Chapter 5 - States of Consciousness Flashcards
our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment
Consciousness
Regular occuring cycles of behaviors caused by biological factors
Biological Rythms
the biological cycle that guides the daily waking and sleeping in many animals
- triggered by ambient light
Circadian Rythm
a sleep stage characterized by the presence of fast eye movements and dreaming
- accts for 25% of total sleep time
- awareness of external events dramatically reduced
- muscles shut down
- increase in heart rate and facial twitches
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep
a deep sleep, characterized by very slow brain waves, which is further subdivided into 3 substages N1, N2, and N3
Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) Sleep
Alpha Waves
- some muscle tone lost
- thinking about mundane events
- light sleep, easily woken
- hypnic jerks
Sleep Stage 1
Theta Waves with Sleep Spindles
- hypnagenic hallucinations
- k complexes
- muscle activity further decreased
- conscious awareness of environment lost
Sleep Stage 2
Delta Waves -a.k.a. Slow Wave Sleep
- beginning of deepest sleep
- slowest brainwave frequency
- dreamless
- when SLEEPWALKING occurs
Sleep Stage 3
persistent difficulty falling or staying asleep
Insomnia
a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing that last at least 10 seconds during sleep
-usually caused by an obstruction of the walls of the throat that occurs when we fall asleep
Sleep Apnea
a sleep disorder characterized by extreme daytime sleepiness with frequent episodes of “nodding off”
-people who suffer from this disease lack neurotransmitters that are important in keeping us alert
Narcolepsy
a chemical that changes our states of consciousness and particularly our perceptions and moods
Psychoactive Drugs
- Stimulants
- Depressants
- Opioids
- Hallucinogens
4 Primary Classes of Psychoactive Drugs
these drugs block the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the synapses of the CNS
Stimulants
- enhanced mood
- increased energy
- Exs: Caffeine, Nicotine, Cocaine, Amphetamines
Symptoms of Stimulants
& Examples
these drugs change consciousness by increasing the production of the neurotransmitter GABA and decreasing the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, usually at the level of the thalamus and the reticular formation
Depressants
- calming effects
- sleep
- pain relief
- slowed heart rate & respiration
- Exs: Alcohol, Barbiturates & Benzodiazepines, Toxic Inhalants
Symptoms of Depressants
& Examples
these drugs’ chemical makeup is similar to endorphins, the neurotransmitters that serve as the body’s “natural pain reducers”
Opioids
- slowing of many body functions
- constipation
- respiratory and cardiac depression
- the rapid development of tolerance
- Exs: Opium, Morphine, Heroine
Symptoms of Opioids
& Examples
these drugs’ chemical compositions are similar to the neurotransmitters serotonin and epinephrine and they act primarily by mimicking them
Hallucinogens
- altered consciousness
- hallucinations
- Exs: Marijuana, LSD, Mescaline, PCP, Peyote
Symptoms of Hallucinogens
& Examples
an increase in the dose required to produce the same effect
Tolerance
a need to use a drug or other substance regularly
Dependence
a drug is desired and has become part of the everyday life of the user, but has no serious physical effects resulting if the drug is not obtained
Psychological Dependence
serious physical and mental effects appear when a drug is withdrawn
Physical Dependence
negative experiences that accompany reducing or stopping drug use, including physical pain and other symptoms
Withdrawal
when a user powerfully craves a drug and is driven to seek it out, over and over again, no matter the physical, social, financial, and legal costs
Addiction
a trance-like state of consciousness consisting of hightened susceptibility, deep relaxation, and intense focus
Hypnosis
intentional reduction of stimuli affecting one or more of the five senses, with the possibility or resulting changes in consciousness
Sensory Deprivation
