U4: Biological Bases: Consciousness

Question 1

consciousness

Answer 1

the awareness of ourselves, our internal states, and the environment

Question 2

alertness

Answer 2

state of consciousness, involve remaining attentive to surroundings

Question 3

reticular formation

Answer 3

controls alertness and arousal, as well as the sleep cycle

Question 4

unconscious level

Answer 4

level that refers to automatic processes, like breathing or beating of the heart

Question 5

preconscious level

Answer 5

contains information that is available to consciousness but is not always in consciousness, can be retrieved when needed (i.e. directions to a frequently visited place or automatic behaviors)

Question 6

controlled processing

Answer 6

awareness of what you’re doing

Question 7

automatic processing

Answer 7

performing tasks mechanically

Question 8

sleep

Answer 8

altered state of consciousness, believed to be necessary for restoration

Question 9

circadian rhythm

Answer 9

24 hour pattern of the body; body temp rises in the morning and cools at night; flow of alertness throughout the day

Question 10

pineal gland

Answer 10

region responsible for production of melatonin

Question 11

free-running rhythm

Answer 11

the 25 hour pattern our bodies would follow if all time cues were removed

Question 12

EEG

Answer 12

used to measure brain waves, provides a picture of the electrical activity of the brain

Question 13

beta waves

Answer 13

when we are awake and focused

Question 14

alpha waves

Answer 14

when we are still awake but more relaxed

Question 15

theta waves

Answer 15

when we drift to sleep

Question 16

sleep spindles

Answer 16

a pattern of waves that appear in stage 2 of sleep; sometimes are broken up by K complexes, which are large slow waves; skeletal muscles relax

Question 17

delta waves

Answer 17

in sleep stages three and four

Question 18

REM

Answer 18

eyes move rigorously, dreaming, theta and beta waves, suppressed skeletal muscles tone (aka paradoxical sleep)

Question 19

sleep cycle

Answer 19

• approx 90 min
• stage 1 –> stage 2 —> stage 3/4 —> REM
• as sleep progresses, stages 3 and 4 diminish and eventually disappear, and REM sleep gets longer

Question 20

William Dement

Answer 20

• studied the effects of deprivation of REM sleep
• REM rebound: when REM sleep is limited, the period of sleep following the lack of REM sleep will be characterized with increased REM periods

Question 21

manifest content

Answer 21

• psychoanalytical theory

- the storyline or imagery of the dream offers insight into the unconscious process

Question 22

latent content

Answer 22

• psychoanalytical theory

- the emotional significance and underlying meaning of the dream

Question 23

activation-synthesis hypothesis of dreaming

Answer 23

dreams are the product of our awareness of neural activity due to sensory input while we are sleep (i.e. if it’s raining you may dream of a waterfall)

Question 24

problem-solving theory of dreaming

Answer 24

dreams provide a change for the mind to work out issues that occupy its attention during waking hours

Question 25

nightmare

Answer 25

an elaborate dream sequence that produces a high level of anxiety or fear; generally occur during REM sleep

Question 26

dyssomnias

Answer 26

abnormalities in the amount, quality, or timing of sleep | includes insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea

Question 27

insomnia

Answer 27

inability to fall asleep or to maintain sleep | can be caused by chronic stress, use of alcohol or stimulants

Question 28

narcolepsy

Answer 28

inability to stay awake

Question 29

sleep apnea

Answer 29

repeated stopping of breathing, resulting in awakening after a minute or so without air

Question 30

parasomnias

Answer 30

abnormalities of movement during deep sleep | include sleep walking/somnambulism and night terrors

Question 31

sleepwalking

Answer 31

occurs when an individual walks around and sometimes talks while sleeping in stage 3 or 4

Question 32

night terrors

Answer 32

screaming, crying, jerking/lunging movements while asleep

Question 33

hypnosis

Answer 33

altered state of consciousness where the person is very relaxed and open to suggestion

Question 34

dependence

Answer 34

(addiction) occurs when an individual continues using a drug despite overarching negative consequences in order to avoid unpleasant physical and/or psychological feelings associated with not taking it

Question 35

tolerance

Answer 35

when increasingly larger doses are needed in order for the same effect to occur; it's possible to develop a tolerance without being dependent

Question 36

withdrawal

Answer 36

the process of weaning off a drug one is dependent on; involves physical and psychological symptoms that are unpleasant

Question 37

alcohol

Answer 37

- depressant - decreases dopamine levels - effects: dizziness, slurred speech, impaired judgment

Question 38

barbiturates

Answer 38

- depressant - inhibit neural arousal centers - effects: decrease anxiety - very addictive when mixed with other drugs

Question 39

tranquilizers

Answer 39

- depressant - inhibit neural arousal centers - effects: reduce anxiety without inducing sleep

Question 40

caffeine

Answer 40

- stimulant - accelerates heart rate, constricts blood vessels, reduces levels of adenosine (regulator of norepinephrine) - effect: can lead to irritability, anxiety, insomnia

Question 41

amphetamines

Answer 41

- stimulant - increase temperature and heart rate, and increase production of dopamine and norepinephrine - addictive, produces feelings of euphoria, high dose can lead to motor disfunction

Question 42

cocaine

Answer 42

- stimulant - stimulates heart rate and blood pressure; increases dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine - effect: feeling of increased mental and social ability, addictive

Question 43

nicotine

Answer 43

- stimulant - stimulates acetylcholine transmission - effects: depressant behavioral effects like decreased appetite and increased heart rate, sometimes can cause euphoria and dizziness

Question 44

narcotics

Answer 44

- depressant - activate receptors for endogenous endorphins - effect: relaxation and euphoria; may cause impaired cognitive ability, sweating, nausea, and respiratory depression addictive

Question 45

hallucinogens

Answer 45

- LCD and marijuana - distort sensory perceptions - may increase serotonin levels - hallucinations, paranoia, etc.