Chapter 7Altered States of Consciousness

Section 1 Objective

Sleep and Dreams

Discuss the four stages of sleep and the period of dreaming.

Define

Consciousness: state of awareness, including a persons feeling, sensations, ideas, and perceptions.

REM sleep: sleep stage with rapid eye movement, high brain act, deep muscle relaxation, and dreaming.

Circadian Rhythm: rhythm of act and impact lasting about 1 day.

Insomnia: failure to get enough sleep at night in order to feel rested during the day.

Sleep apnea: sleep disorder in which a person has trouble breathing while asleep.

Narcolepsy: uncontrolled falling asleep or feelings of sleep during the day.

Nightmares: unpleasant dreams.

Night Terrors: sleep disruption that occur during stage 4; involve screaming, panic, or confusion.

Sleep Walking: walking or carrying out behaviors while asleep.

Complete a chart on Freud’s Levels of Consciousness

Conscious

- Perception- Thoughts

Pre-Conscious

- Memories - Stored Knowledge

Unconscious

--Selfish needs-- Irrational Wishes-- Immoral Urges-- Shameful Experiences-- Fears-- Violent Motives-- Unacceptable Desires

Describe the following during the levels of sleep.

Stage 1 Pulse slows, Muscles relax, Breathing & brain activity become uneven. Can last up to 10 minutes. Production of Theta waves, brain waves shift from low amp & high frequency to high amp and low frequency.

Stage 2 Eyes move side to side, and can last up to 30 minutes

Stage 3 Large amp Delta waves sweep brain every second or so

Describe the following during the levels of sleep.

Stage 4 Deepest sleep of all and is hard to awaken from. Large regular Delta waves are common. When awakened, one is disoriented. Sleepwalking, talking, bed wetting with no memory is common. This stage must be reached for mental and physical health.

REM Sleep Eyes move rapidly, adrenal and sex hormones increase. Body becomes paralyzed, while face and fingers twitch.

The amount of sleep on

needs decreases as one

gets older, while the

percentage of time in

REM sleep increases

True

What causes jet lag?Circadian cycle not instinct with external clock.

Give causes for the following disorders:

Insomnia mental stress, anxiety, over use of drugs & alcohol

Sleep Apnea Enlarged tonsils, throat & ear infections, obesity

Narcolepsy Lack of sleep causing them to have problems at work, leisure, & relationship

Nightmares & Terrors Disturbing thoughts, unconscious ides, inability to resolve issues (trauma)

Sleepwalking and talking Stress, fatigue, use of sedatives, and heredity. Contrary to popular belief, it is ok to wake them.

When would you have your most vivid and longest

dreams?During your last REM

cycle

T/F Dreams are usually

pleasant and soothing.

False, dreams are usually about fear, anxiety, and sadness

From your own ideas & thoughts: Explain the purpose of dreams.

Allow us to resolve problems from the day

Do some mental housecleaning: get rid of non-needed memories

In dealing with dreams, what do the following mean

Manifest Content

Refers to the storyline, images and perceptual aspects

Latent Content

Meanings (the hidden) that come from unconscious wishes

Section 1 Recap-Sleep and Dreams

Main Idea: Sleep—an essential state of consciousness—involves stages and periods of dreaming.

■Some researchers believe that sleep is restorative. Others believe sleep is a type of hibernation, necessary to conserve energy. Still others believe sleep clears the mind of useless information.

■ There are several stages of sleep—from Stage I, the lightest level of sleep, to Stage IV, the deepest level of sleep. REM sleep is an active type of sleep characterized by rapid eye movement.

■ Sometimes people have problems falling asleep or during sleep. Sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, nightmares, night terrors, and sleepwalking.

■ The mental activity that takes place during sleep is called dreaming.

Section 2- Objective

Hypnosis, Biofeedback, and Meditation

Understand that hypnosis, biofeedback, and meditation are altered states of consciousness that can occur while we are awake.

Define

Hypnosis

Posthypnotic

Biofeedback

Meditation

How does hypnosis work?

Put into an altered state of consciousness in which they become highly suggestible.

Become responsive or receptive to certain stimuli

Focus on one tiny aspect of reality

Done by having one relax, discard distractions

What are some uses of hypnosis?

Block, Suppress, or Enhance memory

Reduce Pain

Help clients reveal problem or gain insight into life

How is Hypnosis used by athletes?Relaxation/Visualization/ Way to achieve personal best

What is the purpose of biofeedback?

To teach, with the use of machines, how different thoughts and/or emotions effect their physiological behavior & how to alter those effects

What are the 3 approaches to meditation?

-Transcendental repeating a phrase (Sanskrit)

-Mindfulness presents of mind from toeshead

-Breath concentrating on breathing

Section 2 –Hypnosis, Biofeedback, and Meditation

Main Idea: Hypnosis, biofeedback, and meditation are altered states of consciousness that can occur when we

■ Hypnosis is a form of altered consciousness in which people become highly suggestible to changes in behavior and thought.

■ Biofeedback has been used to teach people to control a wide variety of physiological responses.

■ Studies have suggested that the regular practice of meditation is physically relaxing and can also lead to changes in behavior. Others argue that meditation is indistinguishable from regularly scheduled relaxation.

Section 3 - Objectives

Drugs and Consciousness

Describe psychoactive drugs and how they interact with the central nervous system to alter consciousness.

Define the following vocab words

Psychoactive Drugs

Marijuana

Hallucinations

Hallucinogens

LSD

Give 3 facts of marijuana uses & effects

-Sensory experiences augmented – music sounds fuller, colors brighter tastes stronger

--Feelings are enhanced: both positive & negative

--Can slow mental processes, cause lethargy, and be psychologically addictive

Describe some effects of LSD

Hallucinations/ Familiar objects become unfamiliar/ Senses become intermingled

What are the different types of Opiates?Opium/ Morphine/ Heroin

What are some effects of alcohol use?

Immediate effect loosening of inhibitionsActing without social

restraint or self control

Slurred speech, blurred vision, impaired judgment, memory loss, and a condition called “Beer Goggles”

Dependent on amount, frequency of use, and body weight, composition

What is the most

commonly used

psychoactive drug?Caffeine

What are some reasons that one abuses drugs?

Avoid boredom

Fit in with peers

Gain self confidence

Forget problems

Relax

Feel good

What are the usual steps of drug abuse treatment?

1. Admission of problem

2. Enter treatment or therapy

3. Must remain drug free

Section 3 Recap – Drugs and Consciousness

Main Idea: Psycho- active drugs interact with the central nervous system to alter consciousness.

■ The effects of marijuana, a psychoactive drug, vary from person to person.

■ Hallucinogens, whose main effect is to produce hallucinations, have been used for their effects on consciousness since earliest human history.

■ LSD, a synthetic substance, is the most potent and most extensively studied hallucinogen.

■ Alcohol is a depressant that serves to inhibit the brain’s normal functions.

■ Drug abusers are people who regularly use illegal drugs or excessively use legal drugs.