chapter 6 Flashcards
consciousness
our immediate awareness of our internal and external states
select attention
select specific stimuli while ignoring others
Biological rhythms
internal rhythms of biological activity
Circadian rhythm (biological clock)
pattern of sleep-wake cycles that in humans roughly correspond to a period of day and night
sleep regulation
brain’s ability to switch between sleep and wakefulness in response to the external environment
Circadian rhythm sleep disorder
excessive sleepiness or insomnia due to a mismatch between their sleep cycle and that of others in their environment
Sleep rebound
we fall asleep quickly if we’re sleep-deprived
Restorative Theory of Sleep
holds that sleep restores our brains
and bodies
Adaptive Theory of Sleep
the theory that organisms sleep for the
purpose of self-preservation, to keep away from the predator
REM (rapid eye movement)
darting eye movements under lids
and active brain waves
Non-REM
variation in brain waves identifying 4 phases ranging in wakefulness
Paradoxical sleep
deep sleep and relaxed, but considerable brain
activity
manifest content
what you are able to recall - actual event
latent content
unconscious elements - symbolic meaning
Lucid dreams
when the sleeper knows they are dreaming and can actively guide the outcomes
Daydreams
fantasies that occur while one is awake and aware of external reality but is not fully conscious
Nightmares
dreams filled with intense anxiety, helplessness, powerlessness, danger
insomnia
an inability to fall or stay asleep often triggered by; stress, drug use, exercise, bedtime routine
cognitive behavioral therapy
psychotherapy that focuses on cognitive processes and problem behaviors
parasomnia
a group of sleep disorders
- disruptive motor activity in REM or Non-REM
- sleepwalking, restless leg syndrome, night terrors
sleepwalking (somnambulism)
most often takes place during the first 3hr of sleep. occurs in 5% of children; appears to be inherited
REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)
muscle paralysis during REM seizes to occur
- a lot of motor activity (posing a risk)
related to Parkinsons’ disease - now act as a diagnostic indicator
restless leg syndrome
discomfort in the legs during inactivity or sleep
- associated with kidney disease and diabetes
night terrors
related to sleepwalking; people suddenly awake in fear and agitated (screaming).
- increased heart rate and breathing
occurs in stages 3 & 4 - no memory
sleep apnea
repeatedly ceasing to breathe during the night, depriving the brain of oxygen and frequent awakenings.
- brain fails to send a breath signal, throat muscles become too relaxed, can lead to cardiac arrest
- contributes to cardiovascular disease
- two types obstructive (airway gets blocked) and central (disrupted signal from the brain)
narcolepsy
marled by an uncontrollable urge to fall asleep. may suddenly fall into REM and awake feeling refreshed
- some experience loss of muscle tone (cataplexy), and vivid dream-like hallucinations, which appear to be inherited
- treat with psychomotor stimulants
addiction
psychological or physical comlpulsion to take a drug, resulting from regular ingestion and leading to maladaptive pattern of behavior and changes in physical response
physical dependence
changes in bodily function
psychological dependence
an emotional need
tolerance
mark of physical dependence on a drug, in which the person is required to take incrementally larger doses of the drug to achieve the same effect
withdrawal symptoms
unpleasant and sometimes dangerous side effects of reducing intake of a drug after a person has become addicted
psychoactive drug
chemicals that affect awareness, behavior, sensation, perception, or mood
depressants
- a drug that tends to suppress the CNS
- Alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines
- agonists of GABA
how is alcohol a depressant?
ethyl alcohol binds to GABA neurotransmitter and reduces its rate of firing
GABA
inhibitory neurotransmitter
biphasic effect
starts as a stimulant but ends as a depressant
alcoholism
long-term pattern of alcohol addiction
What is considered binge drinking?
binge drinking is the consumption of 5 + drinks in a row
alcohol dehydrogenase
- the enzyme responsible for breaking down and eliminating alcohol
- if a variant of the enzyme does not work correctly, individuals react very negatively to even small amounts of alcohol
sedative-hypnotic drugs
produce feelings of relaxation and drowsiness
stimulants
substances that increase the activity of the CNS
methamphetamines
produces feelings of euphoria
- fast acting and leaving, prompting runs of use, lower risk of OD
- meth mouth, skin infection, memory loss, paranoia, hallucinations
amphetamines
manufactured and increased energy and lower appetite
- increases activity of dopamine
- club drug, ecstasy (MDMA) dumps serotonin resulting in euphoria
opioid
derived from the sap of the opium poppy
- heroin, morphine, codeine, oxycontin
- the rush of euphoria lasting for hours
pain reliever (analgesic)
- highly addictive
- methadone, similar effects without psychoactive qualities
- codeine is low potency
hallucinogens
substances that dramatically change one’s state of awareness, causing powerful changes in sensory perception
serotonin agonists
mescaline and LSD
antagonists of NMDA glutamate
PCP and ketamine
flashbacks
recurrences of sensory and emotional changes even after LSD has left the body
reward learning pathway (pleasure pathway)
brain circuitry that is important for learning about rewarding stimuli
reward-deficiency syndrome
people might abuse drugs because their reward center is not readily activated by usual life events
hypnosis
an altered state of consciousness during which people can be directed to act or experience that world in unusual ways; with minimal attention to external stimuli
posthypnotic responses
a predetermined signal that elicits a response after being roused from hypnosis
posthypnotic amnesia
directed to forget something learned during hypnosis
hypnotic hallucinations
guided to experience or not experience events or objects
meditation
an ancient technique from many traditions that can change one’s consciousness through attention to specific actions or items
