Consciousness

Question 1

Define consciousness

Answer 1

An individuals awareness of their unique thoughts, feelings, memories, sensations and environments

Question 2

Define NWC

Answer 2

NWC is the state of consciousness where a person is both awake and aware of their thoughts, feelings and perceptions

Question 3

Define ASC

Answer 3

ASC is any state of consciousness that deviates in marked differences in our level of attention and awareness

Question 4

List at least two correlates of consciousness

Answer 4

Awareness and content limitation

Question 5

Define awareness

Answer 5

The easier it is for us to be aware and conscious of a stimuli and its features, the more aware we are

Question 6

Define EEG and what it measures

Answer 6

Electroencephalogram (brainwaves)

Question 7

Define EMG and what it measures

Answer 7

Electromyograph (muscle impulses)

Question 8

Define EOG and what it measures

Answer 8

Electro-oculargraph (eye impulses)

Question 9

Defining factors of Stage 1 sleep

Answer 9

Largely transitional, fast to move through (around 1min), Alpha + Theta waves and hypnic jerks. NREM

Question 10

Defining factors of Stage 2 sleep

Answer 10

Beta waves, first stage of ‘true sleep’ which has sleep spindles (caused by the thalamus shutting down - which controls sensory input) and K waves (may occur due to external environment stimuli, like loud noises or touch). NREM

Question 11

Defining factors of Stages 3 & 4 sleep

Answer 11

Some contention as to whether stage 4 exists, so generally group them together, Delta waves, true deep sleep, largely thought to be where physical recovery and repair occurs within the body (replenishing energy, repairing muscles and building immune function. Reduces over lifetime. NREM

Question 12

Defining factors of REM sleep

Answer 12

Sawtooth type waves, appears similar on an EEG to NWC, Rapid Eye Movements, dreaming occurs here. REM

Question 13

Causes of sleep deprivation

Answer 13

mental health issues, substances (caffeine) and environmental factors

Question 14

Effects of sleep deprivation

Answer 14

Irritability, fatigue, lack of focus and memory (use stimulus 2) , environmental issues (a hot room), microsleeps, hallucination. Differ according to individuals

Question 15

Define REM rebound

Answer 15

When deprived of REM sleep, people will spend more time in that sleep the next night and sleep less in NREM

Question 16

Sleep theories: Restoration

Answer 16

Oswald (1980), Restorative function, NREM for body, REM for brain, adenosine is cleared out (chemical that makes body tired)

Question 17

Support for restoration theories

Answer 17

Study on athletes that ran 92km found that afterwards in the next two days had more NREM sleep, indicating their body needed time to recover in the stage of NREM sleep

Question 18

Problems with restoration theory

Answer 18

While it does make sense for the body to heal in NREM sleep, due to muscles deeply relaxing, when in REM sleep, the waves within the brain mimic NWC, meaning that replenishing and revitalizing may be harder for the brain. Still a strong theory though.

Question 19

Survival theories - Adaptive

Answer 19

Meddis (1977), we have adapted to sleep to avoid predators at the most dangerous times (i.e. night)
Humans also can’t see in the dark, so there is no point in doing things like moving around as a predator might see us

Question 20

Survival theories - Energy conservation

Answer 20

We sleep to conserve energy so that when we wake up, in the daytime, we can put all of our resources into doing things we need to, like hunting, gathering and reproducing.
The metabolism in people does slow during sleep, so this theory could be supported.

Question 21

Weaknesses within survival theory

Answer 21

These theories are very abstract, with no physical, empirical scientific evidence supporting it. Also doesn’t explain why we lose consciousness, because that could make us more vulnerable to predators due to a lack of awareness