States of Consciousness

Question 1

Although consciousness isn’t easy to define, what is one way to explain it?

Answer 1

Our awareness of our environment

Question 2

Explain what an altered state of consciousness is?

Answer 2

A variation from our normal waking state (eg. on drugs)

Question 3

What are the three levels the psychodynamic view distinguishes?

Answer 3

Conscious (aware of our actions), Preconscious(unaware but we can recall), Unconscious (unaware but influence our behaviour)

Question 4

What is subliminal perception?

Answer 4

Something that is below our threshold to be considered in our consciousness

Question 5

Describe controlled processing vs automatic processing

Answer 5

Controlled processing takes more effort and is the effortful use of attention is more flexible for tasks while automatic processing takes no effort and is more simple but less flexible for tasks.

Question 6

Define divided attention

Answer 6

The simultaneous processing of info from multiple sources, often leads to lack of concentration for one task at hand (eg. multitasking)

Question 7

Describe the modular mind view

Answer 7

Our consciousness consists of the interactions of multiple outputs from modules.

Question 8

What is visual agnoisa?

Answer 8

An inability to attach meaning to what you see.

Question 9

What is simultagnosia?

Answer 9

An inability to focus on multiple things.

Question 10

Describe Circadian Rhythm

Answer 10

Daily cycles associated with various characteristics and physiological changes (eg. feeling less tired after you wake up over time)

Question 11

What is the Suprachiasmatic Nuclei and where is it located?

Answer 11

It regulates circadian rhythm and is located in the hypothalamus and is connected to the uses which uses light cues to adjust your daily cylce.

Question 12

What is the pineal gland?

Answer 12

A gland that secretes melatonin which promotes relaxation and sleepiness

Question 13

When do beta and alpha waves occur?

Answer 13

Beta waves occur when we are awake and alert while alpha waves occur when we are drowsy and near sleep.

Question 14

Stage one of sleeping

Answer 14

Slow waves, may experience body jerks

Question 15

Stage two of sleeping

Answer 15

Breathing and heart rate slowed, sudden jerks of neural activity (neural spindles)

Question 16

Stage 3/4 of sleeping

Answer 16

Delta waves (shorter waves) take over. Stage three and four together are known as slow wave sleep

Question 17

REM sleep

Answer 17

Involves eye movement and high arousal, area where most dreaming occurs, as well as sleep paralysis.

Question 18

Describe a REM rebound

Answer 18

As we experience less sleep, the relative time in REM sleep increases.

Question 19

Describe the three models that explain why we sleep

Answer 19

The restoration model states that sleep is important for recovering energy. The evolution/circadian model reference sleep as an adaptive mechanism (using it to avoid predators/ store energy). The two factor model draws on both models

Question 20

Describe insomnia

Answer 20

An inability to fall asleep or stay in sleep

Question 21

What stages does sleep walking occur?

Answer 21

Stage 3/4

Question 22

What is REM-Sleep Behavior Disorder?

Answer 22

When dreamers act out in their sleep and hurt others or themselves due to a lack of sleep paralysis.

Question 23

What is the difference between nightmares and night terrors?

Answer 23

Nightmares are more complex and illustrate a story while night terrors only focus on one action.

Question 24

How is our sleep affected as we age?

Answer 24

We have less REM sleep and sleep less in general

Question 25

When is dreaming more likely?

Answer 25

Closer to morning, which is when our brain is more active because of our circadian rhythm

Question 26

Describe the psychoanalytical theory

Answer 26

Dreams are a source of wish fulfillment and are split into manifest content (what’s happening in the dream) and latent content (what your mind is trying to tell you ie. the deeper meaning)

Question 27

Describe activation synthesis theory

Answer 27

Dreams are a by product of what is happening in the real world.

Question 28

How does the problem solving dream model explain why we dream?

Answer 28

Dreams are an attempt to work through inner conflicts.

Question 29

How does cognitive-process dream theories explain why we dream?

Answer 29

They suggest that dreams are an extension of our normal waking state

Question 30

What are psychoactive substances?

Answer 30

Substances that alter the chemistry of the brain by crossing the blood brain barrier

Question 31

Agonist

Answer 31

Increases activity of neurotransmitter

Question 32

Antagonist

Answer 32

Decrease activity of neurotransmitter

Question 33

Opiates

Answer 33

Bind to opioid receptors which bind to endorphins and activate a feeling of reward

Question 34

Amphetamines

Answer 34

Block reuptake and produce more dopamine and norepinephrine

Question 35

Antipsychotic

Answer 35

Antagonist which stops release of dopamine

Question 36

Naloxone

Answer 36

Neutralizes the effects of opioid receptors

Question 37

Describe tolerance

Answer 37

Gaining a decrease to a response to a drug overtime to a similar dose

Question 38

What is compensatory response?

Answer 38

Actions our body does to work against drugs

Question 39

What is withdrawal?

Answer 39

Having strong physiological reactions that are opposite to those associated with a drug

Question 40

Physiologically addicting vs Psychologically addicting

Answer 40

Physiologically addicting can cause withdrawal while psychologically can’t

Question 41

What causes weaker compensatory responses and what can this lead to?

Answer 41

A change in environment can cause this and this can lead to an overdose with a dose which you may have had tolerance for in a different environment