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Chapter 5 States of Consciousness

Chapter 5 States of Consciousness. Chapter Preview. Consciousness Sleep and Dreams Psychoactive Drugs Hypnosis Meditation. The Nature of Consciousness. What is consciousness? …awareness of external events and internal sensations which occurs under conditions of arousal Awareness

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Chapter 5 States of Consciousness

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  1. Chapter 5States of Consciousness

  2. Chapter Preview Consciousness Sleep and Dreams Psychoactive Drugs Hypnosis Meditation

  3. 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

  4. Levels of Awareness Higher-Level Consciousness • controlled processing • actively focus efforts toward a goal • requires attention

  5. 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)

  6. Levels of Awareness Altered States of Consciousness • drug states • fatigue, illness, trauma, deprivation • meditation, hypnosis • mental disorders

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Biological Rhythms Periodic Physiological Fluctuations • controlled by biological clocks • annual or seasonal • 24-hour cycles – circadian rhythms monitored by suprachlasmatic nucleus

  10. Biological Clocks Desynchronizing the Clock • jet lag • shift-work problems • insomnia Resetting the Clock • bright light • melatonin

  11. Why Do We Need Sleep? Adaptive Evolutionary Function • safety • energy conservation/ efficiency Restorative Function • body rejuvenation & growth Brain Plasticity • enhances synaptic connections • memory consolidation

  12. 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?

  13. 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

  14. Sleep Stages - EEG Patterns

  15. 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

  16. Deep Sleep: Stages 3-4 Stage 3 • < 50% delta waves • slowest frequency and highest amplitude Stage 4 • > 50% delta waves • difficult to wake sleepers

  17. REM Sleep Rapid-Eye-Movement Sleep • rapid eye movement • dreaming Non-REM Sleep (Stages 1-4 ) • lack of rapid eye movement • little dreaming

  18. Sleep Cycles • 90-100 minutes per cycle • sleep patterns change during the night • typical night includes 60% - Stages 1 & 2 sleep 20% - Stages 3 & 4 sleep 20% - REM sleep

  19. Sleep Cycles

  20. Sleep Across the Life Span

  21. Sleep and the Brain Reticular Formation • critical role in sleep and arousal Neurotransmitters (NT) • serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine • levels vary across sleep stages

  22. Sleep and Disease stroke and asthma attacks more common at night infectious diseases induce sleep sleep problems common in those with mental disorders

  23. Sleep Disorders insomnia sleep walking, talking, and eating nightmares and night terrors narcolepsy sleep apnea

  24. 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

  25. 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?

  26. Psychoactive Drugs:Effects on Users • unsafe sexual behavior (STDs, pregnancy) • direct and indirect health effects • school, work, and relationship problems • psychological problems (depression)

  27. Psychoactive Drugs Continued use can lead to… • tolerance • addiction - physical dependence and unpleasant withdrawal - psychological dependence

  28. Drugs and the Brain How does the brain become addicted? • dopamine levels • Reward Pathway • ventral tegmental area (VTA) • nucleus accumbens (NAC) • prefrontal cortex

  29. Reward Pathway for Psychoactive Drugs

  30. Psychoactive Drugs: Depressants Drugs that slow down mental and physical activity: • alcohol • barbiturates • tranquilizers • opiates

  31. Depressants

  32. Psychoactive Drugs: Stimulants Drugs that increase CNS activity: • caffeine • nicotine • amphetamines • cocaine • MDMA (Ecstasy)

  33. Stimulants

  34. Psychoactive Drugs: Hallucinogens Drugs that modify perceptual experiences: • marijuana • LSD

  35. Hallucinogens

  36. Critical Controversy Should illicit psychoactive drugs be legalized for medicinal use?

  37. Hypnosis Hypnosis is marked by… • altered attention and expectation • unusual receptiveness to suggestions

  38. Hypnosis Four Steps in Hypnosis • distractions are minimized • told to concentrate on something specific • told what to expect • certain obvious events/feelings are suggested There are individual variations in ability to be hypnotized.

  39. Explaining Hypnosis Divided State of Consciousness • obedient to hypnotist • hidden observer Social Cognitive Behavior • normal conscious state • social expectations for how to act hypnotized

  40. Uses of Hypnosis Hypnosis is used to… • treat various health issues (e.g., alcoholism, smoking) • reduce experience of pain

  41. 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).

  42. 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.

  43. 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

  44. Chapter Summary Psychoactive Drugs • tolerance, dependence, and addiction • depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens Hypnosis • theories and application of hypnosis Meditation • mindfulness meditation

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