Consciousness Flashcards
Reticular activating system
Also known as the reticular formation. Alertness and arousal are controlled by these structures within the brain stem
Polysomnography
A multimodal technique to measure physiological processes during sleep. PSG includes electroencephalogram which measures the electrical impulses in the brain, electromyogram which measures the skeletal muscle movements, electrooculogram which measures the eye movement, and other physiological indicators of sleep
First indicator that a person is ready to drift to sleep, the body relaxes, and the person feels drowsy and closes his or her eyes
The electroencephalogram shows alpha waves when a person is awake but sleepy and relaxed. These waves have low amplitude and high frequencies and are also called neural synchrony
Stage one sleep
The first stage of non-REM sleep is entered during this stage. the EEG is dominated by theta waves: waves of low to moderate intensity and intermediate frequency. Further EOG measure slow rolling eye movements and EMG measures moderate activity. The person becomes less responsive to stimuli and has fleeting thoughts.
Stage two sleep
A change into distinct wave patterns on the EEG. Although a person still experiences they do waves, these waves are intermixed with these two patterns: K complexes and sleep spindles. A.k.a. complex typically has a duration of a half a second and his large and slow these each of her as a single wave amongst that they do waves. Sleep spindles are burst of waves they have a frequency of 12 to 14 hurts in a moderately intense. Like K complexes the spindles do not last as long only a half to 1 1/2 seconds. During this stage there no I movement in EMG measures moderate activity. This stage brings increased relaxation in the body that is a characteristic of sleep such as decrease heart rate respiration and temperature
Stage III sleep
A person transition into a slow wave sleep stage III is characterized by a delta waves with your high amplitude low-frequency in signified the deepest level of sleep. Initially delta waves are mixed with higher frequency waves but as stage III progresses delta waves come to dominate. A person continues to show no eye movement and moderate muscle movement. The heart rate and digestion slow and growth hormones are secreted
Final stage of sleep REM sleep
Characterized by burst of quick I movements. The EEG measures waves that are most resemble the beta waves seen in individuals when awake. The waves of REM sleep are sawtooth waves with low intensity and variable frequency. These waves are more jagged an appearance then beta waves which are also Low intensity by frequency. Unlike the conscious state REM sleep is characterized by low skeletal muscle movement since the name paradoxical sleep. Although the person physiologically appears to be awake their muscle movement is not corroborate as the individuals nearly paralyzed except for sudden burst of twitches. This is generally when dreams occur
Normal sleep cycle
Individual will pass through stages 123 and four in sequence and then ascended back through the stages 432 and one and then move to REM sleep. This is considered one sleep cycle and lasts on average about 90 minutes. With each sleep cycle the amount of time and deep sleep stages three and four decreases while the amount of time spent in REM sleep increases
Circadian rhythms
Also known as the biological clock. Light influences the biological clock by activating light-sensitive proteins in the retina. These proteins and signals to the brain’s pineal gland which is the reason responsible for the production of melatonin a hormone that induces sleep
REM rebound
This stage is absolutely necessary. Missing are you and sleep for one night results in an increase in our him sleep later to make up for it
Dreams
Freud believed that the plot lines of dreams, or manifest content, were symbolic versions of underlying latent content, unconscious drives and wishes that are difficult to express.
The activation synthesis theory
Suggest that dreams are byproducts of brain activation during REM sleep. This theory allows for the possibility that dreams are far from purposeful; some proponents have suggested that the purpose of dreams is to provide a template of consciousness on which the mind can practice conscious development
Dyssomnias
Abnormalities in the amount quality or timing of sleep and include insomnia narcolepsy and sleep apnea.
Insomnia-is the difficulty falling or staying asleep And is most common.
Narcolepsy-is experience periodic overwhelming sleepiness during waking periods that usually lasts less than five minutes
Sleep apnea- causes people to intermittently stop breathing during sleep which results in awakening after a minute or so without air
Parasomnias
Abnormal behaviors that occur during sleep and include somnambulism and night terrors
Somnambulism or sleepwalking tends to occur during slow wave sleep stage III, usually during the first third of the night. There may be genetic predisposition for sleepwalking and sleep talking
Night terrors also usually occur during stage III. Unlike nightmares which occurred during REM sleep toward the morning. A person experience a night terror may sit up or walk around dabble in if you’re terrified other none of this is recalled the next morning. Typically when we sleep the ponds located in the brainstem serves to paralyze the body so that dreams are not acted out. This does not occur during night terrors and somnambulism. Both are more likely to occur in children
Dissociation theory-hypnosis
Suggest that hypnotism is an extreme form of divided consciousness. In hypnosis, just as in every day life, many behaviors occur on auto pilot. Hypnotism may be an extended form of a normal dissociation such as driving somewhere and not recalling anything about the actual drive. The individual is on auto pilot in the hypnotist takes over the executive control which directs action
The social influence theory-hypnosis
Suggest that people do and report what is expected of them. They are not consciously faking it but I like actors who get caught up in their roles and so behave in ways that fit them
Mindfulness-based stress reduction-meditation
A protocol commonly used in the medical setting to help alleviate stress. Meditators have increased alpha and beta waves while they are meditating with more experience meditators showing greater improvements
Depressants
Alcohol barbiturates and opiates
GABA-an inhibitory neurotransmitter and is associated with the reduced anxiety
Dopamine-leads to the feeling of mine are euphoria
Stimulants
Caffeine nicotine cocaine and amphetamines.
Increasing the release of a neurotransmitter, reducing the uptake of neurotransmitter, or both
Hallucinogens
Also known as psychedelics, distort perceptions in the absence of any sensory input creating hallucinations
Examples are LSD in marijuana
LSD-Euphoria and panic
Marijuana-relaxes like alcohol, amplify sensory perceptions
A psychological dependence on drugs
Associated with the use of the drug in response to painful emotions related to depression anxiety or trauma
A physical dependence on drugs
Is evidenced by withdraw. Withdrawal is an uncomfortable and often physically painful experience without the use of the drug. This discomfort is alleviated when the user takes the drug, reinforcing the addiction.
Addiction
Addiction is biologically-based.enjoy will behaviors produce activity and dopamine circuits in the brain stem most notably the nucleus accumbens the pleasure center of the brain. This pathway is a natural path way to feeling of reward and pleasure. Many addictive drugs share characteristic of stimulating the release of dopamine into the nucleus accumbens
Consciousness
The awareness that we have of ourselves, our internal states, and the environment.
