CHP8: Nature of consciousness AOS1

Question 1

Consciousness

Answer 1

The awareness of our own thoughts, feelings and perceptions (internal events) and our surroundings (external events) at any given moment.

Question 2

Consciousness continuum

Answer 2

A progression of states of consciousness ranging from least aware to most aware.

Question 3

A state of consciousness

Answer 3

Our level of awareness of internal events and external surroundings.

Question 4

Normal waking consciousness (NWC)

Answer 4

The state of being awake and aware of internal and external stimuli (i.e. thoughts, feelings, and behaviours).

Question 5

Altered states of consciousness (ASC

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

Naturally occurring altered states of consciousness

Answer 6

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).

Question 7

Induced altered state of consciousness

Answer 7

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).

Question 8

Levels of awareness

Answer 8

The degree to which an individual is conscious of stimuli.

Question 9

Selective attention

Answer 9

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).

Question 10

Divided attention

Answer 10

The ability to distribute our attention and undertake two or more activities simultaneously.

Question 11

Levels of processing

Answer 11

Refers to the nature of mental operation which measures how much focus and concentration are required to complete a task or understand information.

Question 12

Automatic processes

Answer 12

Tasks that require low levels of mental processing.

Question 13

Controlled processes

Answer 13

Tasks that require high levels of mental processing.

Question 14

Content limitations

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Perceptual and cognitive distortions

Answer 15

Atypical or abnormal variation in the way an individual interprets and processes sensory stimuli and thoughts.

Question 16

Emotional awareness

Answer 16

The level of understanding and control people have over their feelings, as well as the ability to accurately perceive the emotions of others.

Question 17

Self-control

Answer 17

A person’s ability to restrain or hold composure over their thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Question 18

Time orientation

Answer 18

Perception of how much or how little time has elapsed, and the ability to situate events in the past present or future.

Question 19

Perception

Answer 19

Organising sensory input and giving it meaning.

Question 20

Cognition

Answer 20

Mental activities such as thinking, problem-solving, language, analysis and reasoning.

Question 21

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Electromyograph (EMG)

Answer 22

Detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity of the body’s muscles through the movement and tension of muscles that are recorded.

Question 23

Electro-occulograph (EOG)

Answer 23

Detects, amplifies, and records the electrical activity of muscles that move the eyes.

Question 24

Subjective reporting

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

Sleep diaries

Answer 25

A record from an individual containing qualitative descriptions of the amount and nature of their sleep over a certain period of time.

Question 26

Video monitoring

Answer 26

A type of data collection involving video and sound recordings of an individual in their sleeping period.

Question 27

Brain waves

Answer 27

A pattern of electrical current in the brain caused by neurons communicating, visually represented as a wave.

Question 28

Frequency

Answer 28

A measurement indicating how many brain waves there are per second, visually represented as how close the waves appear together.

Question 29

Amplitude

Answer 29

A measurement indicating the intensity of an electrical current in the brain, visually represented as the height of the wave peaks.

Question 30

Beta

Answer 30

Fast, small brain waves with high frequency and low amplitude, indicating high levels of alertness (e.g. intensive mental activity during NWC).

Question 31

Theta

Answer 31

Medium-sized brain waves with low-medium frequency and medium-high amplitude, indicating low levels of alertness (e.g. deeply meditating, or drowsy).

Question 32

Alpha

Answer 32

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).

Question 33

Delta

Answer 33

Slow and large brain waves with low frequency and high amplitude, indicating very low levels of alertness (e.g. unconsciousness).

Question 34

Depressants

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

Stimulants

Answer 35

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.

Question 36

A drug

Answer 36

Any substance that can change a person’s physical and or mental functioning.

Question 37

Depressants effect on brain waves

Answer 37

While frequency decreases, the amplitude increases meaning there is a decrease in beta waves and an increase in alpha, theta, and delta waves.

Question 38

Stimulants effect on brain waves

Answer 38

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.