Chapter 5 Flashcards
Stream of consciousness
Describes the constantly changing flow of the mind based on changing sensations, images, thoughts, and feelings
Consciousness
Our awareness of our environment and active processing of information
The reticular activating system
Consists of the brain stem, medulla, and thalamus; all three work together to regulate state of arousal
Theory of mind
A person’s subjective understanding of the thoughts and feelings of others
Controlled processes
Alert states in which individuals focus toward a goal
Executive function
Higher order cognitive processes of thought, planning, and problem solving
Automatic processes
States of consciousness that do not require active attention or conscious effort
Unconscious thought
Proposed by Freud as an area not consciously accessible. harboring unacceptable desires, and thoughts
Sleep
A natural and necessary state of rest for the body and mind in which sensory information is not consciously processed
Biological rhythms
Periodic physiological changes and fluctuations in the body that follow some natural schedule
Circadian rhythms
Daily behavioral and physiological cycles of change like sleep/wake, body temperature, blood pressure, and blood sugar
Suprachiasmatic nucleus
Brain structure that receives information from the retina about light and synchronizes a daily schedule of light and dark
Cognitive theory of dreaming
Proposes that the same means of understanding the waking mind can be used to understand dreams
Activation-synthesis theory of dreaming
Dreams are the result of the brain trying to make sense of random brain activity during sleep
Psychoactive drugs
Substances that impact the nervous system and conscious processes and perception
Tolerance
The need to take more of a drug to produce the desired effect
Physical independence
The physiological need for a substance in order to avoid withdrawal sysmptoms
Psychological dependence
The cognitive and emotional drive to continue substance use
Addiction
The physical and psychological need to continue use
Depressants
A form of psychoactive drug that decreases thought and reaction processes
Alcoholism
Refers to an issue associated with excessive alcohol use that has a negative impact on an individual’s life
Barbiturates
Depressants used to calm activity in the central nervous system
Tranquilizers
Depressants that help an individual relax
Opioids
Highly addictive drugs that activate the same neuron receptors as the endorphin neurotransmitter and act to ease pain and stress
Stimulants
Drugs that increase central nervous system activity
Hallucinogens
Drugs that alter how an individual percieves their enviroment
Hypnosis
A process that places an individual in an altered and more receptive state of consciousness
Divided consciousness view of hypnosis
An individual who is hypnotized has two components to their consciousness. One attending to the person who hypnotized them, and another watching the process
Social cognitive behavior view of hypnosis
Proposes that hypnosis is actually a normal state and people hypnotized are behaving based on their expectations of how they should behave
Meditation
An intentional mindful process that an individual does to create a state of peace and calm
Stage W
The person is awake
Non-REM stages (N1-N3)
The person moves from light sleep to deep sleep
N3 is the?
Deepest sleep
Most dreaming occurs during stage ?
R or REM sleep
Each sleep cycle lasts about?
90-100 minutes and several cycles occur throughout the night
The REM stage lasts longer towards?
The end of a nights sleep
Levels of neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine do what as the sleep cycle progresses?
Decrease
R or REM sleep begins when?
The reticular formation raises the level of acetylcholine
Addictive drugs activate the brains?
Reward system by releasing dopamine concentration
Abuse of psychoactive drugs can lead to?
Tolerance, psychological, and physical dependence, and addiction
Who described the mind as a stream of consciousness?
William James
Higher level awareness
Controlled processes and selective attention
Lower level awareness
Automatic processes and daydreaming
The part of the brain that keeps our biological clocks synchronized is the?
Suprachiasmatic nucleus
The suprachiasmatic nucleus is found in the?
Hypothalamus
