Chapter 5 – States of Consciousness

What Is Consciousness?What Is Consciousness?

• William James’ Stream of William James’ Stream of ConsciousnessConsciousness– Stream of consciousness activityStream of consciousness activity

What is Consciousness, What is Consciousness, cont.cont.

• Consciousness is notoriously difficult to define, Consciousness is notoriously difficult to define, though as some have pointed out, we all know though as some have pointed out, we all know what it is from direct experience. Here is a what it is from direct experience. Here is a selection of notable views.selection of notable views.

• Definition in our textDefinition in our text: : ConsciousnessConsciousness: An : An individual’s awareness of external events and individual’s awareness of external events and internal sensations under a condition of internal sensations under a condition of arousal, including awareness of the self and arousal, including awareness of the self and thoughts about one’s experience.thoughts about one’s experience.

• "What is meant by consciousness we need not "What is meant by consciousness we need not discuss - it is beyond all doubt."discuss - it is beyond all doubt."

• Sigmund Freud, 'New Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis', 1933Sigmund Freud, 'New Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis', 1933

• "Behaviourism claims that consciousness "Behaviourism claims that consciousness is neither a definite nor a usable is neither a definite nor a usable concept. The behaviourist, who has been concept. The behaviourist, who has been trained always as an experimentalist, trained always as an experimentalist, holds, further, that belief in the holds, further, that belief in the existence of consciousness goes back to existence of consciousness goes back to the ancient days of superstition and the ancient days of superstition and magic."magic."

• John Watson, 'Behaviourism', 1924John Watson, 'Behaviourism', 1924

• "Consciousness is like the Trinity; if it is "Consciousness is like the Trinity; if it is explained so that you understand it, it explained so that you understand it, it hasn't been explained correctly ."hasn't been explained correctly ."

• R.J. Joynt, 'Are Two Heads better than One?', Behavioural R.J. Joynt, 'Are Two Heads better than One?', Behavioural Brain Sciences, 1981Brain Sciences, 1981

• "The improvements we install in our brain when "The improvements we install in our brain when we learn our languages permit us to review, we learn our languages permit us to review, recall, rehearse, redesign our own activities, recall, rehearse, redesign our own activities, turning our brains into echo chambers of sorts, turning our brains into echo chambers of sorts, in which otherwise evanescent processes can in which otherwise evanescent processes can hang around and become objects in their own hang around and become objects in their own right. Those that persist the longest, acquiring right. Those that persist the longest, acquiring influence as they persist, we call our conscious influence as they persist, we call our conscious thoughts."thoughts."

• Daniel Dennett , 'Kinds of Minds', 1996Daniel Dennett , 'Kinds of Minds', 1996

• "'Consciousness' is a word worn smooth by a "'Consciousness' is a word worn smooth by a million tongues. Depending upon the figure of million tongues. Depending upon the figure of speech chosen it is a state of being, a speech chosen it is a state of being, a substance, a process, a place, an substance, a process, a place, an epiphenomenon, an emergent aspect of matter, epiphenomenon, an emergent aspect of matter, or the only true reality."or the only true reality."

• George Miller, 'Psychology: the Science of Mental George Miller, 'Psychology: the Science of Mental Life'', 1962Life'', 1962

So, which definition do So, which definition do we use?we use?

• We’ll use the definition from the text, We’ll use the definition from the text, butbut

remember that there are many others.remember that there are many others.

Despite our inability to come up with a Despite our inability to come up with a generally accepted definition – one that generally accepted definition – one that most psychologists can agree on and are most psychologists can agree on and are happy with, happy with,

most do agree that it is a highly important most do agree that it is a highly important concept in the study of the mind. concept in the study of the mind.

• Definition in our textDefinition in our text: : ConsciousnessConsciousness: : An individual’s awareness of external An individual’s awareness of external events and internal sensations under a events and internal sensations under a condition of arousal, including condition of arousal, including awareness of the self and thoughts awareness of the self and thoughts about one’s experience.about one’s experience.

Levels of AwarenessLevels of Awareness

Controlled vs automatic processes

Joe in split brain study – What was his level of awareness?

“Twilight” anesthesia – Which level of awareness is it?

Smelling a bouquet of roses?

Theory of Mind (T.O.M.)Theory of Mind (T.O.M.)• Theory of mind refers to individual’s understanding Theory of mind refers to individual’s understanding

that they and others think, feel, perceive and have that they and others think, feel, perceive and have private experiences.private experiences.– What part of the text definition of consciousness is T.O.M. What part of the text definition of consciousness is T.O.M.

getting at? What part is it not specifically addressing?getting at? What part is it not specifically addressing?– Consider Autism Spectrum DisordersConsider Autism Spectrum Disorders

• A.    Persistent deficits in the social use of verbal and nonverbal A.    Persistent deficits in the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication as manifested by all of the following:communication as manifested by all of the following:

– 1.     Deficits in using communication for social purposes (e.g., 1.     Deficits in using communication for social purposes (e.g., greetings)greetings)

– 2.     Impairment of the ability to change communication to match 2.     Impairment of the ability to change communication to match context or needs of the listener (e.g., talking to a child vs an adult)context or needs of the listener (e.g., talking to a child vs an adult)

– 3.     Difficulties following rules for conversation and storytelling 3.     Difficulties following rules for conversation and storytelling (e.g, taking turns in conversation)(e.g, taking turns in conversation)

– 4. Difficulties understanding what is not explicitly stated (e.g., 4. Difficulties understanding what is not explicitly stated (e.g., making inferences)making inferences)

• B. False Belief Task StudiesB. False Belief Task Studies– Developmental evidenceDevelopmental evidence– Autism – conflicting evidence and thoughtsAutism – conflicting evidence and thoughts

Sleep and Sleep and DreamsDreams

•

Biological and Circadian Biological and Circadian RhythmsRhythms

• Biological Rhythms Biological Rhythms (e.g., migration, hibernation, and the (e.g., migration, hibernation, and the cycles of sleep and wakefulness in a 24 hour period.)cycles of sleep and wakefulness in a 24 hour period.)

• Sleepiness: Homeostatic vs Circadian RhythmsSleepiness: Homeostatic vs Circadian Rhythms– Homeostatic factorsHomeostatic factors: depend on the duration since the last : depend on the duration since the last

sleep bout. The longer the time spent awake, the greater the sleep bout. The longer the time spent awake, the greater the drive for sleep. drive for sleep.

– CircadianCircadian: Daily behavioral or physiological cycles: Daily behavioral or physiological cycles• Body temperature normally varies around 3 degrees – Body temperature normally varies around 3 degrees –

highest in the afternoon and lowest between 3 and 5 am.highest in the afternoon and lowest between 3 and 5 am.• Suprachiasmatic nucleusSuprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) (SCN)

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnJkMfmea28http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnJkMfmea28

– Both homeostatic factors and circadian rhythms are able to Both homeostatic factors and circadian rhythms are able to modify the influence of the other through neurotransmitter modify the influence of the other through neurotransmitter activity in the brain. This is why you find it more difficult to activity in the brain. This is why you find it more difficult to go to sleep when the lights are on, but also why you can sleep go to sleep when the lights are on, but also why you can sleep in the middle of the day, especially if it has been a long time in the middle of the day, especially if it has been a long time since your last sleep. since your last sleep.

Why Do We Need Sleep?Why Do We Need Sleep?

• TheoriesTheories

• ProtectionProtection

• Conserve energyConserve energy

• Restorative powersRestorative powers

• Consolidate memoriesConsolidate memories

Stages of Wakefulness and Stages of Wakefulness and SleepSleep

DreamsDreams

• Freud’s Psychodynamic ApproachFreud’s Psychodynamic Approach– Sleep and Dreams: The Realm of THE UNCONSCIOUS.Sleep and Dreams: The Realm of THE UNCONSCIOUS.– Manifest and Latent ContentManifest and Latent Content

• Cognitive TheoryCognitive Theory– Current Concerns ResearchCurrent Concerns Research

• Activation-Synthesis TheoryActivation-Synthesis Theory– ““Cognitive Trash”?Cognitive Trash”?

• Dream SurveyDream Survey– http://www.dreambible.com/dreamdictionary/h2.htmlhttp://www.dreambible.com/dreamdictionary/h2.html

What Happens When Sleep What Happens When Sleep Is Disrupted?Is Disrupted?

• Falling asleep on the job (or in class)Falling asleep on the job (or in class)

• Decreased attentionDecreased attention

• Lower performance on cognitive Lower performance on cognitive tasks and tasks involving memorytasks and tasks involving memory

• UCSD fMRI StudyUCSD fMRI Study

The Normal And Sleep-The Normal And Sleep-Deprived Brain Doing Deprived Brain Doing

ArithmeticArithmetic

Sleep Diseases and Sleep Diseases and DisordersDisorders

• InsomniaInsomnia• Sleepwalking and SleeptalkingSleepwalking and Sleeptalking• Nightmares and Night TerrorsNightmares and Night Terrors• NarcolepsyNarcolepsy

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0h2nleWTwIv=X0h2nleWTwI

• Sleep ApneaSleep Apnea• Sleep ParalysisSleep Paralysis

Sleep Disorder ActivitySleep Disorder Activity

• Get into your groups (take your stuff Get into your groups (take your stuff with you) and see how many of the with you) and see how many of the disorders you can identify.disorders you can identify.

The Power of NapsThe Power of Naps

• Anecdotal evidence Anecdotal evidence – Edison and napsEdison and naps

• http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/02/11/thomas-edison-on-sleep-and-2013/02/11/thomas-edison-on-sleep-and-success/success/

• Experimental StudiesExperimental Studies– Take a nap. Change your life. Sara Take a nap. Change your life. Sara

MednickMednick• https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=MklZJprP5F0v=MklZJprP5F0