Sac 3 - Conciousness Flashcards
What is consciousness?
The awareness of our thoughts, feelings and our environment at any moment in time. This includes being personal, selective, continuous and changing.
Normal waking consciousness (NWC)
A state of clear, organised alertness to internal and external stimuli. This state of consciousness is at the high end of the continuum and we spend most of our lives in it (2 thirds).
Normal waking consciousness psychological characteristics
- Moderate to high levels of awareness
- Good memory and cognitive abilities
- Focused attention on specific tasks
- An accurate perception of reality
- Appropriate emotions
- A degree of self-control
- An accurate perception of time and sensations
Altered states of consciousness (ASC)
Any state characteristically different from NWC in terms of awareness, thoughts, feelings and behaviours. We spend about a third of our day in ASC.
Altered states of consciousness characteristics (opposite of NWC)
- Low levels of awareness
- Memory difficulties and reduced cognitive abilities
- Difficulty paying attention to specific tasks
- Distorted perception of reality, such as delusions
- Inappropriate or uncharacteristic emotions
- A lack of self-control
- Difficulty in accurately perceiving time and sensations
Naturally occuring ASCs
Involves physiological and psychological changes that occur automatically and are produced spontaneously beyond our conscious control. Includes sleep, dreaming, daydreaming and even psychosis.
Induced ASCs
Involves physiological and psychological changes that have been intentionally produced. Eg- Taking drugs
Consciousness continuum (High-Low)
NWC:
- Total awareness
- Selective attention
- Controlled processes
- Divided attention
- Automatic processes
ASC:
- Daydreaming
- Meditation
- Hypnosis
- Light sleep
- Deep sleep
- Anaesthesia
- Coma
- Complete lack of awareness
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
Device used by researchers to detect, amplify and record the brain’s electrical activity measured in the form of brainwaves.
Frequency
Refers to the number of brainwaves per second.
Amplitude
Measured by the size of the peaks and troughs in brain activity.
Types of brainwaves
- Beta
- Alpha
- Theta
- Delta
Electrooculograph (EOG)
Device used by researchers to detect, amplify and record the electrical activity of the muscles surrounding the eyes as they move or rotate in their sockets. REM - high as eyes move rapidly. NREM- low as eyes have little to no movement.
Electromyograph (EMG)
Device used by researchers to detect, amplify and record the electrical activity created by active, skeletal muscles on a continuously moving chart paper.
Sleep diaries
A log of subjective, behavioural and psychological experiences surrounding a persons sleep.
Video monitoring
Used to record and analyse any observable disturbances in their sleep.
Psychometric vigilance test (PVT)
A common way to measure speed and accuracy on cognitive tasks when a person is in an ASC is throught the use of PTV and is the most widely used test to measure behavioural alertness.
Controlled processes
Actions that require a high level of conscious awareness, attention and mental effort.
Selective attention
Attending to a particular stimulus while ignoring others; it requires a high level of awareness.
Awareness
During NWC, you have a high level of awareness of internal and external stimuli. However, during an ASC, awareness is greatly reduced.
Automatic processes
Actions that require little conscious mental effort or awareness, and do not interfere with performance on other activities.
Divided attention
When an individual stimultaneously focuses on two or more stimuli, or simultaneously undertakes two or more tasks.
Differences in NWC and ASC (Awareness)
NWC: high awareness of internal and external environments, able to complete controlled and automatic processes
ASC: low, limited ability
Differences in NWC and ASC (Attention)
NWC: selective attention on specific stimuli, able to divide attention between two tasks
ASC: low levels of ability to attend stimuli
Differences in NWC and ASC (Content limitations)
NWC: able to control thoughts, able to process many different pieces of info at the same time
ASC: unable to block unacceptance, amount of info processed is limited
Differences in NWC and ASC (Sensations and perception)
NWC: able to accurately perceive the world, experience sensations that are real
ASC: experience distorted perceptions, reduces or heightens the experience of pain
Differences in NWC and ASC (Cognition)
NWC: able to think logically and clearly, able to memorise and recall information accurately
ASC: experience illogical thoughts, unable to remember info accurately
Differences in NWC and ASC (Emotions)
NWC: experience emotions that are appropriate
ASC: emotions not appropriately expressed
Differences in NWC and ASC (Self-control)
NWC: able to coordinate a sequence of movements
ASC: unable, loss of inhibitions
Differences in NWC and ASC (Perception of time)
NWC: able to fairly accurately perceive the amount of time that has passed
ASC: unable
Drug-induced ASCs (Psychoactive drugs)
Any class of drug that alters the brain’s chemistry and subsequently changes a person’s perceptions, thoughts and behaviours. Affective at altering consciousness because they cross the blood-brain barrier.
Stimulants
A group of drugs that elevate mood, increase alertness and reduce fatigue. Includes caffeine, nicotine, cocaine and amphetamines/methamphetamines.
Depressants
A class of drug that calms neural activity and slows down bodily functions. Includes alcohol, cannabis, opioids and benzodiazepines/barbiturates.
Sleep deprivation
Going without or not getting sufficient amounts of sleep.
Partial sleep deprivation
When a person does not get the recommended hours of sleep per night for their age group.
Total sleep deprivation
When a person goes without sleep all together