Lecture 7 - consciousness

Question 1

Can a person be blind and have the eyes and optic nerves intact?

Answer 1

Yes
‘blindsight’ –> you can’t process any of the visual information you’re receiving. You know where objects are, but you don’t know what you’re seeing
Due to a lesion in the V1 (primary visual cortex)

Question 2

Main function of auditory cortex?

Answer 2

Sensation of sound –> perception of sound

Question 3

Your roommate come to you and tell you that he was having a dream about eating ice
cream and then while sleeping he went to the fridge and ate a pint of ice cream.
Would you believe them? Explain your answer.

Answer 3

No.
You have a temporary paralysis in large muscles when you’re in REM sleep
You only dream when you’re in REM sleep
You cannot dream and walk at the same time

Question 4

Why is an all-nighter before an exam a bad idea?

Answer 4

• sleep is when you process information and consolidate memories
• lack of sleep –> impaired memory, reduced cognitive abilities

Question 5

What is synesthesia? How is it related to consciousness?

Answer 5

• blending of the senses, you can taste color or smell
• during an LSD trip, you’re in a state of altered consciousness, which is why you perceive senses differently and more combined than normal

Question 6

What is consciousness?

Answer 6

moment to moment awareness of ourselves and our environment

Question 7

Why do we have consciousness?

Answer 7

• survival
• helps with planning
• helps dealing with others
• allows for higher complexity functions
• representation of what’s going on in our environment

Question 8

Physiological changes occurring during NREM sleep?

Answer 8

1. slow, rolling eye movement
2. decreased…
   –> muscle tone
   –> body movements
   –> breathing
3. lower…
   –> blood pressure
   –> metabolic rate
   –> temperature

Question 9

Physiological changes occurring during REM sleep?

Answer 9

1. rapid eye movement
2. pupillary constriction
3. paralysis of large muscles
4. twitching of small muscles in fingers, toes, middle ear
5. spontaneous erection / increased vaginal blood flow
6. dreaming
7. increased…
   –> heart rate
   –> blood pressure
   –> breathing

Question 10

What other problems are associated with sleep disorders?

Answer 10

• diabetes type 2
• obesity
• heart disease (stroke, high blood pressure)
• mental illness

Question 11

How does depression affect sleep?

Answer 11

• people with depression are more likely to have insomnia
• shortening the amount of restorative slow-wave sleep (NREM) a person gets each night.
• anti-depressants suppress REM sleep