States of Consciousness

1. States of Consciousness What is consciousness?

2. Fact or Falsehood? • T F 1. Consciousness has an unlimited capacity. • T F 2. Most university students are “evening” persons whose performance improves throughout the day. • T F 3. People who sleep seven to eight hours a night tend to outlive those who are chronically sleep-deprived. • T F 4. The most common dreams are those with sexual imagery. • T F 5. The majority of the characters in men’s dreams are female. • T F 6. Most psychologists believe that dreams provide a key to understanding our inner conflicts. • T F 7. Under hypnosis, people can be induced to perform feats they would otherwise find impossible. • T F 8. Under hypnosis, people can be induced to perform acts they would otherwise find immoral. • T F 9. Those given morphine to control pain often become addicted to the drug. • T F 10. In large amounts, alcohol is a depressant; in small amounts, it is a stimulant.

3. 1. F (p. 272) 6. F (pp. 287–288) 2. T (p. 275) 7. F (p. 291) 3. T (p. 281) 8. F (p. 292) 4. F (p. 286) 9. F (p. 297) 5. F (p. 286) 10. F (p. 298)

4. Consciousness • Our level of awareness of ourselves and our environment • We are conscious to the degree we are aware of what is going on inside and outside ourselves. • Much of consciousness is outside our awareness • Beginner driver • Advanced driver

5. Consciousness is Not an on/off switch! • We are not conscious or unconscious! • There are different levels and different states of consciousness. • More sophisticated brain imaging tools and an increased emphasis on cognitive psychology = more study

6. Levels of Consciousness • Conscious – What are you focusing on right now? • Nonconscious – Heartbeat, respiration, digestion, etc • Preconscious – you are not currently thinking about it, but you could be • Your favorite toy as a child • Your first day of school

7. Cont’d 4. Subconscious level – Information that we are not consciously aware of but we know must exist due to behavior. • Priming, mere exposure(we prefer stimuli we have been exposed to over novel stimuli ) and blindsight • Unconscious – Some events are unacceptable to our conscious mind are are repressed into the unconscious mind. DEBATEABLE!

8. SLEEP • Which level of consciousness does it fit? • Explain

9. Conscious level!!! • While we are asleep, we are less aware of ourselves and our environment than when we are awake. • Other states of consciousness are drug-induced states, hypnosis,etc

10. Biological Rhythms: Distinguish 4 types and give an example of each Life has rhythmic tides. They include • Annual cycles – geese migrate, bears hibernate and humans experience seasonal variations in appetite, sleep and mood.(seasonal affective disorder) • 28 day menstrual cycles – check out mood score on p. 274 • 24 hour cycles – varying alertness, body temp and growth hormone secretion • 90 minute cycles – sleep stages

12. Rhythm of Sleep: our 24 hour biological clock and biological clock • Circadian Rhythm • Our bodies synchronize with the 24-hour cycle of the day • Sharpest thinking, memory most accurate • At our circadian peak • Most college students are owls • Most older adults are larks • http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=2AE63A7D-2DC7-408C-9A8D-4DC34A4B57E8&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

13. How to mess up your circadian clock • Drink caffeine late in the day • Adjusting sleep schedule • Pull an all-nighter • Stay up late on weekends and sleep until noon or later! • Transcontinental Flights

14. Why do we sleep? 60 minutes part 1 • http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4181992n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

15. Sleep StagesList the stages of the sleep cycle and how they differ • Stage 1 sleep onset • Brain produces alpha waves • Drowsy but awake • Might experience hallucinations (falling) • We don’t know we are in sleep until we are out of it! • Stage 2 • EEG shows sleep spindles (short bursts of rapid brain waves • Relax more deeply and are clealry asleep • Sleeptalking can happen (garbled speech)

16. Stage 3 • Delta waves (large, slow waves) • Last about 30 min, you are hard to awaken, but still conscious: • Roll around without falling out of bed • Don’t crush infant sleeping with you, unless drunk • Sleep through loud noises • Stage 4 • Delta waves • 30 minutes long • Bedwetting, sleepwalking occur

17. Delta Sleep • Very difficult to awaken someone • Will be disoriented and groggy • Important in replenishing body’s chemical supplies (hormones) • Increased exercise increases time we spend in stages 3 & 4

18. REM Sleep • After Delta sleep we go back through stages 3, 2, 1. • In stage 1, brain produces intense activity: Eyes dart back and forth, muscles twitch = REM • Sometimes called paradoxical sleep • Brain waves appear awake!

19. Purpose of REM - ??? • Dreams usually occur • Deprivation of REM interferes with memory • More stress during day = more REM sleep that night

20. We cycle through these approx 90 minute stage 4-7 times each night • Closer to morning, more time in stage 1,2, and REM • Babies sleep more (18 hours) and have more • Functions of Sleep: Discovery Education http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=C79CB160-3D62-49FA-BEF9-5EA2215CA8AF&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US • http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=C79CB160-3D62-49FA-BEF9-5EA2215CA8AF&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

21. Sleep Disorders • Insomnia- most common disorder • Persistent getting to sleep or staying asleep • Cure: reduce caffeine, exercise, maintain consistent sleep pattern • Narcolepsy • Periods of intense sleepiness, can fall asleep at unpredictable times • Treatment – medication and changing sleep patterns (naps)

22. Sleep Apnea • Serious problem, may cause death • Person stops breathing, wakes slightly, gasps for air, goes back to sleep • Robs person of deep sleep = poor attention and poor memory • Usually overweight men • Treatment: respiration machine provides air

23. Night Terrors and Sleep walking • Mostly in children • Don’t remember episode • Occur during stage 4 sleep • Grow out of them

24. Effects of Sleep Deprivation • Lack of concentration, depression • Hunger and obesity • Fatal accidents • Irritability, mistakes • Slowed reaction times (20% of traffic accidents) • Suppresses immune system • Feelings of boredom

25. Am I Sleep Deprived? • Respond to each of the following items by circling “T” for true or “F” for false. • T F 1. I need an alarm clock in order to wake up at the appropriate time. • T F 2. It’s a struggle for me to get out of bed in the morning. • T F 3. Weekday mornings I hit the snooze button several times to get more sleep. • T F 4. I feel tired, irritable, and stressed-out during the week. • T F 5. I have trouble concentrating and remembering. • T F 6. I feel slow with critical thinking, problem solving, and being creative. • T F 7. I often fall asleep watching TV. • T F 8 I often fall asleep in boring meetings or lectures or in warm rooms. • T F 9. I often fall asleep after heavy meals or after a low dose of alcohol. • T F 10. I often fall asleep while relaxing after dinner. • T F 11. I often fall asleep within five minutes of getting into bed. • T F 12. I often feel drowsy while driving. • T F 13. I often sleep extra hours on weekend mornings. • T F 14. I often need a nap to get through the day. • T F 15. I have dark circles around my eyes.