State Of Consciousness Flashcards
Function of sleep
Rejuvenates.
Need more during periods of stress.
Helps to recover from stress.
We need approximately 8 hours.
Circadian rhythm
Internally generated periods of wakefulness and sleep associated with the Earth’s rotation.
Approximately 25 hours.
Functions of sleep (theory)
Restoration theory - body wears out during the day and sleep is necessary to put it back in shape
Adaptive theory - sleep emerged in evolution to preserve energy and protect during the time of day when there is little value and considerable danger
Deprivation (sleep)
Concentration and performance on normal tasks decreases.
Affects attention.
Impairs memory.
Deprivation (REM)
Learn more slowly. Forget rapidly. Essential to brain metabolism and body temperature regulation. Interferes with memory. REM rebound occurs.
Stages of sleep (before)
Relaxed, alpha waves, drowsy, hallucinations, jerks, sleep starts.
Stages of sleep (stage 1)
Lightest stage, theta waves, hallucinations, dream-like images, slow, rolling eye movements.
30-40 minutes.
Stages of sleep (stage 2)
Short bursts of rapid brain waves (sleep spindles).
Bursts of brain activity that reflect external stimulation (sounds) or internal stimuli (muscle tightness, etc.) - K complex.
Stages of sleep (stage 3)
Some theta but mostly delta waves - slow wave sleep.
Most parasomnias take place here.
REM sleep
Rapid brain waves Level of arousal is similar to waking state (paradoxical sleep) Difficult to awaken Dreams occur 80% of the time Heart rate and breathing increase Body becomes paralyzed Occurs every 90 minutes Body
Sleep cycle
Approximately 5 trips through the stages
Sleep becomes lighter as the night goes on
REM becomes longer as the night goes on
Deeper the sleep, the slower and lazier the brain waves
Typical night’s sleep (REM)
Rapid eye movement Increase as the night progresses Vivid dreams Nightmares Paralysis Essential part of sleep
Typical night’s sleep (NREM)
Decrease in length as the night progresses
Vague, partial images and stories
Night terrors (physical)
Sleep walking and talking
Brain during REM (limbic system)
Highly active - emotion and memory areas
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Brain during REM (neurotransmitters)
Reduced. Serotonin Norepinephrine Dopamine Most are connected to memory
Brain during REM (higher level processes are shut down)
Frontal lobe
Primary visual cortex
Dreams and nightmares (dreams)
Vague or detailed Most vivid during REM black and white or color Simple extensions of the activities and problems of the day Characters are usually people we know Approximately 5-40 minutes 25% or 2 hours a night is spent dreaming
Dreams and nightmares (nightmares)
Myths Products of REM sleep Spawned by traumatic events Suffer from anxiety, depression, ... 2 a year Linked to creativity in children
Night terrors
More severe than nightmares
Severe physiological arousal
Occurs during NREM in the first cycles of sleep
Memories of those dreams are not vivid
Dream theories
Freud/psychoanalytic theory.
Dream interpretation: reflect unconscious wishes and urges, dreams are symbolic of unconscious fantasize objects (particularly the genitals), dreams are about wish fulfillment.
“Protect sleep”: keeps disturbing, repressed images away.
Dream theory (activation synthesis - Hobson and McCarley)
Dreams reflect biological activity:
Acetylcholine and Pons activate the RAS which arouses us.
The pons fires random stimuli at the forebrain often to areas connected to memory, emotion, and movement.
Forebrain must interpret this random info.
Dream theories (other)
Dreams recognize the brain - replenish chemicals used up during the day.
Dreams are used to work out unsolved problems.
Dreams are ways of making sense of random stimulation.
Sleep disorders (narcolepsy)
Falling suddenly, irresistibly asleep
REM disorder
Sleep paralysis
Sleep disorders (sleep apnea)
Air passage is obstructed
Causes one to wake up 200-400 times a night
Causes - thick palate; anatomical, breathing centers of the brain
Sleep disorders (sleep walking/talking)
Tends to occur in stage 3
Can occur when random brain waves hit areas of the brain that control walking and talking
Genetic
Yawning
Hypothalamus is connected to yawning - neurotransmitters such as dopamine, excitatory, amino acids, nitric oxide and neuropeptides increase yawning
Hypnosis
Cooperative social interaction in which the participant responds to suggestions.
Hypnosis (effects)
Sensory and perceptual changes.
Pain control/reduction.
Post hypnotic suggestions.
Post hypnotic amnesia.
No hypermnesia - does not significantly enhance.
Pseudo memories possible
If combination with therapy, it can enhance the effectiveness of weight loss.
Hypnosis (myths)
Cannot be hypnotized against will
You will not do anything that is contrary to your morals/values
It will not give you new talents or enhance your physical capabilities
It DOES NOT help you to quit smoking
Views on hypnosis (unique state of consciousness)
Neo-dissociation theory - Hilgard: hypnotized person experiences 2 steams of consciousness
- ) responds to hypnotist’s suggestions
- ) operating and processing info that is unavailable to consciousness… Referred to as “hidden observer”
Hypnosis
Selective attention.
Ordinary social psych process: subjects respond to the social demands of the situation… Playing a role (spanos) [conformity, obedience, situational expectations, etc.]
Imaginative susceptibility: some subjects have the capacity to alter their experiences in a profound manner.
Hypnosis real?
“Real” and “role playing” participants do not act the same - disappearing hypnotist study
PET scans - different brain areas activated when “hypnotized” than when not
Meditation
A group of techniques that induce an altered state of focused attention and heightened awareness.
Meditation (effects)
Alpha waves - similar to when drowsy, but wakeful alertness Lowered physiological arousal Decrease in heart rate/blood pressure Relaxation Enhanced physical functioning Stress reduction
Psychoactive
Psychological effects like stimulation or distortion of perceptions
Substance abuse
Persistent use of a substance despite the fact that it is causing problems
Dependence
Behavioral or psychological components - loss of control over substrate
Tolerance (physical)
With regular usage - higher doses needed for similar effects
Withdrawal (physical)
“Abstinence syndrome”
Like alcohol.
