Chapter 5: States of Consciousness

Question 1

consciousness

Answer 1

our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment

Question 2

hypnosis

Answer 2

a social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur

Question 3

posthypnotic suggestion

Answer 3

a suggestion, made during a hypnosis session, to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized; used by some clinicians to help control undesired symptoms and behaviors

Question 4

dissociation

Answer 4

a split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others

Question 5

sleep

Answer 5

a periodic, natural loss of consciousness — as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation

Question 6

circadian rhythm

Answer 6

our biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle

Question 7

REM sleep

Answer 7

rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active

Question 8

alpha waves

Answer 8

the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

Question 9

NREM sleep

Answer 9

non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep

Question 10

hallucinations

Answer 10

false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus

Question 11

hypnagogic sensations

Answer 11

bizarre experiences, such as jerking or a feeling of falling or floating weightlessly, while transitioning to sleep

Question 12

delta waves

Answer 12

the large, slow brain waves associated with the deep sleep of NREM-3

Question 13

suprachiasmatic nucleus

Answer 13

a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness

Question 14

insomnia

Answer 14

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

Question 15

narcolepsy

Answer 15

a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times

Question 16

sleep apnea

Answer 16

a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings

Question 17

night terrors

Answer 17

a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during NREM-3 sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered

Question 18

dream

Answer 18

a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind

Question 19

manifest content

Answer 19

according to Freud, the symbolic, remembered story line of a dream (as distinct from its latent, or hidden, content)

Question 20

latent content

Answer 20

according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream (as distinct from its manifest content)

Question 21

REM bound

Answer 21

the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation

Question 22

psychoactive drug

Answer 22

a chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods

Question 23

substance use disorder

Answer 23

a disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk

Question 24

tolerance

Answer 24

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effect

Question 25

withdrawal

Answer 25

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior

Question 26

depressants

Answer 26

drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

Question 27

alcohol use disorder

Answer 27

(popularly known as alcoholism) alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use

Question 28

barbiturates

Answer 28

drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment

Question 29

opiates

Answer 29

opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

Question 30

stimulants

Answer 30

drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

Question 31

nicotine

Answer 31

a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco

Question 32

cocaine

Answer 32

a powerful and addictive stimulant derived from the coca plant; produces temporarily increased alertness and euphoria

Question 33

amphetamines

Answer 33

drugs, such as methamphetamine, that stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes

Question 34

methamphetamine

Answer 34

a powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels

Question 35

ecstasy

Answer 35

a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition

Question 36

hallucinogens

Answer 36

psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

Question 37

near-death experience

Answer 37

an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as cardiac arrest); often similar to drug-induced hallucinations

Question 38

LSD

Answer 38

a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid

Question 39

THC

Answer 39

the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations