Consciousness

Unit 5

Consciousness
Modules 23-26

Consciousness

Module 23: States of Consciousness

Consciousness
Conscious to be aware
Sensations and perceptions of external events as
well as self-awareness

Grand Canyon
Waking consciousness

Altered state of consciousness (ASC)

Dreaming, sleeping, day-dreaming, sex, longdistance running listening to music

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States of Consciousness

Hypnosis sleep

Narrowed attention and increased suggestibility

Theories of Hypnosis
Dissociative state split in awareness
Hidden observer
Nonstate blend of conformity, relaxation,
imagination, etc following suggestion

Hypnotic susceptibility
8/10 people
Imaginative and prone to fantasy

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Hypnosis

Effects of hypnosis

Strength
Memory
Amnesia
Pain relief
Age regression
Sensory changes

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Meditation

Mental exercise used to alter consciousness

Concentrative meditation
Attend to a single focal point

Mindfulness meditation
Mantra
open or expansive

Relaxation response
Innate physiological pattern that opposes your
bodys fight-or-flight response

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Hypnosis, Meditation, and Sensory Deprivation

http://video.pbs.org/video/1801900735/
http://antonioepuente.com/wp-

content/uploads/2013/01/2008-An-introduction-tomeditation-2008.pdf

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Module 24: Sleep and Dreams

Sleep is an innate biological rhythm

11 days

Sleep deprivation sleep loss

Hypersomnia excessive daytime sleepiness
Microsleep brief shifts in brain activity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnYu9X6b0XE

Sleep-deprivation psychosis loss of contact with

reality

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Sleep

Sleep-waking cycle
Circadian rhythms
https://www.ted.com/talks/jessa_gamble_how_to_s
leep

Sleep patterns
Short sleepers (1-2hrs; small %)
Long sleepers (9+hrs)

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Sleep

Measuring sleep changes

Electroencephalograph (EEG)
Beta waves
Alpha waves
Delta waves

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Sleep

Stages of Sleep

Stage 1: Light Sleep

Hypnic jerk
Stage 2:

Sleep spindles brain activity generated by the

thalamus.. Helps us continue to stay asleep

Stage 3:

Delta waves large and slow

Stage 4:

Purely delta waves Deep sleep (1hr)

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Sleep

The dual process hypothesis of sleep

Rapid eye movement (REM) (consolidates)

Dreaming
Muscle paralysis
Sleep is very light (stage 1)
Non-REM (NREM) sleep (calms)

Stages 1, 2, 3, and 4
Dream-free most of the time
Helps us recover from daily fatigue

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Sleep Disorders and Disturbances

Insomnia

Temporary insomnia (worry, stress, excitement)

Drug-dependency insomnia

Decrease stage 4 and REM sleep

Chronic insomnia

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Sleep Disturbances

Behavioral remedies for insomnia

Stimulus control (bed is only for sleeping)

Sleep restriction (sleep schedule)
Relaxation
Exercise
Food intake (tryptophan)
Avoid stimulants (caffeine/cigarettes)

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Sleep Disturbances

Nightmares and night terrors

Nightmares (REM Sleep)

Imagery rehearsal
Night terrors (Stage 4)

Total panic (15-20 mins) with hallucinations of

frightening dream images
NREM (body is not immobilized)
Common in childhood

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Sleep Disturbances

Sleep apnea
Repeated interrupted breathing during sleep
Treated by surgery, weight loss, breathing mask

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Sudden and unexplained death

Crib death
Back to Sleep
http://youtu.be/i6MvXuKAeAU

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What are some functions of sleep?

REM v nREM/dual-process hypothesis

What are the 4 stages of sleep?

Can you match the cognitive experience with the
sleep stage?

1. NREM-1
2. NREM-3
3. REM

a. story-like dreams
b. fleeting images
c. minimal awareness

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Answers

1. b (fleeting images)
2. c (minimal awareness)
3. a (story-like dreams)

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Dreams A Separate Reality

Dreaming
Most dream four or five times a night
Non-dreamers
Most dreams reflect everyday events

Dreams
About 90 minutes apart
Dreams occur in real time

REM rebound

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Dreams Theories

Psychodynamic dream theory (Freud)

Wish fulfillment
Dream symbols
Manifest content
Latent content

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Dreams Theories

Activation-synthesis hypothesis (Hobson &

McCarley)

Dream content affected by motor commands in the

brain during sleep that are not carried out
During REM sleep

Several lower brain centers are turned on

(activated)
Brain searches through stored memories and
manufactures (synthesizes) a dream

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Dreams Theories

Neurocognitive dream theory (Domhoff)

Dreams have more in common with waking
thoughts and emotions
Dreams are a conscious expression of REM sleep
processes
Sorting and storing daily experiences

http://youtu.be/7GGzc3x9WJU

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Reflect

Some people are very interested in remembering

and interpreting their dreams. Others pay little
attention to dreaming. What importance do you
place on dreams? Do you think dreams and
dream interpretation can increase selfawareness?

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Module 25: Psychoactive Drugs

Psychoactive drug
Substance capable of altering consciousness

Stimulant
Increases activity in body and nervous system

Depressant
Decreases activity in body and nervous system

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Drug-Altered Consciousness

Drug Dependence

Physical dependence

Drug tolerance
Withdrawal symptoms
Psychological dependence

Dependence based on psychological or emotional

needs

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Drug-Altered Consciousness

Patterns of Abuse

Experimental (short-term)
Social-recreational
Situational (specific problem)
Intensive (daily use)
Compulsive (extreme dependence)

Polydrug abuse

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Uppers

Downers

Amphetamines
Cocaine
MDMA (Ecstasy)
Caffeine
Nicotine

Narcotics
Barbiturates
GHB
Tranquilizers
Alcohol

Stimulant/Depressant?
Medical Use?
Effects Sought?
Short/Long Term Symptoms?
Physical/Psychological Dependence?
A fact youd share with someone
using/considering using

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Uppers

Amphetamine
Mainly used to treat ADHD
Methamphetamine (more potent..
Snorted/injected/eaten)
Huge dependency effect
Amphetamine psychosis

Cocaine
Leaves of coca plant
Alertness, euphoria, well-being, power
Anhedonia (once you stop using)

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Uppers

MDMA (Ecstasy)

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
Closer to others and heightens senses
Diminishes sexual performance
Heart arrhythmia, liver damage

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Uppers

Nicotine

Natural stimulant found mainly in tobacco

Known carcinogen
Addictive
Lung cancer deaths
E-cigarettes

Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body

Cancers, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory
diseases, and reproductive disorders
http://youtu.be/gugjMmXQrDo

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Downers

Narcotics

Opium poppies
Opium
Morphine
Heroin

Methadone

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Downers

Barbiturates
Sedative drugs that depress brain activity
Seconal & Amytal

GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate)
CNS depressant that relaxes and sedates
Combination of degreasing solvent and drain
cleaner
Inhibits gag reflex
Addictive and deadly

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Downers

Tranquilizers

Lower anxiety and reduce tension

Valium, Xanax, Halcion, and Librium
Rohypnol (Roofies)
Physical dependence and severe emotional
depression

Combining barbiturates with alcohol is risky

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Downers

Alcohol

Ethyl alcohol
Depressant of CNS
Fermented and distilled liquors
NOT a stimulant but DOES lower inhibitions
Sex

Provokes the desire, but it takes away the

performance
Alcohol myopia

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Downers

Patterns of drinking
Binge drinking

Consuming 5 or more drinks in a short time

Moderated drinking

Drink slowly, eat, limit drinking to first hour of event

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Downers

Treatment for alcohol abuse and dependence

Detoxification

Withdrawal of the person from alcohol

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Worldwide self-help organization composed of
recovering alcoholics
Rational Recovery
Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS)

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Hallucinogens

Hallucinogen
Substance that alters or distorts sensory
impressions

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)

Produce hallucinations and psychotic disturbances
in thinking and perception
http://youtu.be/e2AthHmtytk

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Hallucinogens

PCP (angel dust)

Initially can have hallucinogenic effects
Anesthetic with stimulant and depressant effects

Mescaline (peyote)
Psilocybin (magic mushrooms)

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Hallucinogens

Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa)

Active chemical: THC
Relaxation, time distortion, perceptual distortions
Psychologically, NOT physiologically, addictive

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Hallucinogens

Health risks of using marijuana

Increased risk of prostate, lung, and cervical
cancer
Suppresses immune system
Affects activity levels in cerebellum
Some evidence it damages brains memory
functions

http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/30/opinion/gitlowmarijuana-use/

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Adolescence and drug use

Why do teens use drugs?

Bring in data from developmental psychology and

biopsychology to support your conclusions.

The power of peer groups

Design a true experiment that could support the idea

that peer pressure influences teens to use drugs.
IV, DV, Ex, Co,