Chapter 6: States of Consciousness

Question 1

Consciousness

Answer 1

-is out awareness of ourselves in our environment
-is is subjective and private, every individual has their own
-it is dynamic, it changes
-it is self-reflective and central to our sense of self, how the mind is aware of its own consciousness is very important

Question 2

Levels of Consciousness

Answer 2

-freud proposed 3 levels
#1: Conscious
#2: Preconscious (outside current awareness, but may be recalled)
#3: Unconscious

Question 3

The Cognitive Unconscious

Answer 3

-views conscious mental life as complementary forms of information processing
-Controlled Processing: voluntarily putting in effort, like studying, planning
-Automatic Processing: performed without much conscious effort (driving)
-Divided Attention: more difficult

Question 4

The Emotional Unconscious

Answer 4

-emotion and motivation operate unconsciously

Question 5

The Molar Mind

Answer 5

-the mind is a collection of largely separate and interacting molecules
-the subjective experience of consciousness arises from the varying and integrated activity of modules (sensation, memory, etc.)

Question 6

Circadian Rhythm, Biological Clocks

Answer 6

-daily biological cycles controlled by brain’s suprachiasmatic nuclei (SNC) in the hypothalamus
-it is linked to the Pineal Gland, responsible for releasing melatonin for sleep
-adenosine is also known to help sleep by decreasing alertness
-gradual or sudden environmental changes disrupt our circadian rhythms
-Seasonal Affective Disorder: depression during a specific season
-Jet Lag

Question 7

Sleep

Answer 7

-when awake, the brain has high frequency, low amplitude beta waves
-when relaxed and drowsy, the brain has low frequency, high amplitude alpha waves

Question 8

Stages of Sleep

Answer 8

1: alpha waves turn into theta waves, we are easily awakened

#2: sleep spindles and brain-wave activity transitions
#3: regular appearance of slow and large delta waves
#4: delta waves dominate the brain activity
-*our brains do 1-2-3-4-3-2

Question 9

REM Sleep

Answer 9

-follows step 2
-rapid eye movements
-vivid dreams
-Sleep Paralysis: brain sends signals to make voluntary muscle movements difficult but the body is awake

Question 10

How much do we sleep?

Answer 10

-newborns sleep 16 hours a day, half in REM
-19-30 y/o sleep less, elders sleep very little
-as we age, time spend in 3 and 4 decline
-genetics and environment affect sleep length
-sleep deprivation inhibits functioning, mood, cognition

Question 11

Why do we sleep?

Answer 11

-Restoration model: helps to recharge body and brain
-Evolutionary/circadian sleep models: helps with specie survival (predators at night)
-REM sleep is vital for mental functioning
-Memory Consolidation: turning short-term memory into long-term memory

Question 12

Sleep Disorders

Answer 12

-Insomnia: chronic difficulty to fall asleep
-Narcolepsy: sudden sleep attacks, falls into REM
-REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder: body’s muscles aren’t stopped like they should be
-Sleep Apnea: sleeper stops breathing, wakes up, then falls asleep
-Sleepwalking: occurs in stage 3 or 4
-Nightmares: occurs in REM sleep
-Night Terrors: sleepers suddenly sit up and scram, occurs in stage 3 or 4

Question 13

Dreams

Answer 13

-REM Sleep
-Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
-the main purpose of dreams is wish fulfillment

Question 14

Activation Synthesis Theory

Answer 14

-during REM sleep, the brain activates with random neural activity
-the cortex tries its best to interpret and understand it, which is why dreams are often so bizarre

Question 15

Problem Solving Dreams

Answer 15

-helps us find creative solutions because there are no reality constraints

Question 16

Cognitive Process Dreams

Answer 16

-dreams and wake are produced by the same brain functions
-ability to dream develops with age, since imagery skills does

Question 17

Daydreams

Answer 17

-less vivid, requires greater visual imagery

Question 18

Drugs

Answer 18

-they chemically alter brain consciousness
-drugs can pass through the blood brain barrier

Question 19

Agonist

Answer 19

-a drug that increases neurotransmitter activity
-eg –> pain Relievers activate and bind to endorphin receptors that would otherwise bind to pain

Question 20

Antagonist

Answer 20

• a drug that inhibits or decreases activity

Question 21

Tolerance

Answer 21

-decreasing responsivity, larger doses required, stems from the body’s attempt to maintain homeostasis

Question 22

Depressants

Answer 22

-decrease nervous system activity, reduces feelings
-Alcohol: increases GABA activity to decrease brain activity
-Barbiturates (sleeping pills) and Tranquilizers (anti-anxiety): also increases GABA activity (GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter)

Question 23

Stimulants

Answer 23

• increase neural firing
  -Amphetamines: increase dopamine, reduces appetite and fatigue
  -Cocaine
  -Opiates
  -Hallucinogens
  -Marijuana

Question 24

Hypnosis

Answer 24

-someone is guided by another person, they are in a state of heightened suggestibility
-involuntary control
-Allergens: some people may no longer be allergic to something if told not to be
-Pain Tolerance: hypnosis can act as an anesthetic
-Memory: make more errors

Question 25

Dissociation Theory

Answer 25

-a division of unconsciousness into two streams: responding to questions and being in the background but still aware of everything

Question 26

Social Cognitive Theory

Answer 26

-people get hypnotized only because of their expectations of what happens to a hypnotized person, so they are more motivated to conform to that role