Unit 3: Area of Study 1- Mind, Brain and Body

Question 1

Normal/Ordinary Waking Consciousness (NWC)

Answer 1

The state of consciousness associated with being awake and aware of our thoughts, memories, feelings, perceptions and sensations we are experiencing from internal events and the surrounding environment.

Question 2

Altered State of Consciousness (ASC)

Answer 2

A state of consciousness other than normal/ordinary waking consciousness that is characterised by perceptual and cognitive distortions, disturbed sense of time, heightened or suppressed emotions, increased or decreased psychological changes and changes in self control.

Question 3

Consciousness

Answer 3

*A psychological construct

Question 4

Attention

Answer 4

A concentration of mental activity that involves focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring other stimuli.

Question 5

Selective attention

Answer 5

Choosing and attending to a specific stimulus to the exclusion of others especially when the activity requires a great deal of mental effort; a controlled process

Question 6

Divided attention

Answer 6

The ability/our capacity to distribute attention and undertake two or more activities simultaneously; generally only possible if the tasks can be performed with very little mental effort; an automatic process

Question 7

Controlled process

Answer 7

Processes that require mental effort and conscious alert awareness to focus attention on the required task

Question 8

Automatic process

Answer 8

Processes that require little mental effort and conscious awareness, minimal attention and does not interfere with the performance of other activities.

Question 9

Characteristics associated with altered state of consciousness

Answer 9

• Distortion of:
• Perceptions
• Time
• Cognition
• Less emotional awareness
• Lower content limitations
• Lower levels of self control

Question 10

Daydreaming

Answer 10

*An altered state of consciousness

in which attention shifts from external stimuli to internal thoughts, feelings and imagined scenarios

Question 11

Characteristics of alcohol induced state

Answer 11

• Shortened attention span
• Impaired perceptions (time, distance)
• Impaired memory
• Slower reaction times
• Reduced self awareness
• Difficulties with muscular control