Download States of Consciousness

States of Consciousness
Introductory Discussion
Teams…
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What exactly is consciousness? How do we
explain unconsciousness? How do they differ?
Summarize biological and circadian rhythms.
Provide examples of each.
Provide a synopsis of the sleep cycle and explain
how it changes as it progresses.
What is the purpose of sleep? Provide multiple
explanations.
Why do we dream? Come up with 2 theoretical
propositions.
Levels of Consciousness
We know that various
levels exists beyond
the conscious level.
 Mere-exposure
effect
 Priming
 Blind sight
Levels of Consciousness
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Conscious Level
Nonconscious Level
Preconscious Level
Subconscious Level
Unconscious Level
Consciousness and Information
Processing
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Conscious processing
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Unconscious processing:
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Sequential, relatively slow and limited capacity
fast processing occurs simultaneously on
parallel tracks (not sequential)
Example?
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Meet someone: unconscious, instant reaction
to race, gender, appearance- then become
aware of our response
Biological Rhythms
Bodily (and mental) fluctuations over time
Provide an example for each:
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Annual Cycles
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Twenty-eight day cycles
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Women’s menstrual cycle
Twenty Four hour cycles
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Animal hibernation / SAD (humans)
Alertness, sleep, body temperature, growth
hormone
Ninety Minute cycles
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Sleep stages
Sleep
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Sleep is a state of
consciousness.
We are less aware
of our surroundings.
Circadian Rhythm
Animals and Sleep….
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Ferrets-15
Cats-13
Humans-8
Elephants-3
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Why the discrepancy in the need for sleep?
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Smaller animals = higher metabolism, more need for
rest, recharging
Circadian Rhythm
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Light affects Circadian Rhythm, by…
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Activating retinal proteins, which…
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The point is…
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Activates brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus in
hypothalamus, which…
o Activates Pineal Gland, which increases,
decreases melatonin (sleep inducing hormone)
Light strongly influences our circadian rhythm,
which governs our sleep patterns
What else, besides light can alter our
circadian rhythm?
Pineal Gland
Sleep Cycle
Click dude for alpha
Waves.
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EEG machine
measures stages
of sleep/ brain
waves
Stage 1
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Drowsy… falling into sleep…
(5-10 minutes)
Once a night…
Alpha Waves to Theta
waves high frequency, low
amplitude.
“hallucinations”- (dreamlike- falling or rising)
Stage 2
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Theta waves that
(get slower
frequency, higher
amplitude)
Sleep spindles:
short bursts of
rapid brain waves.
50% of your sleep!
Revisit multiple
times…
Stages 3 and 4
Delta Waves: (slower
wave = deeper sleep)
 Deep sleep (groggy,
disoriented if awakened).
 Releases child’s growth
hormones, restores
immune system.
 Bed wetting, sleepwalking
 Exercise increases stage
3 and 4!
 Visit less as night
progresses….
Click boys to see deep sleep.
From stage 4, your brain begins to speed up and you
go to stage 3, then 2….then ……
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REM Sleep
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“Rapid Eye Movement”
paradoxical sleep-internally
aroused, externally calm…
(atonia)
 Heart rate, breathing,
REM, brain waves increase /
external paralysis
Dream state. (95% of those
awakened remember dream)
Genital arousal (both genders)
REM Rebound
20-25% of night’s sleep! Or 2
hrs/night (6 yrs!)
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Infants = 8 hrs/night REM
Adults 1-2 hrs/night REM
Stages and Brain Waves
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Stage 1: Alpha to Theta…
Stage 2: Theta
Stage 3 & 4: Delta
1st ½ of sleep dominated by stage 4
2nd ½ by stage 2 & REM…
Deeper the sleep= decrease in frequency
of wave, increase in amplitude
Sleep Cycle
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90 minute cycle From 1, 2, 3, 4, 3,2, REM…
 1st ½ of 90 to get to 4, 2nd ½ to go back..
4-6 times per night
As night progresses, four gets shorter, REM gets longer…
Sleep Deprivation
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Bank Account / REM Rebound
1 hour sleep deprivation per night =
pulling all nighter (1 week duration)
Need of sleep depends on circadian
rhythm
Affects mood, performance, memory,
immune system etc.
Sleep Disorders
Insomnia
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Persistent problems
falling asleep
Effects 10% of the
population
Primary versus
Secondary Insomnia
Treatments:
Behavioral changes,
medication
Hypersomnia = excessive
sleep (12hrs/day)
Narcolepsy
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See Skeeter the narcoleptic dog
http://www.insideedition.com/
videos/3/skeeter,-thenarcoleptic-dog.aspx !
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Suffer from
sleeplessness and
may fall asleep at
unpredictable or
inappropriate times.
Directly into REM
sleep
Less than .001 % of
population.
The most dangerous!
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Sleep Apnea
A person stops
breathing during
their sleep.
Wake up
momentarily, gasps
for air, then falls
back asleep.
Very common,
especially in heavy
males.
Can be fatal.
Stresses the heart
Night Terrors
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Wake up screaming /
physical movement
Early in sleep. (2-4
hours into sleep)
Most common in
children (boys)
between ages 2-8.
Usually stage 4 sleep
Somnambulism
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Sleep Walking
Occurs mostly during
first few hours of sleep
Stage 4
If have had night
terrors, more likely to
sleep walk when older.
Most common in
children- rare after 40
Theories on Dreams
Freud’s Theory of Dreams
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Dreams are an
expression of the
unconscious.
Manifest Content
(storyline)
Latent Content
(underlying meaning)
Psychological
(Psychoanalysis)
Activation-Synthesis Theory
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Biological Theory.
Cerebral Cortex
tries to interpret
random electrical
activity we have
while sleeping.
Why dreams
sometimes make no
sense…
Information-Processing Theory
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Dreams are a way to
deal with the
stresses of everyday
life.
We tend to dream
more when we are
more stressed.
Integrate new
experiences,
information into
memory
Hypnosis
Hypnosis
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How do we define hypnosis?
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Social interaction in which one person
(hypnotist) suggests to another (subject) that
certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts etc.
will spontaneously occur.
Hypnosis
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Altered state of
consciousness?
Posthypnotic
suggestion
Posthypnotic
amnesia
Hypnotic Theories
Role Theory
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Hypnosis is NOT an
altered state of
consciousness.
People have various states
of hypnotic suggestibility.
A social phenomenon
where people want to
believe. (social influence
theory)
Work better on people
with richer fantasy lives.
State Theory
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Hypnosis is an altered
state of consciousness.
Dramatic health
benefits
It works for pain best.
Dissociation Theory
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Theory by Ernest
Hilgard.
We voluntarily divide
our consciousness up.
Stimulus of pain vs.
perception of pain
(PET Scans..)
Ice Water
Experiment.
Research has shown that…
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Ability to experience hypnosis does not indicate
gullibility or weakness
Hypnosis does not increase accuracy of memory
Spontaneous posthypnotic amnesia is relatively
rare
Does not foster a literal reexperiencing of
childhood events
Hypnotic subjects retain their ability to control
behavior, maintain awareness of surroundings
Hypnosis is far more effective for acute pain
than chronic pain
Drugs
Are we a drug dependent
society?
Drugs
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Our brain is
protected by a layer
of capillaries called
the blood-brain
barrier.
The drugs that are
small enough to pass
through are called
psychoactive drugs.
How do we define
psychoactive drugs?
Drugs are either….
If a drug is used often,
a tolerance is created
for the drug
(neuroadaptation: brain
adapts chemistry to
offset drug’s effect)
Thus you need more of
the drug to feel the
same effect.
If you stop using a drug
you can develop
withdrawal symptoms.
A Quick Review…
Psychoactive drugs operate at the brain’s
synapses…
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(Briefly (generally) explain the process of
neurotransmission.
What do the following do?
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Agonists (Reuptake inhibitors) Antagonists
Neurotransmitters:
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Dopamine
Serotonin
Norepinephrine
Endorphins
Depressants
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Explain how depressants affect nervous
system activity and behavior.
What types of drugs are classified as
depressants?
Depressants
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Depresses,Slows
down CNS.
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Sedatives /Narcotics
barbiturates, opium,
heroine, alcohol
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Disinhibitors
Alcohol
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Reduces REM sleep
Social disinhibitor
Memory loss/ kills
brain cells
Alcohol (Depressants cont.)
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More than 86 billion
dollars are spent
annually on alcoholic
beverages.
Alcohol is involved in
60% of ALL crimes.
Alcohol is involved in
over 70% of sexually
related crimes.
Is it worth the cost?
Opiates (Depressants cont.)
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Has depressive and
hallucinogenic qualities.
Agonist for endorphins.
Derived from poppy
plant.
Morphine, heroin,
methadone and codeine.
Brain stops producing
endorphins
Physically addictive
Stimulants
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Identify the major stimulants and explain
how they affect neural activity and
behavior.
Stimulants
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Excites neural
activity (CNS).
More powerful ones
(like cocaine) give
people feelings of
invincibility.
Stimulants
Chief Characteristics…
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Caffeine (blocks adenosine, boosts dopamine,
serotonin, acytecholine)
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Nicotine (dopamine, norepinephrine)
Amphetamines
Methamphetamines: (Highly addictive)
Cocaine (Dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine)
Ecstasy: destroys serotonin transmitters, permanent
mood, memory damage
Hallucinogens
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Describe the psychological and
physiological affects of hallucinogens and
summarize the effects of LSD and
marijuana.
Hallucinogens
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Psychedelics
change in perception
without change in
sensory input
LSD, peyote,
psilocybin
mushrooms,
marijuana.
Marijuana:
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THC / no tolerance
established
What factors promote drug use?
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Biological: Research studies indicate that
genetics are influential in drug
dependency (brain pleasure pathwaydopamine reward circuit)
psychological: life as meaningless,
directionless (significant stress, failure,
depression)
Social / cultural: cultural norms, social
pressures