Unit 4 AOS 1 Flashcards
What is NWC?
- Awareness of thoughts, feelings and behaviours
- Including internal and external events
What is ASC?
- Any state characteristically different from NWC
- In terms of awareness, thoughts, feelings and behaviours
What is consciousness?
- Awareness of our own thoughts, feelings and perceptions at any given time
What is a psychological construct?
- Used to understand/explain things that we believe exist but cannot see, touch or measure
What is the stream of consciousness?
- Continuous
- Ever changing
- Personal experience
- Selective
- Active
Continuum of Awareness
- Total awareness
- Focused attention
- Ordinary wakefulness
- Day dreaming
- Meditation
- Hypnosis
- Sleep
- Anaesthetised
- Coma
- Total lack of awareness
What is an EEG?
- Device that detects, amplifies and records electrical activity in the brain
- In the form of brain waves
What is an EOG?
- Device that detects, amplifies and records electrical activity in the muscles that allow the eye to move
What is an EMG?
- Device commonly used to measure the stages of sleep
- H/R
- Body temperature
- Galvanic skin response
Behavioural/cognitive measures of consciousness
- Speed and accuracy on tasks such as thinking, problem solving
- Changes in state of consciousness
Subjective reporting to measure consciousness
- Self reporting
- Video monitoring
What is self reporting?
- Statements and answers to questions made by participants
- Concerning psychological experiences
What is video monitoring?
- Can provide an insight into how we behave in different states of consciousness
Advantages/disadvantages of subjective reporting
- Gives insight into actual thoughts
- Open to interpretation
NWC vs ASC: Levels of awareness
NWC:
- Awake and aware of external events
ASC:
- Can either increase or decrease
NWC vs ASC: Controlled/automatic processes
NWC:
- Can perform controlled/automatic processes within normal limits
ASC:
- Difficult to carry out controlled processes
- Automatic processes can be impaired
NWC vs ASC: Content limitations
NWC:
- Limited compared to ASC
- Realistic info is within our conscious control
ASC:
- May increase/decrease content of thoughts
- Dreams may be broader
NWC vs ASC: Perceptual and cognitive distortions
NWC:
- Perceptions are realistic and normal
- Effective control of memory/thought process
NWC vs ASC: Emotional awareness
NWC:
- Greater awareness and control of emotions
ASC:
- Could be less emotional/more emotional
e.g. affectionate/aggressive
NWC vs ASC: Self control
NWC:
- More control over actions/movements
ASC:
- Less control over actions/movements
NWC vs ASC: Time orientation
NWC:
- Clear sense of time, past, present, future
ASC:
- Disturbed sense of tie; sped up, slowed down
Characteristics of beta brainwaves
- High frequency
- Low amplitude
- Awake and alert
Characteristics of alpha brainwaves
- Slightly lower frequency
- Higher amplitude
- Relaxed
Characteristics of theta brainwaves
- Medium frequency
- High/low amplitude
- Early stage of sleep
Characteristics of delta brainwaves
- Low frequency
- High amplitude
- Deep sleep
Brainwaves as a result of stimulants
- Beta
- Gamma
Brainwaves as a result of depressants
- Alpha
Affective effects total sleep deprivation
- Mood changes
- Irritability
- Lack of motivation
Behavioural effects of total sleep deprivation
- Slower reactions
- Clumsiness
- Risk taking
Cognitive effects of total sleep deprivation
- Lack of concentration
- Illogical thoughts
- Poor decision making
What is a circadian rhythm?
- Physical, mental and behavioural patterns that follow a 24 hour cycle
- Largely related to light/dark cycles
What is an ultradian rhythm?
- Recurrent cycle that is repeated in a 24 hour cycle
e. g. REM/NREM
What is NREM stage 1?
- Lasts 5/10 mins
- Hypnogogic jerk may occur
What is NREM stage 2?
- Truly asleep
- Everything continues slow
- Lasts 10/15 mins
- Sleep spindles may occur
What is NREM stage 3?
- Deeper sleep
- Body function slowing
- Lasts 20/25 mins
- Start of slow/wake sleep
- Difficult to wake
What is NREM stage 4?
- Deepest sleep
- Hard to wake
- No eye movement
- Lasts 20/25 mins
- Sleep walking may occur/sleep talking
What is REM sleep?
- Lighter sleep than stage 3/4 NREM
- Necessary for replenishment of brain
Sleep by age: Babies
- 16 hours per day
- 50% REM/50% NREM
Sleep by age: Teenagers
- Need 9/10 hours per day
- 20% REM/80% NREM
Sleep by age: Adults
- Require approx. 8 hours sleep
Sleep by age: Elderly
- Need only 5/7 hours
- 15% REM
- 85% NREM
Purpose and function of Evolutionary Theory
- Sleep is an evolutionary response
- Adapts based on demands of how much food we need, our energy requirements and our safety when we sleep
Purpose and function of Restoration Theory
- Sleep replenishes our bodies and allows us to recharge depleted energy resources
Supporting theory of Restorative Theory
- Sleep activates growth and increase immunity
Criticisms against Restorative Theory
- People who are bed-ridden still experience same proportions of NREM sleep
- Brain is active when replenishing
Supporting theory of Evolutionary theory
- Sleep conserves energy therefore hibernation is important when food is scarce
Criticisms against Evolutionary theory
- While asleep animals are vulnerable to predators
- Doesn’t explain why we must have so much sleep
Characteristics of a sleep-wake cycle
- Our bodies are tuned into a 24 hour sleep-wake cycle which is a regular circadian rhythm
- Determined by our hypothalamus (internal body clock)
Circadian phase disorders
- Refers to a sleep disruption as a result of the internal circadian rhythm
- Characterised by the inability to fall asleep or remain asleep
- Caused by lifestyle, genetics, shift work
- Can result in insomnia or social/occupational functioning
Adolescence sleep wake cycle
- During adolescents sleep/wake pattern shifts toward evening
- Melatonin production can be delayed for up to 2 hours
- Melatonin release is controlled by circadian rhythms/can be affected by light
What is a dysomnia?
- A problem getting to sleep or staying asleep, or excessive sleepiness
What is a parasomnia?
- Sleep disorders that involve abnormal movement
- Emotions
- Perceptions
- Behaviours
- Dreams
- While asleep
- Between stages or falling or waking from sleep
Causes of insomnia
- Emotional or social disturbances (death in the family, upcoming major event)
- Medical problems
- Excessive use of drugs and alcohol that disrupt sleep-wake cycle
Cognitive behavioural therapy in treating insomnia
- Refers to replacing unwanted thoughts with more desirable ones
- Includes use of meditation, relaxation and visual imagery
Parasomnia: sleep-walking
- Involves walking while asleep or performing usual routine activities
- Occur more in children or adults in high times of stress
- Occurs in stage 3/4 NREM
What is CBT-I?
- CBT for insomnia
- Assumes behaviours and cogntions influence sleep patterns
- Aims to change
