CHP8: Nature of consciousness AOS1 Flashcards
Consciousness
The awareness of our own thoughts, feelings and perceptions (internal events) and our surroundings (external events) at any given moment.
Consciousness continuum
A progression of states of consciousness ranging from least aware to most aware.
A state of consciousness
Our level of awareness of internal events and external surroundings.
Normal waking consciousness (NWC)
The state of being awake and aware of internal and external stimuli (i.e. thoughts, feelings, and behaviours).
Altered states of consciousness (ASC
A state of consciousness that is characterized by different levels of awareness as compared to normal waking consciousness in terms of awareness, thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
Naturally occurring altered states of consciousness
A type of altered state of consciousness that involve physiological and psychological automatic changes that occur without intervention, in an expected, natural way, and without our conscious control (e.g. daydreaming, drowsiness, or sleep).
Induced altered state of consciousness
A type of altered state of consciousness that involve physiological and psychological changes that occur due to purposeful action or aid, they have been intentionally brought about (e.g. alcohol-induced, medication, an induced coma etc).
Levels of awareness
The degree to which an individual is conscious of stimuli.
Selective attention
Choosing and attending to a specific stimulus to the exclusion of others either through an internally sourced event (e.g. pain) or an externally sourced event (e.g. watching a car drive past).
Divided attention
The ability to distribute our attention and undertake two or more activities simultaneously.
Levels of processing
Refers to the nature of mental operation which measures how much focus and concentration are required to complete a task or understand information.
Automatic processes
Tasks that require low levels of mental processing.
Controlled processes
Tasks that require high levels of mental processing.
Content limitations
Content refers to the information an individual is consciously aware of. Content limitations refer to constraints a person exerts over the information in their own mind.
Perceptual and cognitive distortions
Atypical or abnormal variation in the way an individual interprets and processes sensory stimuli and thoughts.
Emotional awareness
The level of understanding and control people have over their feelings, as well as the ability to accurately perceive the emotions of others.
Self-control
A person’s ability to restrain or hold composure over their thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Time orientation
Perception of how much or how little time has elapsed, and the ability to situate events in the past present or future.
Perception
Organising sensory input and giving it meaning.
Cognition
Mental activities such as thinking, problem-solving, language, analysis and reasoning.
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
Detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity of the brain that comes from the communication of neurons in the brain. This activity is represented in the form of brain wave patterns which can correlate to different states of consciousness.
Electromyograph (EMG)
Detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity of the body’s muscles through the movement and tension of muscles that are recorded.
Electro-occulograph (EOG)
Detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity of muscles that move the eyes.
Subjective reporting
A method of data collection involving accounts directly from the individual about some aspects of their behaviour, biology, or psychology. As it involved methods of self-reporting it can be considered biased.
Sleep diaries
A record from an individual containing qualitative descriptions of the amount and nature of their sleep over a certain period of time.
Video monitoring
A type of data collection involving video and sound recordings of an individual in their sleeping period.
Brain waves
A pattern of electrical current in the brain caused by neurons communicating, visually represented as a wave.
Frequency
A measurement indicating how many brain waves there are per second, visually represented as how close the waves appear together.
Amplitude
A measurement indicating the intensity of an electrical current in the brain, visually represented as the height of the wave peaks.
Beta
Fast, small brain waves with high frequency and low amplitude, indicating high levels of alertness (e.g. intensive mental activity during NWC).
Theta
Medium-sized brain waves with low-medium frequency and medium-high amplitude, indicating low levels of alertness (e.g. deeply meditating, or drowsy).
Alpha
Medium-sized brain waves with medium-high frequency and low-medium amplitude, indicating an alert but relaxed state (e.g. awake and alert but mentally and physically relaxed).
Delta
Slow and large brain waves with low frequency and high amplitude, indicating very low levels of alertness (e.g. unconsciousness).
Depressants
A class of drugs that reduce or decrease (depress) the activity in the central nervous system and body activity, reducing levels of alertness. Their effects result in a state of calm, relaxation, drowsiness, sleep or anaesthesia.
Stimulants
A class of drugs that increase (stimulate) the activity in the central nervous system and body activity, increasing levels of alertness as they have an activating effect.
A drug
Any substance that can change a person’s physical and or mental functioning.
Depressants effect on brain waves
While frequency decreases, the amplitude increases meaning there is a decrease in beta waves and an increase in alpha, theta, and delta waves.
Stimulants effect on brain waves
Increase in frequency and a decrease in amplitude of brain wave patterns. There will be an increase in beta waves and a decrease in alpha, theta, and delta waves.
