Chapter 6 Flashcards
what is consciousness?
the moment-to-moment awareness of ourselves and our environment
what 2 brain areas are important for consciousness?
1.) thalamus - relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex
2.) cerebral Cortex - responsible for being aware of one’s attention
what are the 3 levels of consciousness?
1.) consciousness - mental events were currently aware of
2.) preconsciousness - outside of our current awareness and easily accessed
3.) unconsciousness - information that isn’t easily accessed by consciousness, no awareness
what is Freud’s view of the unconscious?
- contains thoughts and memories that are too painful for consciousness
- contents may seep into consciousness by accident
what is the cognitive view of the unconscious?
- explicit vs implicit memories
- controlled vs automatic processing
explicit vs implicit memories
explicit = memory you’re aware of (extended great effort)
implicit = knowledge we’re not typically aware of
controlled vs automatic processing
controlled = takes mental energy to do
automatic = requires no consciousness, do it without thinking
why do we sleep?
adaptive theory - says that organisms sleep for self preservation and to stay safe from predators
restorative theory - says that sleep restores our brains and bodies
what is the circadian rhythm?
a daily, rhythmic biological cycle
→ controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus
→ influence whether we are a morning or a night person
→ disruptions = changes in season, shift work, jet lag
what are the stages of sleep?
1,2,3,4, REM
what are alpha waves?
occur when relaxed and drowsy (8-12cps)
what are beta waves?
occur when awake and alert (12-24 cps)
stage 1 of sleep
- light sleep
- theta waves
- lasts few minutes and may experience “body jerks”
stage 2 of sleep
- sleep deepens, muscles more relaxed, harder to awaken
- sleep spindles (1-2 seconds of rapid brain activity)
stage 3 of sleep
- sleep deepens
- regular appearance of delta waves (<4cps)
stage 4 of sleep
- sleep deepens
- delta waves dominate pattern
- stage 4 + 3 = “slow wave sleep”
REM sleep
- frequent dreaming (more vivid, detailed)
- heart rate increases, breathing rapid and irregular
- brain wave activity increases
- most dreams occur during REM sleep (vivid, story like)
why is REM sleep important?
mental functioning, and learning/memory consolidation
how does the sleep cycle work?
after stage 4 period, sleeper goes back through earlier stages backwards (Stage 4, 3, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, REM)
what does the information-processing theory say about dreaming?
says dreams involve processing information from the day
what does the activation-synthesis model say about dreaming?
says dreams reflect the brains attempt to make sense of random brain activity
what does the freudian dream theory say about dreaming?
says dreams reflect unconscious wishes and desires; royal road to unconscious
2 types of content in a dream:
- manifest content = surface story of a dream
- latent content = disguised psychological meaning of a dream
what do we dream about?
- negative or unpleasant content is common
- content is affected by cultural background, life experiences, current concerns
what are the types of dreams?
nightmares = dreams filled with intense anxiety, and dreamer feels like it’s really happening
lucid dreams =reams in which people fully recognize that they’re dreaming
daydreams = fantasies that occur while one is awake and aware of external events, yet not fully conscious
how does chronic sleep deprivation affect someone?
- general depressed state
- lower immune system
- lower ability to concentrate
- higher incidence of accidents
- lower productivity and higher likelihood of making mistakes
what are the different sleep disorders?
insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, sleepwalking, nightmare disorders, night terrors
what is insomnia?
- chronic difficulty in falling asleep, staying asleep or experiencing restful sleep
- most common sleep disorder (10-40% of the population)
- has biological, psychological and environmental causes
what is narcolepsy?
- extreme daytime sleepiness and sudden, uncontrollable sleep attacks, cataplexy
- cause is unknown (genetic?)
what is sleep apnea?
- Repeated cycle in which breathing stops and restarting during sleep (lasts 20 to 40 seconds up to a minute or two)
- usually due to obstruction of upper airway
what is sleepwalking?
- typically occurs during stage 3 or 4
- causes = Heredity, stress, alcohol, illness, medications
what is nightmare disorders?
- experience frequent nightmares
- nightmares are more common when stressed and in childhood
what are night terrors?
- frightening dreams that arouse sleep to near panic state
- sleeper may flee room yet not remember event in the morning
- typically occurs during stage 3 and 4
what is hypnosis?
a state of heightened suggestibility in which some people are able to experience imagined situations as if they were real
what is hypnotic induction?
process by which a hypnotist leads a person into hypnosis
what is the hypnotic susceptibility scales?
a series of pass/fail suggestions read after a hypnotic induction
what is a posthypnotic response?
a behaviour that was suggested while the person was hypnotized, but doesn’t appear until later when a specific signal appears
what is posthypnotic amnesia?
when the person who was hypnotized doesn’t remember anything from the hypnosis session
what is hypnotic hallucinations?
positive hallucinations = when a person is made to perceive something that isn’t really there
negative hallucinations = when a person it made to not perceive something that is really there
what is the divided conscious theory?
hypnosis splits awareness into 2 parts: one part responds to the hypnotist’s suggestion while the other part continues to process things at the conscious level
what is the social/cognitive process theory?
participant is highly motivated to believe in hypnosis, and without awareness, works hard to ignore the pain
what is a psychoactive drug?
any substance that alters mood, perception, awareness or thought
what is drug tolerance?
- decrease in reactivity to drug (need larger doses to feel same affect)
- body attempts to regain homeostasis
what is a compensatory response?
- physiological reactions opposite to that of drug
- brain is adjusting to body imbalances
what is withdrawal?
compensatory responses after drug use is discontinued
environment influence on psychoactive drugs
the environment can be associated with a drug and trigger compensatory responses
what are the 3 main categories of psychoactive drugs?
depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens
what is reward deficiency syndrome?
people might abuse drugs because their reward center isn’t readily activated by usual life events
how do depressants work?
decrease nervous system activity
moderate doses = reduce feelings of anxiety, produce euphoria
high doses = slow vital life processes, can be fatal
types of depressants
alcohol, sedative-hypnotics (benzodiazepines), opiods
how does alcohol affect the brain?
- nervous system depressant
- increase activity of GABA, decrease activity of glutamate = high then down phase
how does sedative-hypnotics (benzodiazepines) affect the brain?
- influence neurons that produce GABA
- produces relaxation and drowsiness, reduces anxiety
examples of benzodiazepines
ativan, xanax, valium
how do opioids affect the brain?
- activates the opioid receptors in the brain, providing an analgesic affect and a related high
- reduces pain and emotional tension, increases pleasurable and calming feeling
examples of opioids
opium, heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone
types of stimulants
amphetamines, cocaine, caffeine, nicotine
how do stimulants work?
increase neural filing and arouse nervous system (BP, HR, respiration, alertness)
how do amphetamines affect the brain?
- increase dopamine and norepinephrine activity
examples of amphetamines
crystal meth, ecstasy (MDMA)
how does cocaine affect the brain?
increase activity or morphine and dopamine by blocking reuptake
how does caffeine affect the brain?
works on adenosine neurons = produces a sensation of increased alertness
how does nicotine affect the brain?
influences dopamine and acetylcholine neurons = increases alertness and reduces stress
how do hallucinogens work?
produce sensory or perceptual distortions called hallucinations (blue boundaries between fantasy and reality)
how does LSD affect the brain?
- stimulates dopamine and serotonin receptors
- dramatically strengthens visual perceptions along with psychological and physical changes
how does cannabis affect the brain?
- stimulates the endorphins and dopamine
- produces a mixture of hallucinogenic, depressant and stimulant effects
