Nature of consciousness

Question 1

Normal waking consciousness

Answer 1

State of consciousness associated with being awake and aware of objects and events in the external world, and of one’s sensations, mental experiences and own existence.

Question 2

Altered state of consciousness

Answer 2

A condition of awareness that is distinctly different from normal waking consciousness in terms of level of awareness and experience.

Question 3

Naturally occurring state of consciousness
- examples

Answer 3

A state that occurs naturally in the course of our everyday activities without the need for any aid.
- daydreaming
- dreaming
- sleeping

Question 4

Induced state of consciousness
- examples

Answer 4

A state that is intentionally achieved by some kind of aid, such as medication or substance abuse.
- Hypnosis
- Anaesthetised

Question 5

Attention

Answer 5

Focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring and therefore excluding other stimuli.

Question 6

Selective attention

Answer 6

Choosing and attending to a specific stimulus while excluding others.

Question 7

Divided attention

Answer 7

Distributing attention and undertaking 2 or more activities simultaneously.

Question 8

EEG

Answer 8

Detects, amplifies and records general patterns of electrical activity in the brain (measures brain waves).

Question 9

EMG

Answer 9

Detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of muscles.

Question 10

EOG

Answer 10

Detects, amplifies and records electrical activity in eye muscles that control eye movements.

Question 11

Limitation of EEG

Answer 11

Doesn’t provide information about which structures of the brain are activated and what their specific functions may be.

Question 12

Types of brain waves

Answer 12

Beta
Alpha
Theta
Delta

Question 13

Beta brain waves
- examples

Answer 13

Associated with being very alert and actively processing information.
- most active during mental and physical activity in NWC and dreaming in REM sleep.

• worried about being late
• learning maths formula for first time
• playing a video game

Question 14

Alpha brain waves
- examples

Answer 14

Most active during awake, mentally and physically relaxed state and not actively processing information.

• resting with eyes closed

Question 15

Theta brain waves
- examples

Answer 15

Associated with drowsiness, such as when falling asleep or waking up.

• having just fallen asleep or waken up
• working on a highly creative task
• deeply meditating
• struggling to keep eyes open
• feeling elated on learning about an excellent exam result

Question 16

Delta brain waves
- examples

Answer 16

Associated with no alertness, most active during deep sleep (non-dreaming) or while unconscious
- Anaesthetised
- Making a reflexive response to painful stimuli when in a coma.

Question 17

Types of methods used to study consciousness

Answer 17

• EEG, EMG, EOG
• Speed and accuracy on cognitive tasks
• Sleep diaries
• Video monitoring

Question 18

Speed and accuracy (objective)

Answer 18

Reaction time to a stimulus, and the number of correct and incorrect responses made by the individual.

Question 19

Sleep diaries (subjective)

Answer 19

A self-reported record of an individual’s sleep and waking time activities.

Question 20

Video monitoring

Answer 20

One or more cameras used to record externally observable physiological responses throughout a sleep episode, including behaviours when falling asleep and when waking.

Question 21

Changes in psychological state due to levels of awareness

Answer 21

• content limitations
• controlled and automatic processes
• perceptual and cognitive distortions
• emotional awareness
• self-control
• time orientation

Question 22

Controlled process definition
Automatic process definition

Answer 22

Controlled process - Processing information with conscious, alert awareness and mental effort for goal attainment.

Automatic process definition - Processing information with little conscious awareness and mental effort for goal attainment.

Question 23

Content limitations
- NWC
- ASC

Answer 23

NWC - Content is limited in type and amount, we can block unwanted information from entering consciousness

ASC - Content is fairly unlimited due to lack of control.

Question 24

Controlled processes
- NWC
- ASC

Answer 24

NWC - Controlled processes tend to be easier to achieve.

ASC - Controlled processes tend to be harder to achieve as ASC has low levels of awareness.

Question 25

Automatic processes
- NWC
- ASC

Answer 25

NWC - Automatic processes are relatively easy to achieve.

ASC - Automatic processes may be harder to achieve.

Question 26

Perceptual distortions (physical perceptions)
- NWC
- ASC

Answer 26

NWC - sensations reflect reality and perception is clear.

ASC - perceptions can be dulled and heightened.

Question 27

Cognitive distortions (thinking, reasoning and memory)
- NWC
- ASC

Answer 27

NWC - Capable of logical thinking and effective memory functioning.

ASC - Cognitive distortions may occur and memory may be impaired.

Question 28

Emotional awareness
- NWC
- ASC

Answer 28

NWC - Show normal range of appropriate emotions

ASC - Emotional responses tend to be inappropriate, heightened or dulled.

Question 29

Self-control
- NWC
- ASC

Answer 29

NWC - Conscious ability to take control of our own behaviour

ASC - Loss of self-control

Question 30

Time orientation
- NWC
- ASC

Answer 30

NWC - perception of time is accurate (1 hour feels like 1 hour)

ASC - Time could be perceived as moving quicker or slower.

Question 31

0.05 BAC

Answer 31

Equivalent to 17 hours without sleep

Question 32

0.10 BAC

Answer 32

Equivalent to 24 hours without sleep