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Psychology: U4 AOS1 > Nature of Consciousness > Flashcards

Nature of Consciousness Flashcards

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1
Q

What is consciousness?

A

Consciousness is the awareness of our own thoughts, feelings, perceptions and environment. Consciousness is selective, personal and continuous.

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2
Q

What are the five features of consciousness?

A

Continuous, ever-changing, personal experience, selective, active.

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3
Q

Why is consciousness a psychological construct?

A

It can’t be physically measured or assigned numeral values, so it is measured on an arbitrary scale.

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4
Q

What is Normal Waking Consciousness (NWC)?

A

It is when you have total awareness of your thoughts, feelings and behaviours, including internal and external events. E.g. Ordinary wakefulness, focused attention

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5
Q

What is an Altered State of Consciousness (ASC)?

A

It is any state which is characteristically different from NWC in terms of awareness, thoughts, feelings and behaviours. E.g. when drunk, in a coma, daydreaming

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6
Q

What are the different psychological indicators that we may be in an altered state of consciousness?

A

A.C.C.E.P.S.T

  • Awareness
  • Cognitive distortions
  • Content limitations
  • Emotional awareness
  • Perceptual distortions
  • Self-control
  • Time orientation
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7
Q

How does awareness change in ASC?

A

It is lowered.

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8
Q

What are cognitive distortions in NWC?

A

Cognition is logical/organised. Memory functioning is effective and at a standard level. The person is capable of analytical and logical thinking.

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9
Q

How do cognitive distortions change in ASC?

A

Cognition is illogical and unorganised. The person’s memory can be impaired

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10
Q

What is content limitations in NWC?

A

It is easy to control what you say and do.

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11
Q

How is content limitations changed in ASC?

A

The person has little control over intake of information. They may make inappropriate or offensive thoughts.

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12
Q

What is a person’s emotional awareness in NWC?

A

The person shows a normal range of appropriate emotions.

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13
Q

How is a person’s emotional awareness changed in ASC?

A

Their emotional responses tend to be inappropriate. And their emotions are heightened or dulled. E.g. hallucinatory drugs vs. anaesthetic.

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14
Q

What is a person’s self-control in NWC?

A

Has awareness of self and the conscious ability to take control of behaviour

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15
Q

What is a person’s self-control in ASC?

A

It becomes compromised.

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16
Q

How does time orientation function in NWC?

A

The person has a clear sense of time, e.g. the passage of time, including past, present and future.

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17
Q

How is time orientation affected in ASC?

A

The person has an distorted sense of time, e.g. it can appear that time has sped up or slowed down.

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18
Q

What is daydreaming?

A

A shift in awareness from external events to internal thoughts. Occurs as a result of a lack of external stimuli. Usually where we are most creative.

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19
Q

What is meditation?

A

A purposefully induced ASC where an individual is highly focused on an internal thought.

20
Q

What is an alcohol-induced state?

A

A purposefully induced ASC where a substance depresses the brain and nervous system.

21
Q

What is selective attention?

A

When a person chooses to focus on certain stimuli and ignore others, at a detrimental effect.

22
Q

What is focused attention?

A

When a person chooses to focus on certain stimuli and ignore others.

23
Q

What is divided attention?

A

When a person can do two tasks at once. (Can’t do two controlled processes, but can do two automatic processes or one controlled and one automatic)

24
Q

What is a controlled process?

A

It is something which requires conscious awareness, a person’s active attention or mental effort. E.g. learning to drive.

25
Q

What is automatic process?

A

It is something which involves little to no conscious awareness or mental effort.

26
Q

What are the different physiological indicators that we may be in an altered state of consciousness?

A
  • Heart rate
  • Body temperature
  • Eye movement
  • Muscle movement
  • Galvanic skin response (electrical conductivity of the skin)
27
Q

What is an electroencephalograph (EEG)?

A

It detects, amplifies and records electrical activity of the brain in the form of brainwaves.

28
Q

What is an electro-oculargraph (EOG)?

A

It detects, amplifies and records electrical activity of the muscles surrounding the eyes.

29
Q

What is an electromyograph (EMG)?

A

It detects, amplifies and records electrical activity of the muscles of the body.

30
Q

IN EEG: What are beta waves?

A

Beta waves have a high frequency and a low amplitude (12-40 Hz per/s). It appears in the normal waking state of consciousness and at high brain activity.

31
Q

IN EEG: What are the alpha waves?

A

Alpha waves have a slightly lower frequency and slightly higher amplitude in comparison to beta waves (8-12 Hz). It appears in the ‘gateway to the subconscious mind’, in a relaxed state of consciousness.

32
Q

IN EEG: What are the theta waves?

A

Theta waves has an even lower frequency and slightly higher amplitude in comparison to beta and alpha waves (4-8 Hz/s). It appears in the subconscious mind, in light sleep (Stage 1-2 of NREM).

33
Q

IN EEG: What are the delta waves waves?

A

Delta waves have a low frequency and a high amplitude (4Hz). It appears in the unconscious mind, usually in deep sleep (Deep NREM sleep). It is associated with low brain activity.

34
Q

Uses, advantages and limitations of sleep laboratory experiments?

A

Uses: Can be used for people experiencing dysfunction
Advantages: Different devices can be used
Limitations: Unnatural/artificial setting, disrupted sleep

35
Q

Uses, advantages and limitations of video recordings in sleep experiments?

A

Uses: Anything for movement
Advantages: In a natural setting, typical setting
Limitations: No internal data

36
Q

Uses, advantages and limitations of self reports?

A

Uses: Good for people who have an emotional feeling connected to the sleep problem
Advantages: Can’t get the same data any other way
Limitations: Highly subjective

37
Q

What are psychoactive drugs?

A

Psychoactive drugs are chemical substances that affect the nervous system and brain activity. They modify the activity of certain neurotransmitters and significantly impact our consciousness.

38
Q

What are depressants?

A

Depressants decrease nervous system activity. E.g. alcohol, sleeping pills (barbiturates)

> Decrease levels of awareness
Increase lower frequency brainwaves (alpha, theta and delta)
Decrease beta brainwaves

39
Q

What are stimulants?

A

Stimulants increase nervous system activity. E.g. caffeine, amphetamines

40
Q

What are opiates?

A

Opiates provide pain relief and cause mood changes. E.g. opium, morphine, codeine

41
Q

What are hallucinogens?

A

Hallucinogens cause hallucinations and loss of reality. E.g. LSD

42
Q

What is marijuana?

A

Marijuana produces an uninhibited euphoric state and impaired judgement and thinking.

43
Q

Being alert is associated with…

A

dominant beta-wave activity.

44
Q

Excess beta wave activity results in…

A

stress, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia etc.

45
Q

Excess theta wave activity results in…

A

attention deficit problems, hyperactivity

46
Q

Excess alpha wave activity results in…

A

dream state (opiates) etc.

47
Q

What are barbiturate and benzodiazepines?

A

Drugs that slow down brain function and produce muscle relaxation.

> Barbiturates can be used to treat acute anxiety, tension and sleep issues
Benzodiazepines can be used to treat and anxiety, panic attacks and stress reactions

Psychology: U4 AOS1 (4 decks)

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