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PSY112 - Brain & Behaviour > Week 12 - Consciousness > Flashcards

Week 12 - Consciousness Flashcards

1
Q

What is Consciousness?

A

Our subjective experience of the world, our bodies and our mental perspectives

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2
Q

What are the two main functions of consciousness?

A

To monitor and to control

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3
Q

What does it mean to Monitor?

A

Monitoring yourself and the environment

- perception, thoughts, emotions, goals etc

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4
Q

What does it mean to Control?

A

To regulate thought and behaviour

- initiate or terminate behaviour to attain a goal

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5
Q

To be conscious, there needs to be a certain level of what?

A

Arousal

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6
Q

The Reticular Activating System (RAS) includes what?

A

midline nuclei in the upper brain stem (pons, medulla, midbrain and posterior hypothalamus)

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7
Q

What does the RAS do? (3)

A

Controls arousal
Projects to the thalamus and frontal regions
Alternate sleep and waking and control general level of brain and behaviour arousal

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8
Q

How long of our lives do we spend asleep?

A

1/3

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9
Q

What is the sleep/wake cycle governed by?

A

Circadian rhythms

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10
Q

What are Circadian Rhythms?

A

Biological clocks that evolved around the daily cycles of light and day.

Other circadian rhythms include temp and hormones

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11
Q

Electrical activity of the brain is detected by what?

A

Electrodes on the scalp

Provides information on general state of arousal

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12
Q

What are the 5 wavebands EEG signals are divided into?

A 
Delta (1-4)
Theta (5-7)
Alpha (8-12)
Beta (13-22)
Gamma (>30)
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13
Q

Advantage and disadvantage of EEG?

A

Has good temporal resolution (detect rapid changes in time) but poor spatial resolution (unclear where activity is occurring)

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14
Q

Normal waking is associated with what?

A 
Irregular pattern of EEG characterised by: 
Beta waves (13-22): higher mental activity
Alpha waves(8-12): calm wakefulness
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15
Q

Explain Stage 1 of sleep

A

A brief (5-10 minutes) with slower theta waves (4-7 cycles per second)

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16
Q

What 2 things occur during Stage 1? what do they mean?

A

Hypnagogic Imagery: Confused dream like images

Hypnic Myoclonia: Sense of falling/uncontrolled muscle contractions

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17
Q

Describe Stage 2 of sleep (3)

A

10-30 mins
EEG pattern is slightly slower
Muscles relax, heart rate slows, body temp decreases, eye movements cease

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18
Q

What are the 2 things that occur during Stage 2 of sleep, what do they mean?

A

Sleep Spindles: Bursts of low-amplitude activity

K Complexes: Occasional slow, high amplitude waves

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19
Q

What is Stage 3 sleep marked by?

A

20-50% slow delta waves (1-2Hz)

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20
Q

Stage 4 is marked by?

A

> 50% delta waves

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21
Q

Stage 3 & 4 of sleep occur for how long?

A

15-30 mins

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22
Q

How long does REM sleep last?

A

10-20 mins

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23
Q

What does REM sleep resemble?

A

The faster, waking brain pattern

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24
Q

What occurs in REM sleep? (3)

A

Eyes move rapidly back and forth
Autonomic activity increases
Muscles are turned off

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25
How long is a complete cycle of REM/non-REM sleep?
90 mins
26
How many times does the sleep/wake cycle occur in a night?
4-5 times
27
As the night progresses we spend less time in ... and more time in ...
Delta and more time in REM
28
What % of our sleep is in REM?
25%
29
What type of sleep is dreaming more common in?
REM
30
NREM dreams are? (4)
Shorter More thought like Repetitive Concerned with daily tasks
31
REM dreams are (3)
Emotional Illogical Prone to plot shifts
32
Dream content is often what (2) things?
Stimulation of everyday life | Negative themes
33
What is Lucid Dreaming? | What does it have features of?
Awareness of dreaming Often when something bizarre or unlikely happens Features of waking and REM sleep
34
What are the 4 theories associated with dreaming?
Psychodynamic Activation/Synthesis Forebrain Hypothesis Neurocognitive Perspective
35
Explain Freud's Psychodynamic Theory of Dreaming
Dreams are repressed wishes or unconscious desires of the ego Interpretation of dreams is based on working out the latent from the manifest content
36
Explain the Activation/Synthesis Theory of Dreaming
Dreams are the result of the forebrains attempt to make sense of the neural activity occurring in other parts of the brain during sleep.
37
What activates the Pons according to the AS theory?
Acetycholine
38
What brain area adds emotional content?
Amygdala
39
Explain why the Forebrain Hypothesis is important
Damage to the forebrain can stop dreaming which suggests an interaction between forebrain areas is important
40
Explain the Neurocognitive Perspective of dreaming
The complexity of dreaming mirrors cognitive development Dreams occur to process and solve problems, integrate previously learned and new information and help with memory consolidation
41
What is insomnia?
Inability to sleep/fall asleep/waking up early
42
Insomnia is higher among people with
Depression, pain, medical conditions, older age
43
What are the short-term causes of Insomnia?
Stress, medications, illness, shift work, jet lag
44
What is the most effective treatment of Insomnia?
Sleep hygiene eg sleeping in a cool room regular sleep/waking times
45
What is Narcolepsy?
Sleep attacks during the day despite good sleep at night
46
What is cataplexy?
Loss of muscle tone during strong emotions
47
People with Narcolepsy also tend to experience (3)
Cataplexy, hallucinations, temporary paralysis on waking
48
Narcolepsy is associated with a reduction in what?
The hormone orexin
49
What is Sleep Apnoea?
Interrupted breathing during sleep (2-20% of population experience)
50
What is Sleep Apnoea often due to? (2)
Fat build up | Loss of muscle tone which allows windpipe to collapse
51
What can Sleep Apnoea lead to? (4)
Fatigue Tiredness Health Problems Increased risk of death
52
When do Night Terrors occur in the sleep cycle?
Stages 3 and 4
53
When do nightmares occur?
REM sleep
54
Who mostly experiences night terrors? What occurs?
Children and they often appear awake and highly distressed with no recollection later
55
What can trigger sleepwalking?
Stress
56
Sleepwalking usually involves what type of behaviour?
Mundane/Normal
57
When does sleepwalking typically occur
Stages 3 and 4
58
What are some (3) effects of sleep deprivation?
Depression Hallucinations Weight gain
59
Sleep deprivation can magnify the effect of what substance?
Alcohol
60
What are Hallucinations?
Sensation experiences despite lack of environmental stimuli
61
What areas become activated during hallucinations (1)
Sensory areas
62
What are Out-of-Body experiences?
Sensations of the self leaving the body and sometimes travelling to other places (astral planing) or observing the body engaging in activity
63
OOBE can be induced by activation of what?
Of the temporal-parietal junction
64
What are Near Death Experiences?
Sensation of passing to another realm or having your life flash before your eyes
65
What are the scientific explanations for NDE traits? Sense of Peace Life flashing before eyes Tunnel/light/sounds
Sense of peace - flood of endorphins Life flashing before eyes - search memories for escape Tunnel/light/sounds - reduced oxygen supply to brain
66
NDE can be triggered by what?
Electrical stimulation of temporal lobe Lack of oxygen physchedelic and anaesthetic drugs
67
What is meditation?
Direct attempts to control attention and awareness
68
What is Concentrative Meditation?
Focus on object, breathing, mantra
69
What is Mindfulness Meditation?
Detached focus on thoughts, sensation, awareness | - increasingly used in mainstream therapy
70
There is evidence that regulation meditation does what (3)
increases happiness reduces hypertension reduces stress/anxiety
71
The Socio-Cognitive Theory (non-state theory) of hypnosis proposes that
Attitudes, beliefs and expectations about hypnosis and susceptibility to respond to waking imaginative suggestions shapes responses to hypnosis we are more likely to resist if told that it is possible - suggestibility increased if effects of hypnotism are promoted
72
The Dissociation Theory (state theory) of hypnosis proposes that
Occurs when a person is actually hypnotised and is therefore in a different, or altered, state of mind. Dissociation theory states that hypnosis causes a person to actively or voluntarily split their consciousness. Part of the mind is in an altered state but a hidden observer could appear due to susceptibility to suggestion/instruction
73
The Dissociated Control Theory of hypnosis states that
Hypnosis bypasses frontal control processes that govern behaviour
74
Hypnosis in a clinical practice is effective (with other things) in what areas?
Pain reduction | Habit disorders
75
What do Psychoactive Drugs do?
Induce changes in thinking, perception and behaviour by affecting neural activity in the brain
76
Drug action is affected by what 3 factors and how
Biochemical: Neurotransmitter released increases/decreases or is dysregulated Physiological: CNS is depressed or stimulated Social/Cultural: The expectations and beliefs regarding the effects of drugs
77
What is the Physical Dependence Theory?
Drug is taken to avoid negative withdrawal symptoms
78
What is the Psychological Dependence Theory?
Drug taken to obtain the positive feelings (positive-incentive)
79
Stimulants do what?
Increase activity of the CNS
80
What are the 4 types of stimulants?
Cocaine Meth Ecstasy Nicotine
81
Taking Cocaine results in (3) What does taking Cocaine do inside the body?
Euphoria, suppression of hunger and pain, increased mental activity Increases dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine
82
Taking Meth results in (3) May include? What does taking meth do inside the body?
Euphoria, decreased of hunger and pain, increased mental activity May include paranoia, depression, anxiety, hallucinations Increases dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine
83
Taking Ecstasy results in (3) What follows in the coming days? What does taking ecstasy do inside the body?
Sense of wellbeing, feeling close to others, increased tactile sensation Depression usually follows Increases serotonin (also dopamine, norepinephrine)
84
Taking Nicotine results in (2) What does nicotine do inside the body?
Sense of wellbeing and alertness Activates receptors associated with neurotransmitter acetycholine
85
Depressants do what?
Decrease activity of the CNS
86
2 types of depressants?
Alcohol | Sedatives
87
Alcohol in small amounts does what?
Increases well being and social interaction, but also reduces physiological functioning (eg co-ordination, alertness)
88
Alcohol has a large effect on what neurotransmitter
GABA
89
What do Opiates do?
Depress the CNS
90
Opiates give a sense of what (3) things? and increases/mimics what?
Euphoria, decreased pain and sleep endorphins
91
What do hallucinogens/psychedelics do?
Cause dramatic changes in perception, mood and thought
92
What are some types of hallucinogens/psychedelics
Cannabis LSD Magic Mushrooms
93
What are the acute effects of Cannabis? (3)
Sense of wellbeing, relaxation, changes perception
94
What does Cannabis do inside the body?
THC acts on cannabinoid receptors, mimicking the effects of endocannabinoids such as anandamide also increases dopamine
95
What does LSD cause? (3)
Synaethesia, hallucinations and sometimes panic, paranoid delusions
96
What does LSD act on inside the body?
Serotonin and dopamine

PSY112 - Brain & Behaviour (11 decks)

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