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Delve into an organism's awareness spectrum, from unconscious mind to high-level, exploring altered states like dreaming, meditation, and hypnosis. Discover the significance of sleep cycles, arousal states, and circadian rhythms in maintaining optimal mental health.
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States of Consciousness Consciousness an organism’s awareness of its own self and surroundings; exists along a continuum, ranging from high level awareness to unconsciousness
High Level of Awareness Controlled Processes focused Attention is required
Middle Level of Awareness Automatic Processes awareness but minimal attention Daydreaming low level of awareness and conscious effort; somewhere between active consciousness and dreaming while asleep
Minimal or No Awareness Unconscious Mind reservoir of unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and memories that are too painful or anxiety provoking to be admitted to consciousness Unconscious lowest level of awareness
Altered States of Consciousness • a mental state other than ordinary waking consciousness, • found during: • physical activity • meditation and spirituality • psychoactive drug use • hypnosis • dreaming • sleep
Physical Activity Young children love to alter their consciousness Is this a natural phenomena?
Meditation and Spirituality Meditation: a group of techniques designed to focus attention and produce an heightened state of awareness
Psychoactive Substances Many different types of psychoactive substances can alter your awareness depressants stimulants opiates hallucinogens
Hypnosis Is one or more of the following: narrowed, highly focused attention increased imagination passive, receptive attitude decreased pain heightened suggestibility
Dreaming and Dream Theories Percentages: REM sleep: 70-80% NREM sleep: 20-30% Theories: Freudian Activation Synthesis
Sleep • The most widely studied Altered State of Consciousness • We spend 1/3 of our lives asleep • Sleep or Arousal States fall into three categories: • Waking • NREM sleep • REM sleep • It is still unclear just why we sleep
Sleep Recording • EEG • EMG • EOG • EKG • Respiration
Arousal States • Waking • NREM • Stage 1 • Stage 2 • Stage 3 • Stage 4 • REM Delta or Slow Waves
Arousal State Characteristics • Waking: • low voltage, high frequency EEG patterns • very high EMG activity • NREM Sleep: • high voltage, low frequency mixed EEG patterns • slowed heart rate and respiration • reduced EMG activity • REM Sleep: • low voltage, high frequency EEG patterns • rapid eye movements • variable heart rate and respiration • muscle atonia • penile erection/vaginal secretions
The Sleep Cycle in Young Adults • more SWS at the beginning of the beginning of the night • more REM at the end of the night • cycle goes from NREM 1-4 then back out from NREM 4-1
Unihemispheric Sleep in Marine Mammals One hemisphere asleep, one awake
Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) Measures Sleep Deprivation
Circadian Rhythms Rasterplot Light/Dark Cycle Constant Conditions Tau: natural rhythm Zeitgeber: Light Pulse Entrainment