Post on 26-Mar-2015
States of Consciousness
2-4%
“And then suddenly, I saw this bright light at the end of the tunnel.”
Summary Outline
• A. Sleep and Dreaming• B. Hypnosis• C. Psychoactive Drug Affects
A. Sleep and Dreaming
All animals need to sleep
A. EEG and sleep
EEG Recordings
• Frequency• How fast ups and
downs occur
• Amplitude• Distance between
a peak and a trough
Stages of Sleep
Unit V. States of Consciousness
Characteristics of EEG sleep stages
Unit V. States of Consciousness
Stage Frequency
(cycles / second)
Amplitude Wave Form
Stage I 4 - 8 50-100 Theta Waves
Stage II 8 - 15 50-150 Spindle Waves
Stage II 2 - 4 100-150 Slow waves plus
splindles
Stage IV 0.5 - 2100-200
Delta Waves
Need for Sleep
•Preservation and Protection Theory •Sleep Preserves energy•Stay out of harm’s way during
dangerous or unproductive parts of the day
• Restorative Theory of Sleep•Body needs to recovery from the day•Muscles and brain relax during sleep
as if resting up
• Sleep Deprivation•Complete sleep deprivation prevents
healing in rats, then kills them
• Circadian Rhythms•Daily cycle of energy and relaxtion
Functions of Sleep
• Lowering metabolic rate conserves energy
• Reduces the risk of thermal disequilibrium during the coldest part of the day
• New learning processes are inactivated which allows us to:• Reorganize and
more efficiently store the information already in the brain
Functions of sleep
• Homeostasis (constancy)
• Need for Alertness• Fluctuates despite
our best efforts• Occasionally fails
completely• Sleep helps to
restore
•
• Heteroplasticity (capacity to change in response to changing circumstances)
• Information processing
Replenishment of Neurotransmitters
• During REM sleep• Most neurons
decrease activity slightly in sleep
• A small minority of neurons cease firing altogether
• Aminergic Neurons • Norepinephrine-
and Serotonin-releasing neurons
• Located in the locus coeruleus and raphe nuclei
Ach has a concurrent increase during REM sleep
Neuronal Replenishment theory suggest that:
• Norepinephrine and serotonin are involved in alertness
• The producing neurons are inactive during REM sleep
• The brain produces these transmitters during sleep
• Which explains the refreshed feelings when we awake
Dreaming
Dreams: Content, Lucid DreamingMeaning of Dreams
•Wish fulfillment (Freud) •Activation-synthesis (Hobson &
McCarley)• Information Processing, Problem-
Solving
Daydreams and Fantasies
Sleep Disorders
• Insomnia• Narcolepsy• Sleep apnea• Somnambulism
Sleep and Dreaming ActivitiesNeuroscience for Kids
• http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chsleep.html
• Activity 1: Keep a "SLOG" (Sleep Log)•Dream Journal Worksheet•Sleep Journal Worksheet
• Activity 2: Be an REM Detective• Activity 3: Drop off or Drift off?• Activity 4: Sleep Latency
B. Hypnosis
• Hypnotic susceptibility• Age regression• Posthypnotic suggestion• Posthypnotic amnesia• Meditation
Theories of Hypnosis:
• Deep relaxation• Role playing• State theory• Dissociation theory
C. Psychoactive Drug Affects
• Agonists (Mimic)
• Antagonists (Block)
Abuse
• Drug Use / Drug Abuse / Dependence•Psychological dependence •Physical dependence •Addiction
• Tolerance• Withdrawal
Indicators of severity
• Age•Early initiation of drug use is a predictor
• Solitary Drug Use•Solitary use is more indicative than
social use
• Means of Acquiring Drugs•Purchasing from Strangers
•Users often say they share•What was given in return?
• Motivation for Drug Use•Reduce stress / Build self-esteem•Rebelliousness•Peer pressure / Desire to be sociable
• Use of Multiple Drugs• Behavior While Under the Influence
of Drugs•Associated with traffic violations,
pranks, shoplifting, fights
Class Effects
Opiates / Narcotics
HeroinMorphineCodeineOpiods
Depressants AlcoholSedativesBarbituratesTranquilizer
Stimulants CaffeineAmphetaminesCocaineNicotine
Psychedelics LSDMescalineMarijuanaHashishPhencyclidine