PSY101 - Chapter 3: Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind

Question 1

Consciousness

Answer 1

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Question 2

Cognitive Neuroscience

Answer 2

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with our mental processes (including consciousness).

Question 3

States of Consciousness

Answer 3

1. Spontaneous: daydreaming, drowsiness, dreaming.
2. Physiologically Induced: hallucinations, orgasm, food or oxygen starvation.
3. Psychologically Induced: sensory deprivation, hypnosis, meditation.

Question 4

Dual Processing

Answer 4

1. The High Road: conscious, deliberate processing of which we are aware.
2. The Low Road: unconscious, automatic processing of which we are unaware.
   - –Freud

Question 5

Blindsight

Answer 5

A condition where the patient has no awareness whatsoever of any stimuli but are able to process aspects of a visual stimulus, such as location. (squares that flash quickly on the screen and then the patient is asked which side the square appeared on)

Question 6

Selective Attention

Answer 6

A mental ‘spotlight’ that focuses conscious awareness on a limited aspect of all that you experience (allows you to focus on one thing while many other things are happening around you).

Question 7

Inattentional Blindness

Answer 7

If distracted, we can miss things that happen right in front of us.

Question 8

Change Blindness

Answer 8

A man provides directions to a supposed construction worker, two experimenters rudely pass between them carrying a door, the original worker switches places with another person wearing different colored clothing. Most don’t notice the switch.

Question 9

Circadian Rhythm

Answer 9

Occur on a 24-hour cycle and include sleep and wakefulness. Termed our biological clock, can be altered by artificial light.

Question 10

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

Answer 10

Triggered by light to decrease melatonin from the pineal gland in the morning and increase it at nightfall.

Question 11

Measuring Sleep

Answer 11

Every ~90 minutes we pass through a cycle of 5 stages which are identified by brain activity, eye movements and muscle tension.

Question 12

Awake But Relaxed

Answer 12

When eyes are closed, but still awake, brain activity slows down to large amplitude and slow/regular alpha waves.

Question 13

Non-REM Stage 1 (NREM-1)

Answer 13

Early/light sleep, irregular brain waves, hallucinations, near-waking, alpha waves become theta waves, muscles are active.

Question 14

Non-REM Stage 2 (NREM-2)

Answer 14

Theta waves, sleep spindles, harder to awaken, conscious awareness of the external environment disappears, 45-55% of total sleep in adults.

Question 15

Non-REM Stage 3 (NREM-3)

Answer 15

Deep sleep, slow delta waves, hard to awaken, night terrors and sleep walking can occur.

Question 16

Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REM)

Answer 16

Low-amplitude/fast/regular beta waves, like aroused state. Essentially paralyzed, cannot be easily awakened. When most dreams happen, 20-25% of sleep in adults, 80% for newborns.

Question 17

Sleep Cycle Order

Answer 17

1. NREM-1 > NREM-2 > NREM-3

2. NREM-1 > REM sleep.

Question 18

Purposes of Sleep

Answer 18

1. Protection: sleeping in darkness with predator threats around kept our ancestors safe.
2. Recuperation: sleep restores and repairs brain tissue.
3. Consolidation and Memories: sleep restores/rebuilds fading memories.
4. Feeds Creative Thinking
5. Growth Process: the pituitary gland releases growth hormone during sleep.

Question 19

Effects of Sleep Loss

Answer 19

1. Impaired concentration
2. Emotional Irritability
3. Depressed Immune System
4. Greater Vulnerability
5. Death

Question 20

Insomnia

Answer 20

Persistent inability to fall asleep/stay asleep.

Question 21

Narcolepsy

Answer 21

Overpowering urge to fall asleep that may occur while talking or standing up.

Question 22

Sleep Apnea

Answer 22

Failure to breathe when asleep.

Question 23

Fatal Familial Insomnia

Answer 23

An extremely rare disease that prevents a person from sleeping, resulting in death.

Question 24

Wish Fulfillment

Answer 24

Dream Theory that states dreams provide a “psychic safety valve” through which we express unacceptable feelings, and fulfill forbidden wishes.

Question 25

Information Processing

Answer 25

Dream theory that says dreams play a role in filing away memories (hippocampal place cells that fire as a rat learns a maze also fire during REM sleep).

Question 26

Physiological Function

Answer 26

Dream theory that states brain activity during REM sleep provides the brain with periodic stimulation, and especially in infants, this may help to establish neural pathways.

Question 27

Activation Synthesis

Answer 27

Dream theory that states dreaming is nothing more than the brain’s attempt to make sense of random neural activity that spread upward through the brain from the brainstem.

Question 28

Hypnosis Truths

Answer 28

1. 20% are highly hypnotizable, most are ‘open to suggestion.’
2. Hypnosis cannot enhance memory recall as we do not store every single memory.
3. Hypnotized people will not act against their will.
4. Hypnosis can relieve pain and Posthypnotic suggestions can help alleviate headache/asthma/stress-related skin disorders.

Question 29

Social Influence Theory of Hypnosis

Answer 29

Theory that hypnotic phenomena reflect workings of normal consciousness as well as the power of social influence. Hypnotees act like actors who are very immersed in their roles, the role of being a ‘good hypnotic subject.’

Question 30

Divided Consciousness Theory of Hypnosis

Answer 30

Hypnosis involves not only social influence but also a special dual-processing state of dissociation (split between different levels of consciousness).