Problem 8 Flashcards
Alternate states of consciousness
Refer to qualitative alternations in the overall pattern of mental functioning
–> the experiencer feels his consciousness is radically different from the way it functions ordinarily
Why must ASCs be defined in subjective terms?
Because, defining them in purely objective ways, meaning by the way they are induced or by the physiology associated with them is not satisfactory
Name the issues associated with the subjective definition of ASCs.
- Difficult to define a normal state of consciousness
- Difficult to decide whether others are experiencing an ASCs based on their behavior
- ASCs are difficult to describe as different people have different prior
a) experiences
b) expectations
c) ways of describing things
Why is it difficult to figure out what has been altered during an ASC ?
Because we do not know how to measure changes consciousness in isolation from changes in
a) perception
b) memory
c) other cognitive-emotional functions
Name the 3 most significant dimensions that were focused on when trying to understand ASC.
- Attention
- Memory
- Arousal
Attention can be changed along 2 dimensions.
Name them.
- Direction
- -> can be directed inwards/outwards by reducing or overloading sensory input - Focus
- -> can be broadly or narrowly focused
Phenomenal state space/
Phenospace
Refers to a 3-dimensional space whereby different ASCs are positioned along these dimensions
–> its a space that is created in the simplest way to work with just a few variables
Tart
Was the first man to systematically map states of consciousness
Tart described a simple space with 2 dimensions namely … and … .
He then derived 3 major clusters corresponding to … ?
- Irrationality
- Ability to hallucinate
- REM dreaming
- Lucid dreaming
- Ordinary consciousness
–> all other positions in this space either cannot be occupied or are unstable
e.g.: you may briefly hover between waking + dreaming but this state is unstable and rapidly gives way to one of the stable states
Laureys Model
Mapped a more systematic 2-dimensional space, using the dimensions of
- Level of arousal
- -> refers to physiological wakefulness, dependent on the arousal system - Awareness of the environment and self
- -> refers to the content of consciousness which requires a functionally integrated cortex
AND: These 2 are for most states positively correlated as one needs to be awake in order to be aware
–> except for vegetative state, sleep walking etc
AIM model (Hobson)
Maps 3 dimensions
- Activation energy
- -> similar to arousal, measured by EEG - Input source
- -> varies between entirely internal or external sources of info - Mode
- -> ratio of amines to choline
Why is the last dimension of AIM, meaning the ratio of amines to choline mapped ?
Because
- During waking amine NTs dominate and are essential for
a) rational thought
b) volition
c) directing of attention
- During REM sleep, choline dominate and thinking becomes delusional + irrational
What is the main difference of the AIM model to Tarts model ?
In theory, any area in the space can be occupied in the AIM model
4-dimensional model of a psychological and neurobiological review
- Activation
- -> from low to high arousal - Awareness span
- -> from narrow to broad - Self awareness
- -> diminished to heightened - Sensory dynamics
- -> reduced to heightened sensation
=> These dimensions are the first step towards constructing a C-space
Does meditation induce ASCs according to Tart?
Yes,
because Meditation gradually changes the neural structures of the brain
–> advanced meditators may reach states that are unique to meditative practice
Jhanas
Refer to a series of 8 increasingly absorbers states that can be reached through deep concentration
Some meditators think that Jhana is made to unfold in a specific order so that the reward system is self stimulated in a controlled way.
Explain how this is supposed to unfold on a neurological basis.
The self stimulation is supposed to
Some meditators think that Jhana is made to unfold in a specific order so that the reward system is self stimulated in a controlled way.
Explain how this is supposed to unfold on a neurological basis.
The self stimulation is supposed to
- Begin with a flood of dopamine
- Increased noradrenaline + endorphins
–> each NT accounts for the various emotions and sensations of the first 3 Jhanas
- When the opioids fade, the neutral state of the 4th jhana is reached
Hidden Observer
Hilgard
When a hypnotized patient had her hand in a freezing water and claimed to feel no pain, he suggested the patient could talk to “a hidden part of her”
–> afterwards the patient described the pain she was feeling
Psychologically induced ASCs
Refer to illnesses that are capable of inducing ASCs, that rate from rhythmic trance to even hypnosis
–> e.g. sleep deprivation, oxygen deprivation, fever, seizures
Mindfulness Meditation + psychoactive drugs seem to be effective in treating mental illness.
If this is so, what king of other techniques might also be effective ? Why?
Techniques used for inducing altered states
Dreaming
Can be defined as an ASC which occurs during sleep
–> usually involve fictive events that are organized in story-like manner
BUT: one is consciously ware of ones internal world to some tenet but fail to recognize ones own condition
Activation-synthesis hypothesis
Suggests that dreaming results from REM sleep physiology
–> newer theories suggest that dreaming fulfills an adaptive function
e.g. emotion regulation, learning, memory consolidation
Differences in conscious experience between dreaming and wakefulness can be placed along a continuum.
Name its ranges.
- No consciousness
- Primary consciousness
- -> awareness of perception + emotion - Self-Reflective awareness
- -> abstract rhinos, volition
Why can dreams be seen as a purer form of consciousness ?
Because they are free of constraints imposed by perception + interaction with physical environments
REM sleep
Is characterized by
- Global high-frequency + low amplitude EEG activity
- Increased heart rate
- Respiratory activity
- Temporary muscular paralysis
Can REM sleep and dreaming be dissociated ?
Yes, as forebrain lesions leave REM sleep intact while dreaming ceases
Does REM dreams show aspects of primary or secondary consciousness ?
Primary
–> the dreamer tends to have less
a) metacognitive activity
b) reflexive thought
c) volitional capabilities
in addition, the dreamer has limited access to info about the past + anticipated future and concerns himself with the present content of the dream + narrative
Explain the neue-functional basis of REM sleep.
The EEG signal shares large similarities with that of wakefulness
–> global brain metabolism is also very similar
Principle of perceptual equivalence
States that there common neural substrates for perception + imagery
N-REM sleep
Can be divided into 3 different stages (N1, N2, N3)
–> N3 is a deep sleep/slow-wave sleep
Lucid dreaming
Refers to a rare state of sleep during which individuals achieve awareness of their own state of consciousness
–> skill that has to be trained + involves primary and secondary consciousness
There are different degrees of lucid dreaming.
Name them
- Pre-lucid reflections
- -> minimal awareness that one is reaming - Full blown lucid dreaming
- -> deliberately controlling the dream narrative
Dream phenomenology
Understanding the experience of dreaming.
–> often compared with psychosis
Psychedelic state
Refers to the states of consciousness associated with the consumption of drugs
e.g. LSD
–> as they will affect
a) perception
b) creativity
c) time perception
d) the experience of the self
In wich way do psychedelics affect perception?
- Increased salience of objects
- Enhanced color perception
- Increased amount of sensory content
- Increased amount of saccadic eye movements
- -> “sees more”
Integrated information theory
IIT
Predicts whether a system is
a) conscious
b) to what degree it is conscious
c) what particular experience it is having
–> states that a system’s consciousness is determined by its causal properties and is therefore an intrinsic, fundamental property of any physical system.
BUT: this is challenged by the psychedelic state
Global workspace theory
GWT
Assumes a rather simplistic conception of conscious states
–> challenged by the psychedelic state
