Consciousness Flashcards
Is a person in a coma conscious?
They are not (minimal brain activity)
What is consciousness?
The having of perceptions, thoughts, and feelings; awareness
What are the 3 states of consciousness?
Vegetative State
Sleepwalking
Locked-In Syndrome
What does it mean when you’re awake and aware?
You are Fully Conscious
What does it mean when you’re not awake or aware?
You are Non-conscious
What does it mean when you are not awake but you are aware?
Locked-In Syndrome
What does it mean when you are awake but not aware?
If you have little movement you are in a Vegetative State
If you have full movement you are Sleepwalking
What is another name for Vegetative State?
Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS)
What happens in a vegetative state?
Individuals awaken from a coma but only show reflexive behavior (not conscious)
What is a minimally conscious state (MCS)?
In a vegetative state when actions become voluntary those in MCS show localization to pain and non reflex movement
What are the 2 other names for Sleepwalking?
Somnambulism and Parasomnia
What is sleepwalking?
A sleep disorder involving abnormal movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, and dreams
Individuals lack conscious awareness/memory
When does sleepwalking occur?
After an abrupt, incomplete arousal from non-REM sleep (first 1/3 of sleep)
What parts of the brain are awake during sleepwalking?
Motor parts of the brain (cerebellum, posterior cingulate cortex, brain stem)
What parts of the brain are asleep (not active) during sleepwalking?
Parts of the brain handling attentional control, emotional regulation, memory (frontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, cerebrum)
What is Locked-In Syndrome?
A condition in which an individual is unable to move any muscle but it fully conscious and has normal sleep-wake cycles
Where is the lesion that causes locked-in syndrome?
Lesion to pons (in brainstem)
How is locked-in syndrome diagnosed?
Using electrophysiology/neuroimaging - must show intentional, purposeful brain activity
How is the brainstem involved in consciousness in the brain?
Projections from spinal cord + projections from brain = all information about state of the organism
How is pons involved with consciousness in the brain?
Autonomic, sensory functions
How is reticular formation involved in consciousness?
Wakefulness, circadian rhythms and sleep cycles
How is the Thalamus involved in consciousness in the brain?
Core consciousness and sensory connection loops with cortex
How is the Cerebral Cortex involved in consciousness in the brain?
Extended consciousness, not necessary for conscious experience
What is conscious processing?
Can be accessed by the systems underlying verbal reports, rational thought, and deliberate decision making
What is nonconscious processing?
Cannot be accessed, autonomic (gut-level) responses (Ex: subliminal and priming)
What is subliminal perception (bias)?
We process the stimulus, but the information is inaccessible to awareness
What is the method for subliminal percpetion?
- A stimulus is presented below the threshold awareness or sensation
- Positive: better impression
- Negative: worse impression
What is priming?
The change in the response to a stimulus or in the ability to identify a stimulus as the result of prior exposure to that stimulus
What is one way to test animal consciousness?
Mirror self-recognition (MSR)
What is the method to mirror-self recognition?
- Sticker/paint is applied to an area the animal cannot normally see
- They are put in front of a mirror
What does it mean if the animal ignores the sticker/paint?
Would imply lack of self-awareness
What does it mean if an animal starts to investigate the sticker/paint?
Would imply self-recognition and presence of a self-concept and self-awareness
What is a problem with mirror-self recognition?
Assumes normal face recognition
- Prosopagnosics fail, even though they have a sense of self
