Unit 5 States of Consciousness AP Psychology Ms. Badalucco

Unit 5 States of Consciousness

AP PsychologyMs. Badalucco

Unit ProjectO Sleep JournalO You will keep a sleep journal

throughout this entire unit.O You will need a separate

notebook/journal for this.O You will wake up each morning and

record your dreams.

What are the different levels of consciousness?

O Do Now: what does it mean to be “conscious”?

Dualism vs. Monism

O The historical discussion about consciousness centers on the competing philosophical theories of dualism an monism.


Dualism

O Dualist believe humans and the universe consist of two materials: thought and matter.

O Matter is everything that has substanceO Thought is nonmaterial and comes from the

brainO Thought gives us free-willO Thought lives on after we die


MonismO Monist believe everything is the same substanceO When the body dies, so does thought


So what do psychologists believe now?

O We experience different levels of consciousness a day.

O While you are reading this you may be tapping your pen or bouncing your leg. One level of consciousness is reading, another is tapping your pen or bouncing your leg.


So what are the levels?OConscious levelONonconscious levelOPreconscious levelOSubconscious levelOUnconscious level


Conscious Level

O The information about yourself and your environment you are currently aware of.

O Your conscious level is reading these words right now.


Nonconscious Level

O Body processes controlled by your mind that we are not usually aware of.

O Right now, your nonconscious is controlling your heartbeat, respiration, digestion etc…


Preconscious Level

O Information about yourself or your environment that you are not currently thinking about but you could be.

O If someone asked you to remember your favorite toy as a child, you could bring that information to the conscious level from your preconscious memory.


Subconscious LevelO Information that we are not

consciously aware of but we know must exist due to behaviors.


Unconscious LevelO According to psychoanalytical

psychologists (like Freud), some events and feelings are unacceptable to our conscious mind and are repressed to the unconscious mind.

O Many psychologists object to this concept or find it difficult to prove.


Summary

O Answer the following questions in your notebook:O In what stage of consciousness am I aware of

information about myself but I am not actively thinking about it?

O Which stage is responsible for bodily functions?


Review of the States of Consciousness

O I am sitting in class copying my notes. I am listening to the teacher as she explains what she is talking about. My body is digesting my breakfast that I just finished eating last period. My teacher calls on me and asks me to tell the class what my favorite hobby is. I tell her singing. I notice that I feel very anxious about my next period class’ exam. I am not sure why, but there is a knot in my stomach!

Conscious NonconsciousSubconscious Preconscious

How does our sleep cycle work?

O Do Now: have you ever taken a nap and felt more rested than you did when you slept a full night? Why do you think this is?

Circadian Rhythm

ODuring a 24-hour period, our metabolic and thought processes follow a certain pattern.

OPart of this rhythm is our sleep cycle.OResearchers use EEG to record how

active our brains are during sleep and identify and describe the different stages of sleep.


The Sleep Cycle


The Sleep Cycle


The Sleep Cycle

O Sleep onset: the period when you are falling asleep. O REM: Rapid Eye Movement: this stage is also called

paradoxical sleep. In this stage, our brain waves are as active as when awake, but we are sleeping.

O Dreams usually occur in REM sleep.O REM sleep deprivation interferes with our memory.O The more stress during the day, the longer our REM

sleep will last.O What does this imply about REM sleep?


SummaryO Babies spend more time in REM

sleep. Explain why this is.


How do sleep disorders impact an individual?

O Do Now: think of a night you slept very little. What affect did the lack of sleep have on you the following day?

Throughout this lesson, you will see questions in orange. On a separatesheet of paper, answer these questions.

What is a sleep disorder?

O Sleep disorders are identifiable and diagnosable.

O InsomniaO Sleep apneaO NarcolepsyO Night terrorsO Somnambulism O Throughout this lesson, there will be questions

in orange. You are to answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper to be collected at the end of the period.How do sleep disorders impact an individual?

Insomnia

O Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder.O A person with insomnia has a difficult time falling

asleep or staying asleep.O This disorder is persistent, not sporadic.

O 1. Based on what you know about the sleep cycle, how does this disorder impact an individual?


How is insomnia treated?

O Insomnia is treated by having the patient adjust their daily habits.

O Reduce the intake of caffeine and other stimulants.

O Exercise patterns may be adjusted (exercise in the morning, not right before bed time).

O Maintaining a consistent sleep pattern.O 2. How might maintaining a consistent sleep

pattern help?O As a last resort, sleeping pills may be

prescribed.


Sleep ApneaO Sleep apnea is also fairly common.O Sleep apnea is considered by some

researchers more dangerous that insomnia.O Apnea causes a person to stop breathing

for short periods of time during sleep.O The body causes the individual to wake up,

gasp for air, and then fall back asleep.O 3. According to what you know about the

sleep cycle, how may this impact an individual?


NarcolepsyO Narcolepsy is rare.O Individuals with narcolepsy suffer from

periods of intense sleepiness and may fall asleep at unpredictable and inappropriate times.

O Narcolepsy is treated with medication and changing sleeping patterns.

O Changing sleeping patterns usually involve periodic naps throughout the day.


Night Terrors and Somnambulism

O Night terrors usually affect children.O Most individuals do not remember the episode when

they wake up.O The exact cause of night terrors is unknown, but

researchers believe they are most likely related to somnambulism.

O Somnambulism is sleep walking.O Both phenomena occur during the first few hours of

the night is stage four sleep.O 4. Based on what you know about the sleep cycle,

why do you think most individuals do not remember their episodes of night terrors or somnambulism?


http://www.nightterrors.org/

SummaryO Using one of the sleep disorders

discussed today, explain why completing the sleep cycle each night is so important to our survival.


Do our dreams have meaning?

O Do Now: pick one dream from your dream journal and explain the meaning you think it has.

The meaning of dreamsO Today we will discuss theories of the

meaning of dreams.O These theories are hard to validate,

since it is difficult to access one’s dreams.

O Your dream journal may hold some insight to the meaning of your own dreams, but proving these meanings in near impossible.


Sigmund FreudO Freud found dreams to be an

important tool in his therapy (psychoanalysis).

O Freud believed that dreams were a window into our unconscious mind.

O Freud emphasized two levels of dream content:

O Manifest ContentO Latent Content


Manifest Content O Manifest content is the literal

content of our dreams.


Latent Content O Latent content is the meaning of the manifest

content.O Freud’s therapy focused on the latent content of

dreams.O Protected Sleep: Freud believed our ego was

protecting us from our real desires, and this is why they manifested themselves in the form of symbols in our dreams.

O Our superego is what causes us to forget our dreams.O Just as with Freud’s theory of the conscious mind, we

can not prove this theory, so many question it validity.


Activation-Synthesis TheoryO The activation-synthesis theory examines the

biological process of sleep.O Brain imaging proves our brain is very active

during the REM stage of sleep.O This theory states that our dreams are just

the brain’s interpretation of the physiological activity of REM sleep.

O Dreams may be a product of the literary part of our mind.

O According to this theory, do our dreams have meaning?


Information-Processing Theory

O The information-processing theory is somewhere in the middle of Freud’s theory and the activation-synthesis theory.

O This theory points out that the level of stress during the day and the frequency and intensity of dreams at night are related.

O Perhaps this is how the brain is coping with stress by forcing the individual into REM sleep.


SummaryO What theory do you agree with most

and why?O Use examples from your dream

journal where applicable.


How do drugs affect our consciousness?

O Do Now: why do you think people use recreational drugs?

Psychoactive DrugsO Psychoactive drugs are chemicals that

change the chemistry of the brain and induce an altered state of consciousness.

O The blood-brain barrier is the protective layer of the blood vessels of the brain. It’s purpose is to protect the brain from chemicals.

O The molecules of psychoactive drugs are small enough to pass through the blood-brain barrier.


How do Psychoactive Drugs work?

O Psychoactive drugs work by either mimicking or blocking normal neurotransmission.

O Agonists: mimic neurotransmitters.O Antagonists: block neurotransmitters.


Tolerance and Withdrawal

O Tolerance is when an individual becomes used to the effects of a psychoactive drug.

O Why is this dangerous?O Withdrawal is characterized by the

reactions an individual has when they stop using a psychoactive drug.


What are the 4 Categories of Psychoactive Drugs?

O StimulantsO DepressantsO HallucinogensO Opiates


StimulantsO Examples include: caffeine, cocaine,

amphetamines and nicotine.O Stimulants speed up body processes.O This increase is usually accompanied

by a feeling of euphoria.O Side effects include: disturbed sleep,

reduced appetite, increased anxiety, and heart problems.


Caffeine’s Effect on the Body


DepressantsO Examples include: alcohol,

barbiturates (sleeping pills), and anxiolytics (like Valium).

O Depressants slow down body processes and reactions and impair our judgment.

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/barb.html


HallucinogensO Also called psychedelicsO Examples include LSD, peyote, psilocybin mushrooms

and marijuana.O Hallucinogens cause changes in perceptions of reality,

including sensory hallucinations, loss of identity and vivid fantasies.

O Effects are not predictable.O Hallucinogens stay in an individuals systems for

extended periods of time and when a new dose is taken, it may cause greater effects.

O This is called reverse tolerance because even though the second dose may be less, it produces greater effects.


LSD and the Brain


OpiatesO Examples include: morphine, heroin,

methadone and codeine.O Opiates act as agonists for

endorphins, so they are powerful painkillers and mood elevators.

O Opiates cause drowsiness and euphoria.

O Opiates are the most physically addictive drugs because they rapidly change brain chemistry.


Group ProjectO You will work in groups to create a

presentation in which you will discuss several drugs within your groups category.

O You will discuss whether the drug is an agonist or antagonist, the parts of the brain in which the drug can damage/effect, the neurotransmitters affected and any other pertinent information which will help you and your peers be successful on the AP Psychology exam.

O Be sure to reference the 425 Terms handout!


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Unit 5 States of Consciousness AP Psychology Ms. Badalucco