Consciousness

1. Consciousness Study of consciousness Sleep and dreams Hypnosis Drugs and consciousness

2. Study of Consciousness • What is it? • Sensory Awareness • Aware of things outside yourself • Tend to block out some stimuli • Tend to be more aware of sudden changes

3. Study of Consciousness • Direct Inner Awareness • Aware of things inside yourself • Aware of: • Thoughts • Emotions • Images • Memories

4. Study of Consciousness • Sense of Self • Aware of our selves as unique • Aware of our own existence (existentialism) “I think, therefore I am…” -Renee Descartes

5. Study of Consciousness • Levels of consciousness • Conscious • Aware of something and self • Preconscious • Ideas or thoughts not in aware of, yet could be recalled if need be • Unconscious • Thoughts, feelings, emotions we hide (i.e. guilt, shame, anxiety) • Nonconscious • Mostly biological events (i.e. fingernails or hair growing)

6. Sleep • We actually spend 1/3 of our lives in sleep • Why do we sleep? • Why do we dream?

7. Sleep quiz • You need at least 8 hours of sleep a night. • It’s harmless to occasionally lose a night’s sleep. • Boredom can make you sleepy, even if you’ve had enough sleep. • A little alcohol will help you get a good night’s sleep. • Teenagers tend to sleep in late because they are sleep deprived. • Eating a snack before going to bed will help you fall asleep. • You can predict when you are going to fall asleep. • Snoring can be a sign of a serious medical problem. • About 25% of people who report difficulty sleeping are actually depressed. • It should take you no less than 15 minutes and no longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep once you go to bed.

8. Sleep • Much of how all living organisms function is controlled by the circadian rhythm – biological clocks • Bodily changes occur every 24 hours • Without cues we could have a 25 hour cycle

9. Stages of Sleep • Scientists use electroencephalography (EEG) to measure electrical brain activity during the five stages of sleep. • When you fall asleep, you pass through stages 1 to 4 (the deepest level of sleep) as your brain becomes less active. • You then go through the stages in reverse before 5 to 15 minutes of stage 5: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. • During REM sleep, your eyes dart about, your brain is frantically active and you dream. • The whole cycle lasts about 90 minutes and repeats throughout the night

10. Stages of Sleep Myochlonic Jerks

11. Stages of Sleep • Most people go through 5 cycles • How many dreams do we have then? • REM sleep becomes longer throughout the night

12. Why Do We Sleep? • Functions: • Helps to revive the body & mind • Need more sleep if: • Stressed • injured

13. Why do we Sleep? • Lack of sleep can be problematic • Irritable • Memory lapses • Longest time w/o sleep = 17yr old Randy Gardner went 264 hrs (a little over 11 days) w/o sleep • Hallucinations • Slurred speech • Blurred vision

14. Why do we sleep? • Navy SEALS Hellweek • 5 days & nights of nonstop training • About 36 hours is spent treading water! • Total amount of sleep: • About 2 hrs • Many suffer from: • Fatigue • Hallucinations • Motor dysfunction • Slurred speech

15. - It's impossible to tell if someone is really awake without close medical supervision. People can take cat naps with their eyes open without even being aware of it. • - Anything less than five minutes to fall asleep at night means you're sleep deprived. The ideal is between 10 and 15 minutes, meaning you're still tired enough to sleep deeply, but not so exhausted you feel sleepy by day. • - A new baby typically results in 400-750 hours lost sleep for parents in the first year. • - REM sleep occurs in bursts totaling about 2 hours a night, usually beginning about 90 minutes after falling asleep. • - Elephants sleep standing up during non-REM sleep, but lie down for REM sleep. • - REM sleep may help developing brains mature. Premature babies have 75 per cent REM sleep, 10 per cent more than full-term bubs • - British Ministry of Defense researchers have been able to reset soldiers' body clocks so they can go without sleep for up to 36 hrs. Tiny optical fibers embedded in special spectacles project a ring of bright white light (with a spectrum identical to a sunrise) around the edge of soldiers' retinas, fooling them into thinking they have just woken up. The system was first used on US pilots during the bombing of Kosovo.

16. - Seventeen hours of sustained wakefulness leads to a decrease in performance equivalent to a blood alcohol-level of 0.05%. • - The NRMA estimates fatigue is involved in one in 6 fatal road accidents. • - Exposure to noise at night can suppress immune function even if the sleeper doesn’t wake. Unfamiliar noise, and noise during the first and last two hours of sleep, has the greatest disruptive effect on the sleep cycle. • - The "natural alarm clock" which enables some people to wake up more or less when they want to is caused by a burst of the stress hormone adrenocorticotropin. Researchers say this reflects an unconscious anticipation of the stress of waking up. • - Some sleeping tablets, such as barbiturates suppress REM sleep, which can be harmful over a long period. • - Tiny luminous rays from a digital alarm clock can be enough to disrupt the sleep cycle even if you do not fully wake. The light turns off a "neural switch" in the brain, causing levels of a key sleep chemical to decline within minutes. • - A night on the grog will help you get to sleep but it will be a light slumber and you won't dream much.

17. - Humans sleep on average around three hours less than other primates like chimps, rhesus monkeys, squirrel monkeys and baboons, all of whom sleep for 10 hours. • - Ducks at risk of attack by predators are able to balance the need for sleep and survival, keeping one half of the brain awake while the other slips into sleep mode. • - Ten per cent of snorers have sleep apnea, a disorder which causes sufferers to stop breathing up to 300 times a night and significantly increases the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. • - Snoring occurs only in non-REM sleep • - Teenagers need as much sleep as small children (about 10 hrs) while those over 65 need the least of all (about six hours). For the average adult aged 25-55, eight hours is considered optimal • - Some studies suggest women need up to an hour's extra sleep a night compared to men, and not getting it may be one reason women are much more susceptible to depression than men. • -The best amount of time for a nap is 15-20 minutes in length.

18. Dreams Dreams Caused by the Flight of a Bee 1944 (Salvador Dali)

19. Dream Theories • Ancient Hebrews • Dreams were connections with G-d • “Dreams not understood are like letters not opened” • Talmud • Ancient Egyptians: • Believed that dreams were guiding messages from the gods

20. Dream Theories • Greeks • Dreams were visitations from the gods • Hippocrates • During the day the soul receives messages, at night it produces the images

21. Dream Theories • Ancient Hindus: • Dreams were: • prophecies of success or failure (depending on actions of the person in the dream) • Expressions of inner desires • Soul leaving body and being guided (if awakened abruptly soul could not return and sleeper would die)

22. Dream Theories • Ancient Chinese: • Dreams were a result of the soul leaving the body to visit the dead for guidance

23. Dream Theories • Middle Ages: • Dreams studied in their context to G-d • Are dreams sent by G-d to a person of superior virtue? Or are they sent by demons to a person who has fallen from grace?

24. Dream Theories: Modern • Sigmund Freud: • Two types of dream content; • Manifest (superficial) content had no significance because it was a mask for underlying (unconscious) issues of the dream. • Latent content contained unconscious wishes or fantasies.

25. Dream Theories: Modern • Carl Jung: • Dream contents present us with revelations that uncover and help to resolve emotional issues, problems, religious issues and fears. • recurring dreams are proof that dream-manifested issues neglected in a conscious mode will show up repeatedly in dreams to demand attention. • symbolic terms are used to represent concepts that we cannot grasp. There is a conscious use of symbols, as seen in religious symbolism; there is an unconscious use of symbols, such as spontaneous dream symbols. Both are to help us comprehend the world around us, whether sleeping or awake. • collective unconscious, is an inborn and universal part of the unconscious identical in all people. • Dreams could help us grow and heal through use of archetypal symbols. Various archetypes are represented within myths, fairy tales, and religions, as well as dreams. Among the numerous archetypes he documented are those of birth, rebirth, death, power, magic, the hero, the child, the trickster, God, the demon, the wise old man, the earth mother, and many natural objects such as sun, moon, stars, rivers, fires, and animals (Jung, 1969).

26. Dream Theories: Modern • Biological Perspective • Neurons fire in movement and vision parts of brain • Neurons fire randomly • Brain attempts to understand through story telling

27. Dream Theories: Modern • Lucid dreams • Dreams that we can control • Clearer and easier to remember

28. Dream Symbols: • Flying = freedom, escaping • Falling = overcoming adversity. Or under go a major struggle in life.

29. Dream Symbols • Death: • Own death = change • Family/friends = change in that relationship • Nude = vulnerability

30. Dream Symbols • Chase = pursued by fears or emotions (guilt) • Teeth = concern about one’s physical and social appearance

31. Dream Symbols • Bugs = Bugs in dreams often represent people who “bug” us, or situations that are disturbing • Animals = people we usually know. (sharks = aggressive people, horses = sexuality of young adulthood, bear = bad tempered people

32. Dream Facts • You spend 1/3 of your life sleeping. • Over the average lifespan you will have up to 100,000 dreams! • You have 4 to 7 dreams every night. • Women have more nightmares than men. • All mammals (except the spiny ant eater) and birds dream, meaning they all have REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. • During REM sleep your skeletal muscles are paralyzed. Otherwise you would act out your dreams. • Alcohol, prescription drugs and illegal drugs can cause nightmares.

33. People who are giving up smoking have longer, more intense dreams. • Women dream more of indoor settings, they notice more color, facial and clothing details, they have more conversations and dream of men and women equally. • Men dream more of other men, outdoor settings, physical and sexual activity, tools, and money. • Dreams are indispensable. A lack of dream activity can mean protein deficiency or a personality disorder. • We dream on average of one or two hours every night. And we often even have 4-7 dreams in one night. • Blind people do dream. Whether visual images will appear in their dream depends on whether they where blind at birth or became blind later in life. But vision is not the only sense that constitutes a dream. Sounds, tactility, and smell become hypersensitive for the blind and their dreams are based on these senses. • Five minutes after the end of the dream, half the content is forgotten. After ten minutes, 90% is lost.

34. The word dream stems from the Middle English word, dreme which means "joy" and "music". • Studies have shown that our brain waves are more active when we are dreaming than when we are awake. • Dreamers who are awakened right after REM sleep, are able to recall their dreams more vividly than those who slept through the night until morning. • Toddlers do not dream about themselves. They do not appear in their own dreams until the age of 3 or 4. • If you are snoring, then you cannot be dreaming. • Nightmares are common in children, typically beginning at around age 3 and occurring up to age 7-8. • In a poll, 67% of Americans have experienced Déjà Vu in their dreams, occurring more often in females than males.

35. Sleep Disorders • Insomnia: • Inability to sleep • “racing minds” • Increases during periods of anxiety/stress • Trying to force one’s self to fall asleep makes it worse. • Is common, but if occurs constantly see a doctor.

36. Sleeping Disorders • Insomnia treatments: • Sleeping pills not recommended • Addictive • Disrupts sleep cycle • Natural sleep remedies: • Tense muscles slowly • If worrying get up and do something non-stimulating • Regular sleep schedule

37. Sleeping Disorders • Nightmares: • Causes; • Can be specific to profession or activity • Upsetting events/traumas • Anxiety/depression • Treatments; • Relaxing routines

38. Sleep Disorders • Night Terrors: • Most common in young children • People act out nightmares • Happen early during sleep

39. Sleep Disorders • Sleepwalking: • Common in children • Typically occurs during Stage 3 & 4 sleep (deep sleep) • Should be watched to protect from harm

40. Sleep Disorders • Sleep Apnea: • Stop breathing during sleep • Loud snoring is a symptom • More at risk for heart attacks and strokes • Linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

41. Sleep Disorders • Sleep Apnea Treatments: • Sleeping with a nasal mask (CPAP) • Sleeping with a mouth guard (TAP) • Sinus drilling

42. Sleep Disorders Tom Albright??? • Narcolepsy: • Suddenly fall into REM sleep (usually during an activity) • Heightened emotions trigger it • May be hereditary • Treatments: • Usually combination of drug therapy (stimulants) and naps

43. Sleep Disorder Facts • According to an NSF survey, 58% of adults say they suffer from symptoms of insomnia. • Hormonal changes such as puberty and menstruation can cause insomnia • Melatonin is a popular over-the-counter sleep aid, but has been shown to have a weak effect in sleep disturbances other than jet lag. • The annual health care bill for someone who suffers from sleep apnea (but has not yet been diagnosed) is approximately twice as much as the yearly total for someone without this condition. • Sleep-deprived drivers are as dangerous as drunk drivers. • There is no cure for narcolepsy. • 1 in 500,000 Americans have Narcolepsy. • Usually see symptoms between 10-25. Symptoms get worse over next two decades. • According to the NSF, one out of 4 adult Americans takes sleep medication at some point during the year. • Over-the-counter sleep aids: e.g. Tylenol PM, Compoz, Sominex, and Unisom generally contain antihistamines (e.g. diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl), which produce drowsiness as a side effect.  Use of these medications should be limited. They can produce a morning hangover effect and tolerance to the dose can develop. • Herbal/hormonal supplements:  The hormonal supplement melatonin and the herbal supplement valerian are the most popular OTC sleep aids.  The FDA regulates neither of these products, however. • Prescription sleep aids: • Benzodiazepines (e.g. Valium, Klonopin). • Nonbenzodiazepines (e.g. Ambien, Sonata).

44. Drugs and Consciousness • Drugs can have many effects • Slow down nervous system • Spur it into rapid action • Can be connected to serious diseases • Can lead to addictions • Distort perceptions • Change moods • Cause hallucinations • Cause long term psychological effects

45. Drugs and Consciousness • Depressants • Slow down the activity of the Nervous System • Alcohol: • Can impair judgment • Can “wash away Inhibitions” • Too much and/or too often can lead to: • Alcoholism • Alcohol poisoning • Liver damage

46. Depressants: Alcohol con’t • Alcohol facts: • More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, cancer, and stroke.1 • 65% of youth surveyed said that they got the alcohol they drink from family and friends.7 • Youth who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than those who never drink alcohol.3 • Among current adult drinkers, more than half say they have a blood relative who is or was an alcoholic or problem drinker.1 • Across people of all ages, males are four times as likely as females to be heavy drinkers.1 • More than 18% of Americans experience alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence at some time in their lives.6 • Traffic crashes are the greatest single cause of death for persons aged 6–33. About 45% of these fatalities are in alcohol-related crashes.4 • Underage drinking costs the United States more than $58 billion every year — enough to buy every public school student a state-of-the-art computer.2 • Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among young people.1 • Problem drinkers average four times as many days in the hospital as nondrinkers — mostly because of drinking-related injuries.1 • Alcohol kills 6½ times more youth than all other illicit drugs combined.2 • Concerning the past 30 days, 50% of high school seniors report drinking, with 32% report being drunk at least once.2

47. Drugs and Consciousness • Depressants: (Narcotics) • Addictive depressants used to relieve pain and induce sleep • Morphine: • Used during Civil War & WWII too numb pain • Addiction was common (The Soldiers Disease) • Heroin: • Introduced in the 1800’s to cure morphine addiction • Creates feelings of “heroic” pleasure • Coming off can cause deep depression • Large doses can depress respiratory system leading to loss of consciousness, coma, and death

48. Drugs and Consciousness • Stimulants: • Increase the activity of the nervous system • Speeding up heart and breathing rates • Nicotine: • Being in cigarettes and chewing tobacco it is the most common stimulant • Spurs the release of adrenaline • May make you feel more alert and attentive • Reduces appetite • Can cause serious health issues

49. Smoking facts • Smoking can be as addictive as using heroin • 400,000 people die each year from smoking related diseases (more than car accidents, alcohol, all other drug deaths, and AIDS combined) • Smokers are 10xs more likely to die from lung cancer • Secondhand smoke is connected to 50,000 deaths per year

50. Stimulants: • Amphetamines: • Helps people stay awake and reduces appetite • 1st used in WWII • Methamphetamine • Most widely used • Most addictive drug • Psychological effects: • Hyperactivity • Delusions • Dopamine overload • “Bugs” sensations • Physical effects: • Deteriorates teeth • Ages the body • Open sores