States of Consciousness Flashcards
Consciousness
The process by which the brain creates a model of internal and external experience.
How is consciousness related to other mental processes?
Consciousness can take many forms, while other mental processes occur simultaneously outside our awareness.
Cognitive neuroscience
An interdisciplinary field involving cognitive psychology, neurology, biology, computer science, linguistics, and specialists from other fields who are interested in the connection between mental process and the brain.
Levels of consciousness
Simultaneous layers of awareness of the world around us
- conscious
- nonconscious
- preconscious
- subconscious
- unconscious
Conscious level
Information about self and environment that you are currently aware of
Focusing on these words and their meanings
Nonconscious level
Body processes controlled by the mind that we are not usually aware of
Heartbeat, respiration, digestion
Nonconscious processes
Any brain process that does not involve conscious processing, including both preconscious memories and unconscious processes.
Unconscious level
Psychoanalytic psychologists believe some events and feelings are unacceptable to our conscious mind and are repressed into the unconscious mind
Subconscious level
Information that we are not aware of but know must exist due to behavior
-Priming, mere-exposure effect
Tools for studying consciousness
- Mental rotation tasks
- zooming in tasks
Preconscious memories
Information that is not currently in consciousness but can be recalled to consciousness voluntarily or after something calls attention to them
Unconscious
In Classic Freudian theory, a part of the mind that houses memories, desires, and feelings that would be threatening if brought to consciousness. Many modern cognitive psychologists view the unconscious in less sinister terms, merely as a collection of mental processes that operate outside of awareness– but not typically suppressing information or working at odds with consciousness.
What cycles occur in everyday consciousness?
Consciousness changes in cycles that correspond to our biological rhythms and to the patterns of stimulation in our environment.
Daydreaming
A common (and quite normal) variation of consciousness in which attention shifts to memories, expectations, desires, or fantasies and away from the immediate situation.
Circadian rhythms
Physiological patterns that repeat approximately every 24 hours, such as the sleep-wakefulness cycle.
Sleep
An altered state in which people become relatively unaware of external stimulation.
Sleep cycles
Typical patten of sleep
Sleep stages
Brain waves and level of awareness change as we cycle through the stages
Sleep onset, 1, 2, 3, 4, REM
REM sleep
A stage of sleep that occurs approximately every 90 minutes, marked by bursts of rapid eye movement occurring under closed eyelids. REM sleep periods are associated with dreaming.
Non-REM (NREM) sleep
The recurring periods, mainly associated with the deeper stages of sleep, when a sleeper is not showing rapid eye movements.
Sleep paralysis
A condition in which a sleeper is unable to move any of the voluntary muscles, except those controlling the eyes. Sleep paralysis normally occurs during REM sleep.
REM rebound
A condition of increased REM sleep caused by REM-sleep deprivation.
Sleep debt
A sleep deficiency caused by not getting the amount of sleep that one requires for optimal functioning.
Manifest content
The story line of a dream, taken at face value without interpretation.
Activation-synthesis theory
The theory that dreams begin with random electrical activation coming from the brain stem. Dreams, then, are the brain’s attempt to make sense of - to synthesize - this random activity.
-biological perspective
Sleep disorders
Periods of disruption in the sleep pattern
Insomnia
The most common of sleep disorders – involving insufficient sleep, the inability to fall asleep quickly, frequent arousals, or early awakenings.
How much sleep do the elderly need?
6 hours
Go to bed later, wake up earlier
World record for staying awake
11 days
Effects of missed sleep on body
Immune system weakens
Metabolic malfunction
Varied body temperature
Effects of missed sleep on brain
Moodiness Decreased cognitive performance Blurred vision Disorganized speech Hallucinations
Night terrors
Deep sleep episodes that seem to produce terror, although any terrifying mental experience (such as a dream) is usually forgotten upon awakening. Night terrors occur mainly in children.
How much sleep do infants need?
20 hours, 50% REM
How much sleep do children and adolescents need?
10 hours, 25-30% REM
Go to bed later, wake up later
How much sleep do adults need?
8 hours, 20% or less REM
Latent content
The symbolic meaning of objects and events in a dream. Latent content is usually an interpretation based on Freud’s psychoanalytic theory or one of its variants. The latent content of a dream involving clocks might involve fear of the menstrual cycle and, hence, of one’s sexuality.
Cataplexy
Sudden loss of muscle control
What other forms can consciousness take?
An altered state of consciousness occurs when some aspect of normal consciousness is modified by mental, behavioral, or chemical means.
Hypnosis
An induced state of awareness, usually characterized by heightened suggestibility, deep relaxation, and highly focused attention.
Sleep apnea
A respiratory disorder in which the person intermittently stops breathing many times while asleep
Dreams as Problem Solving
- dreams reflect emotional preoccupations of waking life
- images in a dream are sometimes symbols for things in everyday life
- no latent meaning (only manifest)
Mental Housekeeping Theory
- during sleep, the brain shuts out sensory input so it can process what was stored in memory during the day
- dreams are brief glimpses of the brain’s sorting, scanning, and searching through memories
- no meaning
Narcolepsy
A disorder of REM sleep, involving sleep-onset REM periods and suddenly daytime REM-sleep attacks usually accompanied by cataplexy.
Evolutionary theory of sleep
Protective function, keeps people safe at night
Recuperative theory of sleep
Conserves energy, restores body tissues depleted during daily activity
Freud’s Wish-Fulfillment Theory
- dreams are attempt to satisfy sexual/aggressive impulses we cannot satisfy while awake
- two layers: manifest and latent
- psychodynamic perspective
Psychoactive drugs
Chemicals that affect mental processes and behavior by their effects on the brain.
Morphine drug type
Opiate
Good analgesic
Meditation
A state of consciousness often induced by focusing on a repetitive behavior, assuming certain body positions, and minimizing external stimulation. Meditation may be intended to enhance self-knowledge, well-being, and spirituality.
Codeine drug type
Opiate
Good analgesic
Methadone drug type
Opiate
Doesn’t produce the same rush as heroin because taken orally
Substitute for heroin in drug treatment
Heroin drug type
Opiate
Highly addictive, but does not impair cognition
Psilocybin drug type
Hallucinogen
Made from mushroom
LSD drug type
Hallucinogen
Synthetic
Mescaline drug type
Hallucinogen
Made from cactus
cannabis drug type
Hallucinogen
Made from hemp leaves/flowers/resin —> THC
varying effect based on dose
Barbiturate drug type
Depressant
Prescribed for sedation
Easy to overdose
PCP drug type
Hallucinogen
Synthetic
Alcohol drug type
Depressant
Loosens inhibitions
Addiction begins with binge drinking
Rohypnol drug type
Depressant
Date-rape
Combines terribly with alcohol
Benzodiazepine drug type
Depressant
Antianxiety drug
Valium/Xanax
Can be abused –> people don’t because of the side effects
Methamphetamine drug type
Stimulant
Powerful variant of amphetamine
Cocaine drug type
Stimulant
Very rewarding and addictive
Amphetamine drug type
Stimulant
“Speed”
Comparable to cocaine
Caffeine drug type
Stimulant
Tricks reward pathways
Minor negative effects
High dosages produce anxiety
MDMA (ecstasy) drug type
Stimulant
Euphoria, energy to dance for hours
Leads to dehydration, convulsions
Opiates
Highly addictive drugs, derived from opium, that can produce a profound sense of well-being and have strong pain-reliving properties
Nicotine drug type
Stimulant
Highly addictive
Kills 350,000 people a year
Depressants
Drugs that slow down mental and physical activity by inhibiting transmission of nerve impulses in the central nervous system.
Hallucinogens
Drugs that create hallucinations or alter perceptions of the external environment and inner awareness.
Tolerance
The reduced effectiveness a drug has after repeated use
Physical dependence
A process by which the body adjusts to, and comes to need, a drug for its everyday functioning
Stimulants
Drugs that arouse the central nervous system, speeding up mental and physical responses
Withdrawal
A pattern of uncomfortable or painful physical symptoms and cravings experienced by the user when the level of drug is decreased or the drug is eliminated.
Psychological dependence
A desire to obtain or use a drug, even though there is no physical dependence
Addiction
A condition in which a person continues to use a drug despite its adverse effects – often despite repeated attempts to discontinue using the drug. Addiction may be based in physical or psychological dependence.
Parallel search
Same time
Serial search
One at a time
Attention processes
Parallel search, serial search, selective attention
Somnambulism
Sleepwalking
Occurs during first few hours of sleeping and in stage 4
Lucid dreaming
State of consciousness where you know you’re dreaming
Occurs during any REM period
Selective attention
Stimulus capture
Goal driven
Dreams
The series of storylike images we experience as we sleep
Posthypnotic amnesia
When people report forgetting events that occurred while they were hypnotized
Posthypnotic suggestions
Suggestion that a hypnotized person behave in a certain way after he or she is brought out of hypnosis
Role theory of hypnosis
-Hypnosis is not an alternate state of consciousness
-people with high hypnotic suggestibility also have richer imaginations, follow directions well, and are able to focus intensely
-hypnotism = social phenomenon
Where people act out the expected role
State theory of hypnosis
Hypnotism meets some parts of the definition for an altered state of consciousness
- we change awareness
- some dramatic health benefits
Dissociation theory of hypnosis
- division of consciousness
- 1: responds to suggestions
2: retains awareness of reality
Agonists
Drugs that mimic neurotransmitters
-fit into receptor sites and function as neurotransmitter normally would
Antagonists
Drugs that block neurotransmitters
-fit into receptor sites, but prevent natural receptors from using it
William James
Author of the first psychology textbook
Sigmund Freud
Dream interpretation
- method to uncover repressed information in unconscious mind
- protected sleep: ego protects us from material in unconscious mind
Ernest Hilgard
Dissociation theory of hypnosis
- division of consciousness
- experiment with ice water bath and lifting index finger if they could feel the pain
- Hidden observer
Dualism
The belief that thought is a nonmaterial aspect that arises from, and is independent of, a brain.
Thought gives humans free will
Monism
The belief that everything is the same substance
Thought is a byproduct of brain processes and stops existing when the brain dies
Mere-exposure effect
We prefer stimuli we have seen before over novel stimuli, even if we do not consciously remember seeing the old stimuli
Priming
Research participants respond more quickly and/or accurately to questions they have seen before, even if they do not remember seeing them
Blind sight
Some people who report being blind can nonetheless accurately describe the path of a moving object or accurately grasp objects
Preconscious level
Information about self and environment that you are not currently thinking about, but could be
Memory recall
Sleep onset
Period when we are falling asleep
Stage between wakefulness and sleep
Stage 1 sleep
Brain produces theta waves
-waves get progressively slower and higher in amplitude
Stage 2 sleep
Brain produces theta waves
-sleep spindles start
Stage 3 & 4 sleep
Delta sleep
- the slower the wave, the deeper the sleep
- very difficult to wake
- increases with exercise
- replenishes body’s chemical supplies & fortifies immune system
Blood-brain barrier
Brain is protected from harmful chemicals in bloodstream by thicker walls surrounding the brain’s blood vessels
-psychoactive drug molecules are small enough to pass through
Reverse tolerance
If an individual ingests hallucinogen again during the persistence time period, the new dose of the chemical is added to the lingering amount
-second dose of smaller amount may cause same or greater effects
