consciousness Flashcards
What is the definition of consciousness?
Moment to moment awareness of yourself and your environment. Awareness of one’s own mental feelings/emotions.
What are Freud’s 3 levels of consciousness (Iceberg analogy)?
Conscious, Preconscious, and Unconscious (Subconscious).
What is an example of the Conscious level?
Normal everyday thoughts.
What is an example of the Preconscious level?
Memories that are easily recalled.
What is an example of the Unconscious level?
Thoughts, emotions, and feelings that are locked away from the conscious mind (can be recalled with therapy and stuff)
What is the Non-conscious?
Some levels cannot be experienced consciously, so they are totally removed from conscious awareness. The mental processes that control our biological functions.
What is an example of the Non-conscious?
You are not aware of your medulla regulating your blood pressure.
What state of consciousness do we spend most of our time in?
We spend most of our time in a Waking State of consciousness.
What is the definition of Altered State of Consciousness?
Not in Waking State. Dstinctively noticeable or significant differences in psychological and behavioral functioning.
What are 2 altered states of Consciousness?
Sleep and Drug Induced.
What is the most common Altered State of Consciousness?
Sleep.
What did early research believe about sleep?
It was thought of as a time of mental inactivity. This was proved incorrect.
What technique for studying the brain was used to show sleep is an active, complex state?
Used an EEG to monitor brainwave activities. Distinctive and systematic chnages in amplitude and frequency while someone sleeps.
What are the 2 main stages of sleep?
Non-REM Sleep and REM Sleep.
What are the 3 stages of Non-Rem sleep?
Stage N1, Stage N2, Stage N3.
What stage of sleep is considered light sleep?
Stage N1
How long does light sleep last?
1 to 7 minutes where you are easily woken.
What is the dreaming Stage?
REM Sleep.
What happens to brainwave activity during N1 sleep?
Becomes more irregular.
What is stage N2 and what is it characterized by?
The transitional phase, a deeper sleep. Characterized by sleep spindles.
How long do sleep spindles last, roughly?
1-2 seconds.
What is stage N3-4 called?
Deep sleep.
What is the most difficult stage to wake individuals from?
Deep Sleep (Stage N3-4). When woken up they feel groggy/confused.
What happens after a person goes through the first three stages of sleep?
Return to N2 then REM sleep.
What does REM stand for?
Rapid Eye Movement.
What is REM?
The stage of sleep where most dreams occur.
What is sleep spindle?
A quick burst of activity after periods of rest.
What is paradoxical sleep and when does it occur?
The body is highly aroused, yet there is very little movement.
What is REM sleep paralysis?
The paralysis during sleep in order to not move how we are moving in dreams.
What is REM rebound effect?
increase the amount of REM sleep after being deprived of REM sleep.
How many cycles of sleep do we go through in a normal night?
4-5 cycles.
What happens to Stages N3-4 and REM as we progress through the cycles each night?
Stages N3 (deep sleep) decreases in length, and REM periods increase.
What are some of the sleep pattern changes that occur with age?
Amount of sleep needed decreases as we age.
How many hours do newborns sleep at night? Adults? Elderly?
16 hours for newborns. 7-8 hours for adults. Very little for elderly.
What are the REM pattern changes that occur with age?
It decreases as we age.
Infants- 1/2 sleep.
Adults- 25%.
Elderly- Not a lot.
What are some things that can happen that make us dangerous to ourselves and others when we do not get enough sleep?
Can lead to fatigue, irritability, and inattention. Lowers effectiveness of immune system, increased automobile accidents, and make more mistakes/accidents.
What is the difference between sleep problems and sleep disorders?
Sleep disorders are more serious and long term.
What is insomnia?
Persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
How long does the inability to sleep or fall asleep have to last before it is considered insomnia?
Usually for a month or more.
What is insomnia associated with?
Depression and anxiety.
What is narcolepsy?
Abrupt shift from an active, often emotional waking state into REM sleep. Often when laughing/being emotional.
What is cataplexy?
Collapse and immobile. Can be full body, but others just the face.
20% are type one narcolepsy, which experience cataplexy.
What is sleep apnea?
Sudden stops in breathing; snoring, with no waking or awareness that you have stopped breathing.
What usually accompanies sleep apnea?
Possible brain damage due to a lack of oxygen.
What are some causes of sleep apnea?
Genetic predisposition and obesity.
What is SIDS?
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
What happens when a child experiences SIDS?
Sleeping infants (1-12 months) stop breathing and die.
What is SIDS often associated with?
Low birth weight, smoking, brain stem (medulla) development, and possible genetic factors.
What are nightmares?
Distressing or frightening dreams.
When are nightmares most likely to occur?
REM sleep, more towards the morning when it is time to wake up.
What group suffers from a higher percentage of nightmares?
People who have PTSD
What are sleep terrors (night terrors)?
Horrific images during during stage N3 (deep sleep).
How do nightmares differ from night terrors?
Nightmares: Occur towards morning, unable to move, can recall.
night terrors: Occur closer to initially falling asleep, able to move, no memory.
What are the symptoms of night terrors, and who is most susceptible?
Bloodcurdling scream, Intensely frightened for 10-30 minutes, no recall of what occurred. Commonly in children, boys.
What is sleep walking?
Getting up and walking/doing activities while asleep.
What stage does sleep walking normally occur?
Occurs during non-REM sleep (Stage 3: Deep sleep). Usually in childhood, and it is outgrown.
Is waking a sleepwalker harmful?
No.
What is a REM behavior disorder?
Normal REM paralysis does not occur. You are in REM sleep, but the body does not paralyze. This means you are acting out your dreams and is dangerous to the dreamer and people nearby.
Why do people sleep?
People need a certain amount of uninterrupted sleep to function normally.
What are circadian rhythms?
Cycles of behavior, mental, and physiological changes that repeat about every twenty-four hours.
Changes in body temperature, certain hormonal secretions and other bodily functions.
What is one natural circadian rhythm?
The sleep-wake cycle, cued by light/dark.
What part of the brain controls our circadian rhythms?
The hypothalamus.
What part of the endocrine system is linked to our circadian rhythms?
The pineal gland.
What hormone is connected to our sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm)?
Melatonin, a hormone that has a relaxing effect on the body.
Which direction of travel will create the most disruption circadian rhythm because of travel across time zones?
West to east.
When do dreams occur mainly?
REM sleep, but some still occur during NONREM sleep.
What is the difference between NREM and REM dreams?
Dreams in REM sleep are usually bizarre and vivid.
What is lucid dreaming?
Aware that a dream is a dream when occurring.
What are dreams, according to Freud?
Disguised forms of wish fulfillment.
What are the types of content in dreams, according to Freud?
Manifest content, the dream that the conscious individual remembers experiencing. It consists of all the elements—images, thoughts, emotions, and other content—of which the individual is cognitively aware upon awakening.
What is the manifest content? Give an example.
What you see in the dream; story line or plot. I had a dream that I was playing volleyball.
What is the latent content? Give an example.
The hidden meaning; symbolism. I had a dream about volleyball, but its MEANING is that I am happy.
What are psychoactive drugs?
Drugs whose effect on the brain alter consciousness and other psychological processes.
What is psychopharmacology?
The study of psychoactive drugs.
Where do psychoactive drugs function on a neuron?
They function at the synapse.
What is an agnostic psychoactive drug?
Bind to receptors to mimic neurotransmitters’ effects.
What is an antagonistic psychoactive drug?
Bind to receptors to block neurotransmitters’ effects.
What are the 4 classifications of drugs discussed in class?
Depressants, Stimulants (Amphetamines), Opiates, and Hallucinogens.
What are depressants and what effect do they have on the body?
Depressants reduce CNS activity by increasing an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Causes Relaxation, Drowsiness and Depression.
What is the most used CNS depressant drug?
Alcohol.
How does alcohol affect the Cerebral Cortex and what would be the resulting behavior?
Reduces activity in the Cerebral Cortex, and can result in feeling uninhibited/free and lessens cultural inhibitions. (Drunk Lexi Example)
How does alcohol affect the Hippocampus and what would be the resulting behavior?
Impairs the hippocampus which can create difficulty remembering things.
How does alcohol affect the Cerebellum and what would be the resulting behavior?
Suppresses the cerebellum, causing poor motor control. (Drunk Lexi Example)
How does alcohol affect the Hindbrain (Medulla) and what would be the resulting behavior?
Depresses the hindbrain (medulla) mechanisms, may cause fatal problems with breathing and heartbeat regulation.
How do stimulants affect CNS activity?
They speed up/increase CNS activity.
What are 3 stimulants?
Amphetamines, Cocaine, and Caffeine.
What is another name for amphetamines?
Uppers and speed.
What behaviors do amphetamines affect?
Increase alertness and arousal, suppresses your appetite, and can cause or bring on insomnia.
What are opiates?
Stronger pain relieving medication.
What affect will opiates have on the body (Why do people take them)?
Relieve pain, drowsy effect (induce sleep), and highly addictive.
What are 3 opiates?
Morphine, heroin, codeine, and Fentanyl.
What are the hallucinations?
Dream like fantasies, a distorted view of themselves and the world around them.
What are hallucinogens usually called?
Psychedelic drugs.
What is the affect of hallucinogens on the body?
Loss of contact with reality, feelings of distorted body image, and cause dream like fantasies and hallucinations.
What are 3 examples of hallucinogens?
LSD, Marijuana, and Ketamine.
