Chapter 5 States of Consciousness

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Chapter 5States of Consciousness

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

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Consciousness Sleep and Dreams Psychoactive Drugs Hypnosis Meditation

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The Nature of Consciousness

What is consciousness?…awareness of external events and internal sensations

which occurs under conditions of arousal

Awareness prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate and association areas global brain workspace

Arousal reticular activating system ways that awareness is regulated: alert v. relaxed/drowsy

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Levels of Awareness

Higher-Level Consciousness

controlled processing

actively focus efforts toward a goal

requires attention

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Levels of Awareness

Lower-Level Consciousness

Automatic processes require little attention/conscious effort

do not interfere with other ongoing activities

Daydreaming wandering thoughts fantasy, imagination, rumination potentially useful (reminding, solving)

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Levels of Awareness

Altered States of Consciousness

drug states fatigue, illness, trauma, deprivation meditation, hypnosis mental disorders

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Levels of Awareness

Subconscious Awareness incubation parallel processing

Sleep and Dreams low levels of consciousness of outside world

No Awareness unconscious (censored) thought--Freud non-conscious processes

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Theory of Mind

Theory of Mind – knowledge that people think and have private experiences

False Belief Task – social competence

Theory of Mind Module – TOMM

Individuals with autism – lack TOMM

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Biological Rhythms

Periodic Physiological Fluctuations

controlled by biological clocks

annual or seasonal

24-hour cycles – circadian rhythms monitored by suprachlasmatic nucleus

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Biological Clocks

Desynchronizing the Clock jet lag shift-work problems insomnia

Resetting the Clock bright light melatonin

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Why Do We Need Sleep?

Adaptive Evolutionary Function safety energy conservation/ efficiency

Restorative Function body rejuvenation & growth

Brain Plasticity enhances synaptic connections memory consolidation

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Sleep Deprivation

Chronic sleep deprivation results in… decreased alertness and cognitive performance inability to sustain attention less complex brain activity adverse effects on decision making

Why are Americans sleep deprived?

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Stages of Sleep

EEG measures electrical activity in the brain – identifies stages of wakefulness and sleep.

Wakefulness beta waves (alert)

high frequency and low amplitude desynchronous

alpha waves (relaxed) increase in amplitude synchronous

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Sleep Stages - EEG Patterns

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Light Sleep: Stages 1-2

Stage 1 theta waves slower frequency and greater amplitude

Stage 2 theta waves sudden increase in wave frequency sleep spindles

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Deep Sleep: Stages 3-4

Stage 3 < 50% delta waves slowest frequency and highest amplitude

Stage 4 > 50% delta waves difficult to wake sleepers

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REM Sleep

Rapid-Eye-Movement Sleep rapid eye movement dreaming

Non-REM Sleep (Stages 1-4 ) lack of rapid eye movement little dreaming

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Sleep Cycles

90-100 minutes per cycle

sleep patterns change during the night

typical night includes60% - Stages 1 & 2 sleep

20% - Stages 3 & 4 sleep

20% - REM sleep

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Sleep Cycles

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Sleep Across the Life Span

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Sleep and the Brain

Reticular Formation critical role in sleep and arousal

Neurotransmitters (NT) serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine levels vary across sleep stages

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Sleep and Disease

stroke and asthma attacks more common at night

infectious diseases induce sleep

sleep problems common in those with mental disorders

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Sleep Disorders

insomnia sleep walking, talking, and eating nightmares and night terrors narcolepsy sleep apnea

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Theories of Dreaming

Historical and Religious Significance

Freud’s Psychodynamic Approach manifest and latent content

Cognitive Theory information processing and memory

Activation-Synthesis Theory brain makes “sense” out of random brain activity

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Psychoactive Drugs

Act on nervous system to: alter consciousness modify perceptions change moods

Why do people take drugs?

What are the trends in adolescent use?

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Psychoactive Drugs:Effects on Users

unsafe sexual behavior (STDs, pregnancy)

direct and indirect health effects

school, work, and relationship problems

psychological problems (depression)

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Psychoactive Drugs

Continued use can lead to…

tolerance

addiction- physical dependence and unpleasant withdrawal

- psychological dependence

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Drugs and the Brain

How does the brain become addicted?

dopamine levels Reward Pathway

ventral tegmental area (VTA) nucleus accumbens (NAC) prefrontal cortex

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Reward Pathway for Psychoactive Drugs

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Psychoactive Drugs: Depressants

Drugs that slow down mental and

physical activity:

alcohol barbiturates tranquilizers opiates

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Depressants

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Psychoactive Drugs: Stimulants

Drugs that increase CNS activity:

caffeine nicotine amphetamines cocaine MDMA (Ecstasy)

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Stimulants

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Psychoactive Drugs: Hallucinogens

Drugs that modify perceptual

experiences:

marijuana LSD

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Hallucinogens

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Critical Controversy

Should illicit psychoactive drugs be legalized for medicinal use?

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Hypnosis

Hypnosis is marked by…

altered attention and expectation

unusual receptiveness to suggestions

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Hypnosis

Four Steps in Hypnosis1. distractions are minimized

2. told to concentrate on something specific

3. told what to expect

4. certain obvious events/feelings are suggested

There are individual variations in ability to be hypnotized.

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Explaining Hypnosis

Divided State of Consciousness obedient to hypnotist hidden observer

Social Cognitive Behavior normal conscious state social expectations for how to act hypnotized

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Uses of Hypnosis

Hypnosis is used to…

treat various health issues (e.g., alcoholism, smoking)

reduce experience of pain

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Meditation

Meditation is a peaceful state of mind,

not occupied by worry.

Mindfulness meditation is used to treat a

variety of conditions (e.g., depression,

chronic pain).

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Chapter Summary

Discuss the nature of consciousness.

Explain the nature of sleep and dreams.

Describe psychoactive drugs and their effects.

Describe hypnosis and its uses.

Discuss the benefits of meditation.

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Chapter Summary

Consciousness: Levels of Awareness higher-level, lower-level altered states subconscious, unconscious

Sleep and Dreams explanations of sleep and dreams sleep stages and cycles sleep disorders

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Chapter Summary

Psychoactive Drugs tolerance, dependence, and addiction depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens

Hypnosis theories and application of hypnosis

Meditation mindfulness meditation