Consciousness

Question 1

What is consciousness?

Answer 1

Our subjective experience of the world, our bodies, and our mental perspectives

Question 2

Sometimes we have alterations of “normal” consciousness. Give 4 examples.

Answer 2

Sleep paralysis, out-of-body, near-death, and mystical experiences

Question 3

What is the circadian rhythm?

Answer 3

A 24-hour internal clock that cycles between sleepiness and alertness, sleep-wake cycle

Question 4

Falling asleep is triggered by an increase in a certain hormone secreted by the pineal gland. What is this hormone?

Answer 4

Melatonin

Question 5

What is jet lag?

Answer 5

A disruption of circadian rhythm that includes physiological and behavioural responses to jet travel across time zones

Question 6

About how long is 1 sleep cycle?

Answer 6

90 minutes

Question 7

There are 2 basic types of sleep. What are they?

Answer 7

1. REM (Rapid Eye Movement)
2. Non-REM

Question 8

Which stage(s) of sleep are REM sleep?

Answer 8

Stage 5

Question 9

How long does Stage 1 of sleep last?

Answer 9

About 5-10 minutes

Question 10

What kind of waves are emitted during Stage 1 of sleep?

Answer 10

Theta waves

Question 11

What happens during Stage 1 of sleep?

Answer 11

Imagery just before falling asleep, sudden muscle spasms

Question 12

How long does Stage 2 of sleep last?

Answer 12

About 10-30 minutes, up to 65% of total sleep

Question 13

What does the brain emit during Stage 2 of sleep?

Answer 13

Sleep spindles and K-complexes

Question 14

What are stages 1 and 2 considered in the sleep cycle?

Answer 14

Light sleep

Question 15

What are stages 3 and 4 considered in the sleep cycle?

Answer 15

Deeper sleep

Question 16

How long does deeper sleep last in the sleep cycle?

Answer 16

15-30 minutes

Question 17

What type of waves are emitted during deeper sleep?

Answer 17

Delta waves

Question 18

How long does REM sleep last?

Answer 18

10-20 minutes

Question 19

In which stage of sleep is brain activity similar to wakefulness?

Answer 19

Stage 5 - REM Sleep

Question 20

What is special about REM sleep?

Answer 20

Stage where dreaming takes place, becomes longer as the night goes on

Question 21

How much sleep should most people get a night?

Answer 21

7-10 hours

Question 22

What does Freud’s Dream Protection Theory suggest about our dreams?

Answer 22

Dreams transform our sexual and aggressive instincts into symbols that represent wish fulfillment - this requires interpretation to reveal true meaning

Question 23

Why is Freud’s Dream Protection Theory rejected by most scientists?

Answer 23

There isn’t enough evidence to back this up - people have very few sexual dreams and most are negative in content

Question 24

What does the Activation-Synthesis Theory of dreams claim?

Answer 24

Dreams reflect the brain’s attempt to make sense of random neural signals during dreaming

Question 25

What does the Neurocognitive Theory of dreams claim?

Answer 25

Dreams are a meaningful product of our cognitive capacities that shape what we dream about

Question 26

About how much of the population experiences a sleep disorder at some point of their lives?

Answer 26

30-50%

Question 27

What is the most common type of sleep disorder and what symptoms are associated with it?

Answer 27

Insomnia - difficulty going to, staying asleep, or early waking

Question 28

What is narcolepsy and what likely causes it?

Answer 28

The rapid and unexpected onset of sleep, likely due to a lack of orexin production, a chemical that plays a key role in sleepiness

Question 29

What is sleep apnea?

Answer 29

Caused by the blockage of the airway during sleep, the victim may wake up briefly hundreds of times per night

Question 30

What are night terrors?

Answer 30

Sudden waking episodes characterized by screaming, sweating, being confused, and then returning to a deep sleep

Question 31

In how many children and adults does sleepwalking occur?

Answer 31

Children - 15-30% Adults - 3-5%

Question 32

What is sleep paralysis and which sleep disorder does it often co-occur with?

Answer 32

A temporary loss of muscle function during sleep, often co-occurs with narcolepsy

Question 33

What are hallucinations?

Answer 33

Realistic perceptual experiences in the absence of external stimuli

Question 34

What is the sense that our consciousness has left our body called?

Answer 34

An out-of-body experience (OBE)

Question 35

What is déjà vu?

Answer 35

The feeling of reliving an experience that is actually new

Question 36

What are mystical experiences?

Answer 36

Experiences that involve a sense of unity with the world, often associated with religious/spiritual practices

Question 37

What is hypnosis?

Answer 37

A set of techniques that provide people with suggestions for alterations in perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and behaviours

Question 38

What is the difference between substance abuse and substance dependence?

Answer 38

Abuse - causes recurrent problems with using a substance Dependence - usually serious and leads to clinically significant impairment or distress

Question 39

Name 5 different types of drugs.

Answer 39

1. Depressants 2. Sedative-Hypnotics 3. Stimulants 4. Narcotics 5. Psychedelics

Question 40

What kind of drug is the most widely used and abused drug in our society and which category does it belong in?

Answer 40

Alcohol, depressant

Question 41

Why are sedative-hypnotics prescribed to people?

Answer 41

To assist with anxiety or insomnia, as they can exert a calming or sleep-inducing effect

Question 42

What kind of drugs increase activity in the CNS?

Answer 42

Stimulants

Question 43

What is the most powerful stimulant and reinforcer?

Answer 43

Cocaine

Question 44

What is the most abused narcotic drug?

Answer 44

Heroin

Question 45

Also called hallucinogenic drugs, what type of drug produces dramatic alterations in perception, mood, and thought?

Answer 45

Psychedelics

Question 46

Name 3 well-known psychedelics.

Answer 46

1. Marijuana (cannabis) 2. LSD 3. Ecstasy