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PSY100 > Chapter 5 -- Consciousness > Flashcards

Chapter 5 -- Consciousness Flashcards

1
Q

What is activated
during conscious control tasks?

A

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

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2
Q

What is a schema?

A

a cognitive framework or “short cut” that automatically tells us things about the world without much consciousness.

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3
Q

What are the three functions of attentional processes?

A

– Orienting function toward the environment
– Control of the content of consciousness
– Maintaining alertness

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4
Q

What is Subliminal Perception?

A

The notion that brief exposure to sub-threshold stimuli can influence awareness

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5
Q

What is consciousness?

A

A sensory awareness of external events and internal sensations

No scientific consensus exists regarding what exactly it is

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6
Q

What is metacognition and how does it relate to William James’ stream of consciousness model?

A

Metacognition describes the process where we think about thinking. It reflects what James called the “fringe” of the stream of consciousness.

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7
Q

What is qualia?

A

Instances of subjective conscious experience

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8
Q

Where is consciousness in the brain?

A

Awareness - prefrontal cortex is involved. Multiple areas in the brain work together to create the feeling of awareness.

Arousal - Determined by the reticular activating system: the brain stem, medulla, and thalamus – all involved in the experience of arousal and engagement with the environment.

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9
Q

What is Higher-Level Consciousness?

A

Individuals actively focus their efforts toward a goal. Carries out executive function (complex cognitive processes - thinking, planning, and problem solving), and cognitive control.

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10
Q

What is Lower-Level Consciousness?

A

Autonomic processes that require little attention and do not interfere with other ongoing activities.

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11
Q

What is the phenomenon of incubation?

A

Subconscious processing that leads to a solution after a break from conscious thoughts about our problems.

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12
Q

What is unconscious thought according to Freud and how does it relate to our assumptions about human kindness?

A

According to Freud, a reservoir of unacceptable wishes, feelings, and thoughts that are beyond conscious awareness.

The human capability for kindness emerges from socialization and our abilities to reflect on actions. It could be autonomic (made into a habit) or controlled.

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13
Q

What does your circadian rhythm involve?

A

sleep/wake cycle
body temp.
blood pressure
blood-sugar level

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14
Q

What is the suprachiasmatic nucleus and what does it do?

A

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 the change from day to night. It sends info to the hypothalamus and pineal gland.

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15
Q

Why does sleep improve memory?

A

During sleep the cerebral cortex is free to conduct activities to strengthen memory associations.

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16
Q

What are the benefits of dreaming

A
  • Virtual reality behavioural rehearsal system (evolutionary)
  • makes sure our reproductive organs are working (biological)
  • shows us what we need to reflect on to be better (humanistic)
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17
Q

How do dreams and memories correlate in terms of attention?

A
  • Memory goes where attention flows
  • Emotional intensity experienced in dreams grabs our attention and we remember that
18
Q

What is a maladaptive schema?

A

Thinking about stuff that isn’t helpful.

  • Experiment was conducted on people with depression. They had to name the colours of given words. They spent more time on negative trigger words.
19
Q

How does attention reflect our unique existence in the world?

A
  • it is part of our DNA and how our genes interact with the environment
  • it’s a heiarchy and we don’t get to choose
20
Q

When is memory consolidated?

A

During REM (the last 4 hours of sleep)

21
Q

What is a hypnic jerk and its purpose?

A

An involuntary twitch or muscle contraction, that occurs while an individual is beginning to fall asleep.

22
Q

What are the 5 stages of sleep?

A

Stage W: Beta waves (high-frequency) for concentration + alertness. Alpha waves when relaxed or drowsy.

Stage N1: Theta waves (low frequency and amplitude). Light sleep.

Stage N2: Deeper sleep with sleep spindles. High-frequency waves for 20 mins.

Stage N3: Delta waves (large and slow). Deep sleep.

Stage R – REM. EEG patterns similar to relaxed wakefulness.

23
Q

What is an EEG?

A

A device that measures the output of the brain’s energy and waves created depending on states.

24
Q

When does somnambulism occur?

A

In the deepest stages of sleep N2 and N3. Sometimes they can be acting out their dreams.

25
Q

What is Freud’s Psychodynamic Approach to dreams?

A
  • Dreams = window into unconscious mind
  • Manifest content (the surface content of a dream, containing dream symbols) disguises the latent content (a dream’s unconscious and true meaning).
26
Q

What is the cognitive theory of dreaming?

A

Theory proposing that dreaming can be understood by applying the same cognitive concepts used to study the waking mind.

  • Dreams are subconscious cognitive processing.
  • Similar to thinking in real life.
27
Q

What is the activation-synthesis theory of dreaming?

A

Theory that dreams result from the brain’s attempts to find logic in random brain activity that occurs during sleep.

28
Q

What is lucid dreaming?

A

Awareness during dreams.

29
Q

What are psychoactive drugs and implications?

A

Drugs that act on the nervous system to alter consciousness, modify perception, and change mood.

  • Tolerance and addiction
  • physical and psychological dependence
30
Q

What are barbiturates?

A

Depressant drugs, such as Nembutal and Seconal, that decrease CNS activity.

31
Q

What are tranquilizers?

A

Depressant drugs, such as Valium and Xanax, that reduce anxiety and induce relaxation.

32
Q

What are opiates?

A

Opium and its derivatives; narcotic drugs that depress the central nervous system’s activity and eliminate pain.

33
Q

What are amphetamines?

A

Stimulant drugs that people use to boost energy, stay awake, or lose weight. They increase dopamine’s effectiveness and user activity to feel pleasure.

34
Q

How does alcohol influence the brain?

A

It increases dopamine and decreases GABA.

35
Q

What is part of the brain’s reward pathway?

A
  • ventral tegmental area (in midbrain)
  • nucelus accumbens (in forebrain)
  • prefrontal cortex
36
Q

What is hypnosis?

A

An altered state of consciousness or a psychological state of altered attention and expectation in which the individual is unusually receptive to suggestions.

  • Theta waves
37
Q

What is Ernest Hilgard’s divided consciousness view of hypnosis?

A

Ernest Hilgard’s view that hypnosis involves a splitting of consciousness into two separate components: one that follows the hypnotist’s commands and the other that acts as a “hidden observer.”

  • Experiment with hand in ice water, no reported pain, and the key that indicates pain.
38
Q

Why are some psychologists skeptical that hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness?

A

Some believe that it could be a reaction to a social situation, hence the social cognitive behaviour view: the hypnotized person behaves the way the individual believes that a hypnotized person should behave.

39
Q

Where does hypnosis correlate activity in?

A

The lingual gyrus – involved in higher-order visual processing and mental imagery.

40
Q

What is meditation?

A

The attainment of a peaceful state of mind through focused attention and open monitoring.

Activity in parietal lobe is decreased to feel more grounded in the universe.

41
Q

What is a hypnagogic reverie?

A

A relaxed sense that all will be well.

PSY100 (10 decks)

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