Consciousness

Question 1

What is consciousness?

Answer 1

one’s level of awareness of both the world and one’s own existence within that world

Question 2

What is alertness?

Answer 2

a state of consciousness in which we are awake and able to think; perceive, process, access, and verbalize information

Question 3

What kind of brain waves do we have when alert and awake?

Answer 3

beta waves

Question 4

What kind of brain waves do we have when awake and relaxed?

Answer 4

alpha waves

Question 5

What are the sleep cycle stages and associated wave lengths?

Answer 5

Awake - beta
Stage 1 - alpha
Stage 2 - Theta/Sleep spindles/K complexes
Stage 3 - Delta
REM

Question 6

What is circadian rhythm?

Answer 6

internally generated rhythms that regulated our daily cycle of waking and sleeping

Question 7

What does melatonin do?

Answer 7

contributes to sleepiness

Question 8

What does cortisol do?

Answer 8

contributes wakefulness

Question 9

What is the activation synthesis theory?

Answer 9

dreams are caused by widespread, random activation of neural circuitry; mimic incoming sensory information, storied memories, current and previous desires, needs, experiences

Question 10

What is the problem solving dream theory?

Answer 10

dreams are a way to solve problems when you are sleeping

Question 11

What is the cognitive process dream theory?

Answer 11

dreams are merely the sleeping counterpart of stream-of-consciousness

Question 12

What is dyssomnias?

Answer 12

disorders that make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or avoid sleep; insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea

Question 13

What is parasomnias?

Answer 13

abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep, and include night terrors and sleepwalking

Question 14

What is insomnia?

Answer 14

difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

Question 15

What is narcolepsy?

Answer 15

characterized by the lack of voluntary control over the onset of sleep

Question 16

What is cataplexy?

Answer 16

loss of muscle control and sudden intrusion of REM sleep during waking hours, usually caused by an emotional trigger

Question 17

What is sleep paralysis?

Answer 17

a sensation of being unable to move despite being awake

Question 18

What is sleep apnea?

Answer 18

inability to breathe during sleep

Question 19

What are night terrors?

Answer 19

periods of intense anxiety that occur during slow-wave sleep

Question 20

What is sleepwalking (and its other name)?

Answer 20

somnambulism - the person moves and does stuff during sleep

Question 21

What is hypnosis?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What is meditation?

Answer 22

involves quieting of the mind for some purpose, whether spiritual, religious, or related to stress reduction

Question 23

What are depressants?

Answer 23

reduce nervous system activity, resulting in a sense of relaxation and reduced anxiety

Question 24

What does alcohol do?

Answer 24

increases activity GABA receptor —> hyperpolarization of the membrane —> diminished arousal
increases dopamine levels
logical reasoning and motor skills impaired and increases fatigue

Question 25

What do barbiturates do?

Answer 25

used as anxiety-reducing and sleep medications

increase GABA activity - causing relaxation

Question 26

What are two examples of barbiturates?

Answer 26

amobarbital, phenobarbital

Question 27

What are four examples of benzodiazephines?

Answer 27

alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam, and clonazepam

Question 28

What are stimulants?

Answer 28

cause an increase in arousal in the nervous system

Question 29

What do amphetamines do?

Answer 29

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

Question 30

What does cocaine do?

Answer 30

decreases reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin

Anesthetic and vasoconstrictive properties

Question 31

What does ecstasy do?

Answer 31

Euphoria, increased alertness and overwhelming sense of well being and connectedness
increased heart rate and BP, blurry vision, sweating, nausea

Question 32

Opiates vs opioids

Answer 32

naturally occurring forms vs semisynthetic derivatives

Question 33

What are hallucinogens?

Answer 33

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

Question 34

What does THC do?

Answer 34

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

Question 35

What is the mesolimbic reward pathway?

Answer 35

a dopaminergic pathway that includes the:
-nucleus accumbens (NAc)
-ventral tegmental area (VTA)
-medial forebrain bundle (MFB)
Involved in motivation and emotional response

Question 36

What are four drugs that increase GABA activity?

Answer 36

alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, marijuana

Question 37

What are three drugs that increase dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin?

Answer 37

amphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy