Consciousness Flashcards
What is consciousness?
one’s level of awareness of both the world and one’s own existence within that world
What is alertness?
a state of consciousness in which we are awake and able to think; perceive, process, access, and verbalize information
What kind of brain waves do we have when alert and awake?
beta waves
What kind of brain waves do we have when awake and relaxed?
alpha waves
What are the sleep cycle stages and associated wave lengths?
Awake - beta Stage 1 - alpha Stage 2 - Theta/Sleep spindles/K complexes Stage 3 - Delta REM
What is circadian rhythm?
internally generated rhythms that regulated our daily cycle of waking and sleeping
What does melatonin do?
contributes to sleepiness
What does cortisol do?
contributes wakefulness
What is the activation synthesis theory?
dreams are caused by widespread, random activation of neural circuitry; mimic incoming sensory information, storied memories, current and previous desires, needs, experiences
What is the problem solving dream theory?
dreams are a way to solve problems when you are sleeping
What is the cognitive process dream theory?
dreams are merely the sleeping counterpart of stream-of-consciousness
What is dyssomnias?
disorders that make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or avoid sleep; insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea
What is parasomnias?
abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep, and include night terrors and sleepwalking
What is insomnia?
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
What is narcolepsy?
characterized by the lack of voluntary control over the onset of sleep
What is cataplexy?
loss of muscle control and sudden intrusion of REM sleep during waking hours, usually caused by an emotional trigger
What is sleep paralysis?
a sensation of being unable to move despite being awake
What is sleep apnea?
inability to breathe during sleep
What are night terrors?
periods of intense anxiety that occur during slow-wave sleep
What is sleepwalking (and its other name)?
somnambulism - the person moves and does stuff during sleep
What is hypnosis?
defined as a state in which a person appears to be in control of his or her normal functions, but it is a highly suggestible state
What is meditation?
involves quieting of the mind for some purpose, whether spiritual, religious, or related to stress reduction
What are depressants?
reduce nervous system activity, resulting in a sense of relaxation and reduced anxiety
What does alcohol do?
increases activity GABA receptor —> hyperpolarization of the membrane —> diminished arousal
increases dopamine levels
logical reasoning and motor skills impaired and increases fatigue
What do barbiturates do?
used as anxiety-reducing and sleep medications
increase GABA activity - causing relaxation
What are two examples of barbiturates?
amobarbital, phenobarbital
What are four examples of benzodiazephines?
alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam, and clonazepam
What are stimulants?
cause an increase in arousal in the nervous system
What do amphetamines do?
increase arousal by increasing release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin at the synapse and decreasing their reuptake; reduction in appetite and decreased need to sleep
Euphoria, hypervigilance, anxiety, paranoia
High heart rate and BP
What does cocaine do?
decreases reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin
Anesthetic and vasoconstrictive properties
What does ecstasy do?
Euphoria, increased alertness and overwhelming sense of well being and connectedness
increased heart rate and BP, blurry vision, sweating, nausea
Opiates vs opioids
naturally occurring forms vs semisynthetic derivatives
What are hallucinogens?
cause distortions of reality and fantasy, enhancement of sensory experiences and introspection
increased heart rate and BP, dilation of pupils, sweating and increasing body temp
What does THC do?
acts on cannabinoid, glycine and opioid receptors that interact to create a “high”; inhibits GABA activity and increases dopamine activity
Eye redness, dry mouth, fatigue, impairment of short term memory
What is the mesolimbic reward pathway?
a dopaminergic pathway that includes the:
-nucleus accumbens (NAc)
-ventral tegmental area (VTA)
-medial forebrain bundle (MFB)
Involved in motivation and emotional response
What are four drugs that increase GABA activity?
alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, marijuana
What are three drugs that increase dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin?
amphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy
