Perception and the Mind

Conscious- you are awake, alert, and aware

Various LEVELS and STATES (they are not the same thing)

Perception and the Mind

Focus of Attention- figure/ground relationships

Focal Point- single isolated stimulus you attend to

Perception and the MindTwo ways to get a focal point1.selective attention- YOU

choose to pay attention to something

2. Feature Extraction- stimulus “Grabs” your attention

Perception and the Mind

Attention Span- how long you make an object your focal point

average for a 16-year-old- 20 minutes

Perception and the Mind

Vigilance- small physical gestures you use to stay aware (or you end up daydreaming)

Perception and the MindPreconscious- level of mind

you can be made aware ofShort Term Memory-

temporary storage of information just experienced (transducted and encoded)

Perception and the MindSTM/WORKING MEMORY:

Relatively small capacity7 +/- 2 items can be storedabout 20 seconds durationyou can expand this with

chunking!

Perception and the Mind

Long term memory- Relatively permanent storage of experiences

capacity is very VASTCan be stored in preconscious

or unconscious levels

Preconscious

Phenomenological Field- past experiences affect perception of current stimuli.

Perception and the Mind

Unconscious- not aware of this info, but it’s there.

VERY QUICKREPRESSED MEMORIES

Unconscious Mind

subliminal programmingSubconscious Memories-

stuff you don’t know you perceived

Déjà vu? Dreams?

States of AwarenessAre you the same all the

time???Car accident, 1st period on a

Monday, really great partyFOCAL POINT CHANGES.Naturally or artificially

DRUGS and consciousness

You know SO much of this!!!Drugs and brain functionpsychoactive substances- any

chemical that changes consciousness

LEGAL AND ILLEGAL!!!

Altering Consciousness With Drugs

Psychoactive substances are drugs that affect consciousness, perception, mood, and behavior.

Why Do People Take Drugs in The First Place?

To Feel GoodTo have novel:

feelingssensations

experiencesAND

to share them

To Feel BetterTo lessen:

anxietyworries

fearsdepression

hopelessness

Types of UseUse as intended/prescribedSubstance abuse- pattern of use

that has negative effects substance dependence- addiction:

physical/ psychological dependence on the substance

National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, 2003.

Age

0.0%0.0%

0.2%0.2%

0.4%0.4%

0.6%0.6%

0.8%0.8%

1.0%1.0%

1.2%1.2%

1.4%1.4%

1.6%1.6%

1.8%1.8%

55 1010 1515 2121 2525 3030 3535 4040 4545 5050 5555 6060 6565

% in

eac

h a

ge g

rou

p w

ho

dev

elop

fir

st-t

ime

dep

end

ence

CANNABISALCOHOL

TOBACCO

Addiction Is A Developmental Disease that starts in adolescence and childhood

Age at tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis dependence per DSM IV

DRUGS and consciousness

Tolerance- need more of the substance to have an effect

withdrawal- changes in behavior when stopping or reducing heavy use of a substance

Drugs of Abuse Engage Motivation and

Pleasure Pathwaysof the Brain

Drugs of Abuse Engage Motivation and

Pleasure Pathwaysof the Brain

Why Do PeopleAbuse Drugs?

Why Do PeopleAbuse Drugs?

Addiction Reward & well-being

Motivation

Movement

Dopamine

Di Chiara et al., Neuroscience, 1999.,Fiorino and Phillips, J. Neuroscience, 1997.

Natural Rewards Elevate Dopamine Levels

0

50

100

150

200

0 60 120 180

Time (min)

% o

f B

asal

DA

Ou

tpu

t NAc shell

Empty

Food Sex

Box Feeding

100

150

200

DA

Con

cen

trat

ion

(%

Bas

elin

e)

SampleNumber

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Female Present

0100200300400500600700800900

10001100

0 1 2 3 4 5 hr

% o

f B

asal

Rel

ease

DADOPACHVA

Accumbens

Amphetamine

0

100

200

300

400

0 1 2 3 4 5 hr

% o

f B

asal

Rel

ease

DADOPACHVA

AccumbensCocaine

Time After Drug

Morphine

0

100

150

200

250

0 1 2 3 hr

Time After Drug

% o

f B

asal

Rel

ease Accumbens

Caudate

Nicotine

Di Chiara and Imperato, PNAS, 1988

Effects of Drugs on Dopamine Release

% o

f B

asal

Rel

ease

0

100

150

200

250

0 1 2 3 4 5 hr

Accumbens

0.51.02.510

Dose mg/kgmg/kg

mg/kgmg/kg

LETHARGIC STATE

GREATLY decreased awareness accompanied by decreased physical activity

focal point smaller/slower

Lethargic State Causes

1. Drugs- DEPRESSANTSSlow CNS (neural) activitysedatives- NyquilAlcohol- increases with doseRx anti-anxiety- valium/

Xanax

Altering Consciousness With Drugs

The rate of alcohol abuse and dependence is higher in men than in women.

Altering Consciousness With Drugs

Like alcohol, barbiturates and benzodiazepines are depressants that slow CNS activityDO NOT COMBINE!

Causes of Lethargy2. Hormonal/chemical

imbalanceLow Sugar-

HYPOGLYCEMIA“crashing” coming off a “high”

hypothyroid- overweight issues

Causes of LethargyCauses of Lethargy3. Emotional Reactions: 3. Emotional Reactions:

sadness or boredomsadness or boredom4. Clinical Depression: 4. Clinical Depression:

MAJOR warning sign…MAJOR warning sign… more than 2 weeks of sadness---more than 2 weeks of sadness---May need more seratonin (SSRIs)May need more seratonin (SSRIs)

Causes of LethargyCauses of Lethargy

5. illness/ injury5. illness/ injury

6. EXHAUSTION!!!EXHAUSTION!!!

Hyper-Alert State of Awareness

A state of greatly increased awareness accompanied by major physiological changes

Increased CNS activityFocal point? Increased/ external

Hyper-Alert State

Causes:

1. Chemical/Hormonal imbalances (natural)

hyperthyroid- gland in your neck that controls metabolism

Hyper-Alert State

Hyperglycemia- too much sugar in your system

causes you to “speed up”?

Hyper-Alert State

Adrenaline- (epinepherine) produced by your adrenal glands

FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE

2. CNS StimulantsIncrease activity of the central

nervous system(Meth)Amphetamines (speed),

cocaine, Ritalin, Adderall caffeine, nicotine

Saved by the Bell

Diet pills

3. Emotional Reactions

EUSTRESS- PositiveepinephrineLaughter/ endorphinsDISTRESS- Negativenorepinephrine &

epinephrine

EuphoriaIntense OVERWHELMING

feelings of a positive naturefocal point is increased

internalconcentrating on how good

you feel and lose touch with reality

Euphoria Causes

1. Religious/Occult Experiences praying to the point where you are

overcome with emotion

2. EXTREME POSITIVE emotional experiences (Much more intense than eustress)

Euphoria Causes3. Drugs: Ecstasy (hallucinogenic

stimulant)Opiates (opioids) /NarcoticsHallucinogens

The Opiates/ NarcoticsLoss of sensitivity to painEndorphins – block substance PVycodin, Oxycontin, opium,

morphine, codeine, heroinAGITATED Dysphoria!!!

(withdrawal from heroin)Pain! Sweating, nausea, vomiting!!!

The HallucinogensCause changes in perceptions(distorted perceptions/

hallucinations)LSD, PCP, Marijuana (THC)Affect a variety of

neurotransmitters/ receptors (seratonin, dopamine)

Euphoria (causes, cont’d)

4. Sexual Arousal- the orgasm stage (internal focal point, intense, positive overwhelming pleasure)

The Focal Point

Increased internal focal point; reduced physical activity and environmental stimuli.

Inducing the Meditative State Close eyes, relaxdeep, regulated, cleansing

breaths“In through the nose, out

through the mouth”

The Focal Point

Rhythmic chant-- MANTRA--a tone, music, heartbeat, breath, “OHM”

vibrations aid concentration

Meditation

it can improve your life Reduce norepinephrine/

stress related illnessIncrease awareness/

contentment/ relaxation

HYPNOSIS

Different from meditation1. FOCAL POINT is

EXTERNAL2. You are susceptible to

subconscious suggestion

Hypnosis:how do I do it?You can’t!- you NEED someone

else!Induction starts like meditationNO MANTRA (internal)Subconscious

SUGGESTION(external)

Hypnosis: what is it?

Expose your unconscious mind

lower your defense mechanisms

Dissociaters and fantasizers

Uses for Hypnosis

1. Behavior modification- change detrimental behaviors (phobias, diet, smoking, etc.)

Power of suggestion

Uses for Hypnosis

2. Age RegressionRecover repressed memories,

earlier lives--Distorted?3. Age Progression– positive

mental imagery (rehearsal/improve performance)

Uses of Hypnosis

3. Anesthesia!!(dissociate from pain)Anyone willing to try??