Altered States of Consciousness

Objectives Describe the research related to sleep and dreams. List and discus sleep disorders.

Consciousness Consciousness = awareness Philosophy

Mind/Body problem Dualism Materialism

Controlled Processes Requires full awareness (talking on a phone)

Automatic Processes Little awareness (driving while singing)

Experienced spontaneously, physiologically, and psychologically

Pre-Conscious Daydreaming

Requires a low level of awareness, fantasizing – serve a purpose (getting a haircut)

Consciousness Altered States

Produces awareness that differs from normal consciousness (meditation, hypnosis, drugs, sleep)

Unconscious Selfish needs Immoral urges Unacceptable desires

The ProofExperiments demonstrate existence of levels

Priming = quick responseMere-exposure effect = not consciously

remember stimuli (Déjà vu)

Hypnosis Increased suggestability to changes in behavior History

Anton Mesmer = passing magnets James Braid = coins term “hypnosis” Jean Charcot = hysterical condition Hippolyte Bernheim = result of suggestion Clark Hull = first hypnosis lab Used as psychological intervention, WWI/WWII

Hypnotic Ability Openness to suggestion is key, expectancy Correlates = fantasy, imagination Effects

Inaccurate memories Relaxed reflection Posthypnotic amnesia

Hypnosis Changes

Vivid imagination Lack of initiation

Controversy Comply with social demands Split consciousness

Uses Control undesired symptoms Pain control Treatment therapies

Meditation Designed to create an altered state, characterized by inner

peace and tranquility Physiological effects

Slow breathing, heart rate, lower muscle tension, lower blood pressure, lower oxygen consumption

Correlates Reduced anxiety levels Reduced insomnia Improved self-esteem

Sleep Characteristics

Patterns follow circadian rhythm (biological clock) Avg. 4-6, 90-minute cycles of NREM/REM Need for sleep (Infants = 20 hrs.) (Adults = 6hrs.) 40-50% of sleep takes place in Stage 2

Stages of Sleep Stage 1: slow pulse, relaxed muscles (drifting) Stage 2: sleep spindles, heart rate decreases Stage 3: sleep for 30-45 minutes Stage 4: deepest sleep REM Sleep: the dream stage

The Hypnic jerk – common in sleep deprived people, during early stage – muscles misinterpret signals from RAS (relax)

Dreaming Lucid dreaming – directing your own dreams Freud

Dreams fulfill desires Activation Synthesis theory

Random neural firings Info Processing theory

Review problems faced during waking hours

Sleep Disorders Insomnia – unable to sleep Narcolepsy – suddenly fall asleep Sleep apnea – briefly stop breathing Nightmares/night terrors – screaming, confusion Sleep walking/talking – linked to stress, fatigue