Chapter 5: Consciousness Flashcards
consciousness
definition
our subjective experience of the world, our bodies, + our mental perspectives
sleep is a form of ____
consciousness
why do we sleep?
4 reasons
-to rest/rejuvinate; restore strength + conserve energy
-to remember; consolidate + retain memories
-to forget; regulate strength of brain synapses to clean out junk in the brain
-to promote functioning; support immune system/problem solving
circadian rhythm
definition
cyclical changes that occur on a roughly 24-hour basis in manyof our biological processes
-including hormone release, brain waves, body temp, + drowsiness
biological clock
definition
the area of the hypothalamus that’s responsible for controlling our levels of alertness
melatonin
definition
hormones produced by the pineal gland deep within the brain
-strongly associated with the onset of sleep
how is melatonin stimulated?
stimulated during periods of darkness
how is melatonin inhibited?
by light
sleep debt
definition
built up when not enough sleep occurs on a given night relative to the amount you normally require
how many hours of sleep do most of us need?
7-10 hours per night
jet lag
definition
the more time zones passed through, the longer it takes for the body’s clock to reset
late work shifts lead to what problems?
-increased risk of injuries
-fatal accidents
-health problems
2 types of sleep
-rapid-eye movement (REM sleep, active sleep)
-non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM sleep, slow-wave sleep)
what is rapid-eye movement sleep called?
active sleep
REM sleep
definition
-high levels of brain + nervous system activity
-rapid movements of eyes
-intensely vivid dreaming
locus coeruleus
definition
brainstem region responsible for keeping us paralyzed during REM
what is non-rapid-eye-movement sleep called?
slow-wave sleep
NREM sleep
definition
-deepest levels of relaxation
-reduced brain activity
4 principal types of brain waves
-beta
-alpha
-theta
-delta
beta waves
definition
-very rapid
-relatively narrow oscillations during normal wakefulness
alpha waves
definition
-low frequency
-in extremely relaxed wakeful states when eyes are closed
theta waves
definition
produced under conditions of drowsiness + light sleep
delta waves
definition
slower + wider in the deepest levels of NREM sleep
how many stages of sleep are there?
5
stage 1 of sleep: NREM or REM?
-NREM
stage 1 of sleep: what waves?
theta waves
stage 1 of sleep: what occurs?
-sleep onset; light sleep 5-10 minutes
-hypnagogic imagery
-myoclonic jerks
hypnagogic imagery
definition
scrambled, bizarre, dreamlike images that flit in/out of consciousness
hypnagogic imagery
example
images of ghosts/other spirits
myoclonic jerks
definition
sudden jerks of our limbs as if being startled/falling
stage 2 of sleep: REM or NREM?
NREM
stage 2 of sleep: what waves?
theta waves
stage 2 of sleep: what occurs?
-light sleep
-brain activity decelerates, heart rate slows, body temp decreases, muscles relax, eye movements cease
-sleep spindles
-k-complexes
sleep spindles
definition
sudden intense bursts of electrical activity
k-complexes
definition
occasional sharply rising + falling waves
majority of our sleep is in what stage of sleep?
stage 2
stage 3 of sleep: REM or NREM?
NREM
stage 3 of sleep: what waves?
theta + delta waves
stage 3 of sleep: what occurs?
-1st stage of deep/slow-wave sleep
-difficult to awaken
stage 4 of sleep: REM or NREM?
NREM
stage 4 of sleep: what waves?
delta waves predominate over theta waves
stage 4 of sleep: what occurs?
-sleep deepends further
-very difficult to awaken
-slow-wave, deep sleep
to feel fully rested in the morning…
we need to experience deeper sleep throughout the night
children or adults spend more time in deep sleep?
children
what suppresses delta wave sleep?
alcohol
stage 5 of sleep: REM or NREM?
REM
stage 5 of sleep: what waves?
beta, alpha, + theta waves
stage 5 of sleep: what occurs?
-the most intense + vivid periods of dreaming occur
-paradoxical sleep because brain is active while body is inactive
-high gear, high frequency, low-amplitude waves resembling those of wakefulness, increased heart rate + BP, rapid + irregular breathing
why is stage 5 of sleep called paradoxical sleep?
the brain is active at the same time the body is inactive
-activated sleep
REM behavior disorder
definition
brainstem structures that ordinarily prevent us from moving during REM sleep don’t function properly
-may be an early marker of dementia + Parkinson’s disease
when humans are derived of REM for a few nights, what do we experience?
REM rebound
REM rebound
definition
-the amount + intensity of REM sleep increases, suggesting that REM serves a critical biological function
-once we finally get a good night’s sleep, we often experience much more intense dreams/nightmares
cognitive activity
definition
-unemotional + non-hallucinatory
-lacks a story or dramatic progression
ordinary dreaming
definition
dreams depicting relatively realistic activites + recognizable characters
ordinary dreaming occurs most in REM or NREM?
NREM
apex dreaming
definition
the most intense, bizarre, non-rational, + hallucinatory dreams
-includes lucid dreaming
-features of both waking + REM sleep
lucid dream
definition
when you dream + know you are dreaming
sleep paralysis
definition
a strange experience of being unable to move just after falling asleep or immediately on wakening
insomnia
definition
a chronic difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and/or being unable to obtain restful sleep
narcolepsy
definition
a neurological illness where sufferers fall asleep when speaking or doing tasks
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
definition
sleep disorder resulitng in repeated narrowing at various sites along the upper airway throughout the night, leading to complete/partial inability to breathe
night terror
definition
when one sleeps peacefully + all of a sudden becomes frightened
-happens most in children but they usually grow out of it
sleepwalk + sexsomnia
definition
doing activity during sleep
Freud’s dream protection theory
definition
dreams are disguised wishes
-wish fulfillment, many are sexual in nature
activation-synthesis theory
definition
dreams reflect the activated brain’s attempt to make sense of random + internally generated neural signals during REM sleep with surges of acetylcholine in the pons leading to activation + synthesis in the forebrain
dreams + the forebrain theory
definition
dreams are driven largely by the motivational + emotional control centers of the forebrain as the logical “exectuive” part of the brain snooze
neurocognitive theory of dreaming
definition
dreams are reflections of waking life + are a meaningful product of our cognitive capacities which shape. what we dream about
-the older, the more complex our dreams are
psychoactive drug
definition
substance that contains chemicals similar to those found naturally in our brains that alter consciousness by changing chemical processes in neurons
substance use disorders
definition
people with substance use disorder experience significant impairment/distress associated with 1 or more drugs
name the 3 aspects of substance use disorders
-tolerance
-withdrawal
-physical/psychological dependence
tolerance
definition
a progessive need for more + more of the drug to achieve the same effect
withdrawal
definition
unpleasant physiological symptoms (insomnia, anxiety, seizures, etc.) experienced when the body is deprived of a drug to which it has biologically adapted as a result of habitual use
physical dependence
definition
dependence on a drug that occurs when people continue to take it to avoid withdrawal symptoms
psychological dependence
definition
nonphysiological dependence on a drug that occurs when continued use of the drug is motivated by intense cravings
explanations for substance use
name 4
-sociocultural influences
-addictive personality
-learning + expectantances (tension reduction hypothesis)
-genetic influences
tension reduction hypothesis
definition
people consume alcohol to reduce tension from stressors in their lives
depressants
definition
depress the CNS + produce relaxation or sleepiness
-sedative + hypnotic
depressants
examples
-alcohol
-barbiturates
-benzodiazepines
-Quaaludes
-Valium
sedative
definition
drug that exerts a calming effect
hypnotic
definition
drug that exerts a sleep-inducing effect
alcohol
definition
-ethanol
-the most widely used/abused psychoactive drug
is alcohol a stimulant?
only at relatively low doses
legal cutoff for legal intoxication while operating a vehicle
blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08
stimulants
definition
drugs that stimulate CNS (increased heartbeat, respiration, + BP) + produce alertness/energy, feelings of exhilaration, alertness, confidence, + mood elevation
stimulants
examples
-tobacco
-nicotine
-caffeine
-cocaine/crack
-amphetamines/adderall
-methamphetamine/crystal meth
effects of cocaine/crack
-euphoria
-enhanced mental physical capacity
-stimulation
-decrease in hunger
-indifference to pain
-sense of well-being
-diminished fatigue
effects of amphetamines/crystal meth
for occasional use, regular use, + street users
occasional use:
-postpone fatigue
-elevated mood
regular use:
-euphoria-producing effects
street users:
-rush of pleasure
-restlessness
-talkative
-excited to prolong euphoria
-inability to sleep
-loss of appetite
-paranoid delusions
example of an amphetamine
-crystal meth
-adderall
methamphetamine
definition
-known as crystal meth
-closely related to chemical structure of amphetamines
are amphetamines or methamphetamine more powerful?
methamphetamine
-generally has a higher purity level
-carries high risk of overdose/dependece
effects of nicotine
-enhances positive emotional reactions
-minimizes negative emotional
adjustive value
definition
something that can enhance positive emotional reactions + minimize negative emotional reactions
what drug has adjustive value?
nicotine
-also many other drugs taken for nonmedical purposes
narcotics are the same as ____
opioids
effects of narcotics/opioids
-relieve pain
-induce sleep
examples of narcotics/opioids
-heroin
-morphine
-codeine
-oxycodone
effect of heroin
strong sense of euphoria limited to a few hours
effects of psychadelics/hallucinogenics
substantially alter one’s perception of reality, mood, + thought
examples of psychadelics/hallucinogenics
-marijuana
-LSD
-ecstasy/molly/MDMA
-psilocybin
-ketamine
effects of marijuana
mild hallucinogenic + sedative
low dosage:
-sense of time slowing down
-enhanced sensation of touch
-increased appreciation for sound
-hunger
-feeling of well-being
-tendency to giggle
-later quiet
-introspective
-sleepy
high dosage:
-disturbance in short term memory
-exaggerated emotions
-altered sense of self
-panic
effects of LSD
-marked change in the brain
-decreased electrical activity
-increased blood flow
-increasd communication among neural networks
-feeling of “ego dissolution”
effects of ecstasy/molly/MDMA
-both stimulant + hallucinogenic properties
-produces cascades of serotonin
-increased self-confidence
-increased well-being
-powerful feelings of empathy for others
mental set
definition
beliefs + expectancies about the effects of drugs
-the settings in which people take these drugs, their cultural heritage, + genetic endowment all account for highs/lows of drug use
hallucinations
definition
realistic perceptual experiences in the absence of any external stimuli
-can occur in any sensory modality
-can occur in both psychologically disturbed + ordinary individuals
out-of-body experiences (OBE)
definition
the sense of our consciousness leaving our body
out-of-body experiences (OBE)
example
floating above own body calming observing self from above
near-death experiences (NDE)
definition
the experience reported by people who’ve nearly died or thought they were going to die
near-death experiences (NDE)
example
-through dark tunnel
-white light
-etc.
what can occur in near-death experiences?
out-of-body experiences
-OBE can occur in NDE
mystical experiences
definition
feelings of unity or oneness with the world
-often with strong spiritual overtones
hypnosis
definition
an interpersonal situation in which imaginative suggestions are administers to produce changes in consciousness
what do sociocognative theorists reject?
the idea that hypnosis is a trace state/unique state of consciousness
sociocognitive theory of hypnosis
definition
people’s attitudes, beliefs, motivations, + expectations about hypnosis, as well as their ability to imagine + respond to walking imaginative suggestions, shape their responses to hypnosis
dissociation theory of hypnosis
definition
emphasizes that hypnotic suggestions result in a separation between personality functions that are normally well integrated
