitive theory of dreaming
Theory proposing that one can understand dreaming by applying the same cognitive concepts used in studying the waking mind
Activation-synthesis theory
Theory that dreaming occurs when the cerebral cortex synthesizes neural signals generated from activity in the lower part of the brain and that dreams result from the brain’s attempts to find logic in random brain activity that occurs during sleep
Psychoactive drugs
Drugs that act on the nervous system to alter consciousness, modify perception, and change moods
Tolerance
The need to take increasing amounts of the drug to get the same effect
Physical dependence
The physiological need for a drug that causes unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as physical pain and a craving for the drug when it is discontinued
Psychological dependence
The strong desire to repeat the use of a drug for emotional reasons, such as a feeling of well-being and a reduction of stress
Addiction
A physical or psychological dependence, or both, on a drug
Substance use disorder
A psychological disorder in which a person’s use of psychoactive drugs (such as alcohol or opiates) affects their health, ability to work, and engage in social relationships
Depressants
Psychoactive drug that slows down mental and physical activity
Alcoholism
Disorder that involved long-term, repeated, uncontrolled, compulsive, and excessive, use of alcoholic beverages and that impairs the drinkers health and social relationships
Opioids
A class of drugs that act on the brain’s endorphin receptors. These include opium and its natural derivatives (sometimes called opiates) as well as chemical that do not occur naturally but that have been created to mimic the activity of opium. These drugs (also called narcotics) depress activity in the central nervous system and eliminate pain
Stimulants
Psychoactive drugs including caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine that increase central nervous system activity
Hallucinogens
Psychoactive drugs that modify a person’s perceptual experiences and produce visual images that are not real
Hypnosis
An altered state of consciousness or a psychological state of altered attention and expectation in which the individual is unusually receptive to suggestions
Meditation
The attainment of a peaceful state of mind in which thoughts are not occupied by worry; the meditator is mindfully present to their thoughts and feelings but is not consumed by them
