Chapter 5 Psychology 175.102

Question 0

States of consciousness

Answer 0

Qualitatively different patterns of subjective experience, including ways of experiencing both internal and external events.

Question 1

Consciousness

Answer 1

The subject of awareness of mental events

Question 2

Attention

Answer 2

Refers to the process of focusing conscious awareness, providing heightened sensitivity to a limited range of experience requiring more extensive information processing.

Question 3

Selective inattention

Answer 3

Diverted attention from information that maybe relevant but emotionally upsetting.

Question 4

Divided attention

Answer 4

Involves automatising one or more tasks or rapidly shifting attention between them, refers to the capacity to split attention or cognitive resources between two or more tasks.

Question 5

Daydreaming

Answer 5

Training attention away from external stimuli to internal thoughts and imagined scenarios.

Question 6

Stages of sleep

Answer 6

Awake and alert (beta waves)
Relaxed, eyes closed (Alpha waves)
Stage one. (Theta waves) Only lasts a few minutes
Stage two. Sleep deepens as alpha activity disappears
Stage three. (Delta waves) Slow rhythmic delta waves
Stage four. (Mostly delta waves) Deep sleep categorised by relaxed muscles, decreased rate of respiration and slightly lower body temperature.
REM stage. Rapid eye movement sleep.
After a period of REM sleep, the person the same thinking through stage two and onto Delta sleep.

Question 7

Altered States of Consciousness

Answer 7

Meditation, hypnosis, ingestion of drugs and religious experiences.

Question 8

Meditation

Answer 8

The meditator develops a deep state of tranquillity by altering the normal flow of conscious thoughts.

Question 9

Hypnosis

Answer 9

Characterised by deep relaxation and suggestibility.

Question 10

Psychoactive substances

Answer 10

Drugs that operate on the nervous system to alter mental activity.

Question 11

Depressants

Answer 11

Substances that depress or slow down the nervous system.

Common depressants are barbiturates and benzodiazepines.

Question 12

Barbiturates

Answer 12

Also known as downers, these provide a sedative or calming effect and in higher doses can be used as sleeping pills.

Question 13

Benzodiazepines

Answer 13

Or antianxiety agents, serve as tranquilizers; common examples are Valium and Xanax.

Question 14

Heroine

Answer 14

Also a depressant that slows down the activity of the central nervous system. The immediate effects of its use can range from intense pleasure and a strong feeling of well-being to feeling confused, drowsiness, reduced coordination, nausea and vomiting. Long-term effects include dependence, depression and cognitive impairment. People who are physically dependent on heroine usually develop tolerance to drug, making it necessary to take more and more to get the desired effect. Eventually, a dose plateau is reached, at which no amount of the drug is sufficient.

Question 15

Alcohol

Answer 15

Alcohol is a depressant contrary to common belief.

Question 16

Stimulants

Answer 16

Drugs that increase alertness, energy and autonomic reactivity such as heart rate and BP.
Range from commonly used substances such as nicotine and caffeine to more potent ones such as amphetamines and cocaine.

Question 17

Nicotine

Answer 17

Nicotine increases heartbreak BP while often decreasing emotional reactivity. Thus cigarette smokers often report that smoking increases the arousal and alertness while also providing a soothing perfect.

Question 18

Caffeine

Answer 18

Whereas moderate amounts of caffeine can help a person stay awake, high doses can produce symptoms indistinguishable from anxiety disorders, such as the jitters or even panic.

Question 19

Cocaine

Answer 19

Cocaine causes hyperarousal, leading to a rush that can last a few minutes to several hours. Cocaine is one of the most potent pleasure-inducing substances, as well as one of the most addictive, ever discovered.

Question 20

Amphetamines

Answer 20

Amphetamines lead to hyperarousal and a feeling of speeding, where everything seems to move quickly. The molecular structure of amphetamines is similar to that of neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine.

Question 21

Hallucinogens

Answer 21

Derive their name from hallucinations: sensations and perceptions that occur in the absence of external stimulation.

Question 22

Ecstasy

Answer 22

Ecstasy interferes with the concentration and action of serotonin and our brains, resulting in a change of mood, repression of libido and appetite, mental stimulation and increased body temperature.

Question 23

Marijuana

Answer 23

Marijuana produces a state of being high, or stoned, during which the individual may feel euphoric, giddy, uninhibited or contemplative. During a marijuana high, judgement is moderately impaired, problem solving becomes less focused and efficient, and attention is more difficult to direct.