Consciousness

Review Session 11

Consciousness- History

Dualism Mind and body are two distinct entities that

interact Brain and mind are two different things Thought and matter This gives us free will

Monism the presumption that mind and body are different

aspects of the same thing

Levels of Consciousness

Mere Exposure Effect- we prefer stimuli that we have seen before over novel stimuli

Priming- participants respond more quickly/accurately to questions that they have seen before, even if they do not remember seeing them

Blind Sight- people who report being blind can accurately describe the path of a moving object or accurately grasp objects they cannot see

Levels of Consciousness

Conscious- information you are currently aware of

Nonconscious- body processes controlled by our mind we are not usually aware of

Preconscious- information you are not currently thinking about but could be

Subconscious- information we are not consciously aware of but know must exist due to behavior

Unconscious- psychoanalytic term; events and feelings that are unacceptable

Sleep

When we sleep we are less aware of ourselves and our environment

Not the same as being unconscious

Sleep Cycle

Part of our circadian rhythm- the pattern that our metabolic and thought processes follow (about 25 hours)

Sleep Onset- the period where we are falling asleep; stage between wakefulness and sleep Brain produces alpha waves when we are

drowsy but awake Might experience mild hallucinations

Stages of Sleep

Stage 1: Muscles relax Irregular brain

waves “Just drifting” Theta waves- high

frequency low, amplitude

10 min.

Stage 2: Theta waves

continue Sleep Spindles

begin- short bursts of rapid brain activity

Eyes roll from side to side

30 min

Stages of Sleep

Stage 3 Large amplitude brain

waves every second or so- Delta waves

Slower the wave, deeper the sleep

Delta sleep is very important in replenishing chemical supplies and fortifying the immune system

Stage 4 Deepest of all Also includes Delta

waves Talking out loud, sleep

walking- no trace on memory

Most important People who sleep only

a few hours descend rapidly into stages 3 and 4

Exercise increases time spent in stages 3 and 4

Stages of Sleep

REM Sleep/Paradoxical After a period of time in delta sleep, our brain waves

speed up and we go back through stages 3 and 2, but enter REM instead of stage 1

Eyes move rapidly, Twitching, irregular breathing Brain waves similar to an actively awake person Dreaming Each REM cycle lasts from 15-45 minutes and gets

longer with each cycle until you eventually wake up REM sleep deprivation interferes with memory REM rebound occurs

Brain Waves and Sleep Stages

Alpha Waves slow waves of a

relaxed, awake brain

Delta Waves large, slow waves of

deep sleep

Typical Nightly Sleep Stages

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

4

3

2

1

Sleepstages

Awake

Hours of sleep

REM

Typical Nightly Sleep Stages

Hours of sleep

Minutesof Stage 4 and REM

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 80

10

15

20

25

5

Decreasing Stage 4

Increasing REM

Sleep Deprivation

Effects of Sleep Loss fatigue impaired concentration immune suppression irritability slowed performance

accidents

• planes

• autos and trucks

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia Persistent problems in falling or staying asleep Affects up to 10% of the population

Narcolepsy Uncontrollable sleep attacks, suddenly fall into REM sleep Much rarer

Sleep Apnea cessation of breathing often associated with snoring repeatedly awakes sufferer

Night Terrors and Nightmares Night Terrors

occur within 2 or 3 hours of falling asleep, usually during Stage 4

high arousal- appearance of being terrified

Nightmares occur towards

morning during REM sleep

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

4

3

2

1

Sleepstages

Awake

Hours of sleep

REM

Dreams- Freud

Sigmund Freud The Interpretation of Dreams (1900) wish fulfillment- we act out our unconscious desires discharge otherwise unacceptable feelings in the form

of symbols

Manifest Content remembered story line

Latent Content underlying, uncensored meaning

Other Dream Theories

Activation Synthesis Theory Dreams are nothing more than the brain’s

interpretations of what is happening physiologically during REM sleep

Dreams have no more meaning than any other physiological reflex

Information-Processing Theory Stress during the day increases the number and

intensity of dreams, dream content often relates to daily concerns

They brain is dealing with daily stress and info during REM

Purpose is to integrate information processed into our memories

Hypnosis

One person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts or behaviors will spontaneously occur a relaxed state

Posthypnotic Amnesia supposed inability to recall what one experienced

during hypnosis Posthypnotic Suggestion

A suggestion that a hypnotized person will behave in a certain way after brought out of hypnosis

Theories of Hypnosis

Role Theory Not an alternate state of conscious at all, some people are

more easily hypnotized A social phenomenon Follow the suggestions b/c that is what is suggested Hypnotic Suggestibility

related to subject’s openness to suggestionability to focus attention inwardlyability to become imaginatively absorbedThese people also have richer fantasy lives, follow

directions well, and can focus intensely

Theories of Hypnosis

Dissociation Theory Dissociation

a split in consciousness allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur

simultaneously with others Hidden Observer

Hilgard’s term describing a hypnotized subject’s awareness of experiences, such as pain, that go unreported during hypnosis

How Drugs Change Consciousness

The molecules that make up psychoactive drugs are small enough to pass through the blood-brain barrier

Agonists- work by mimicking neurotransmitters Antagonists- work by blocking

neurotransmitters from using the receptor sites on neurons

All gradually alter the natural level of neurotransmitters in the brain

How Drugs Change Consciousness

Tolerance- a physiological change that produces a need for more of the same drug in order to achieve the same effect, will eventually cause…

Withdrawal symptoms- vary from person to person

Dependence can be physiological, psychological, or both

Psychoactive Drugs

Depressants drugs that reduce neural activity slow body function result in euphoria

alcohol, barbiturates, opiates, anxiolytics (Valium) Stimulants

drugs that excite neural activity speed up body function result in euphoria

caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines

Psychoactive Drugs

Hallucinogens psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort

perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

May remain in the body for weeks, if is ingested again new amount is added to lingering amount- reverse tolerance

LSD, marijuana, mushrooms

Barbiturates drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous

system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment

Psychoactive Drugs

Opiates opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin) opiates depress neural activity, temporarily

lessening pain and anxiety Agonists for endorphins, powerful painkillers and

mood enhancers Amphetamines

drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes

Psychoactive Drugs

LSD lysergic acid diethylamide a powerful hallucinogenic drug also known as acid

THC the major active ingredient in marijuana triggers a variety of effects, including mild

hallucinations

Psychoactive Drugs

Drug Type Pleasurable Effects Adverse Effects

Alcohol Depressant Initial high followed by Depression, memory loss, organ relaxation and disinhibition damage, impaired reactions

Heroin Depressant Rush of euphoria, relief from Depressed physiology, pain agonizing withdrawal

Caffeine Stimulant Increased alertness and Anxiety, restlessness, and wakefulness insomnia in high doses;

uncomfortable withdrawal

Metham- Stimulant Euphoria, alertness, energy Irritability, insomnia, phetamine hypertension, seizures

Cocaine Stimulant Rush of euphoria, confidence, Cardiovascular stress, energy suspiciousness, depressive crash

Nicotine Stimulant Arousal and relaxation, sense Heart disease, cancer (from tars) of well-being

Marijuana Mild Enhanced sensation, pain relief Lowered sex hormones, disrupted hallucinogen distortion of time, relaxation memory, lung damage from smoke

Review Questions

1) Agonists are psychoactive drugs that Produce tolerance to the drug without the

associated withdrawal symptoms Mimic and produce the same effect of certain

neurotransmitters Mimic neurotransmitters and block their

receptor sites Enhance the effects of certain opiates like

heroin Make recovery from physical addiction more

difficult

2) Which of the following is the best analogy for how psychologists view consciousness? The on/off switch of a computer A circuit breaker that controls the power to a

house A fuse that allows electricity to pass through

until a short circuit occurs A dimmer switch for a light fixture The ignition switch of a car

3) During a normal night’s sleep, how many times do we pass through the different stages of sleep? 2 2-3 4-7 8-11 11-15

4) Which of the following is evidence supporting the role theory of hypnosis? People with rich fantasy lives are more hypnotizable People will not behave under hypnosis in ways they

would not without hypnosis Hilgard’s experiment demonstrated the presence of a

hidden observer Our heart and respiration rates may differ while under

hypnosis Some therapists successfully use hypnosis in therapy

5) Which neurotransmitter is affected by opiates? Serotonin Endorphins Dopamine GABA Acetylcholine