Chapter 7 States of Consciousness

States of Consciousness

Consciousnessour awareness of ourselves and

our environments

Fantasy Prone Personalityimagines and recalls experiences

with lifelike vividnessspends considerable time

fantasizing

Sleep and Dreams

Biological Rhythmsperiodic physiological

fluctuations

Circadian Rhythm

the biological clockregular bodily rhythms

that occur on a 24 hour cycle wakefulness body temperature

Sleep and DreamsREM (Rapid Eye Movement)

Sleep

recurring sleep stage vivid dreams“paradoxical sleep”

muscles are generally relaxed, but other body systems are active

Sleepperiodic, natural, reversible

loss of consciousness

Brain Waves and Sleep Stages

Alpha Wavesslow waves of a

relaxed, awake brain

Delta Waveslarge, slow waves of

deep sleep

Hallucinationsfalse sensory

experiences

Typical Nightly Sleep Stages

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

4

3

2

1

Sleepstages

Awake

Hours of sleep

REM

Sleep DeprivationEffects of Sleep Loss

fatigueimpaired concentrationimmune suppressionirritabilityslowed performance

accidentsplanesautos and trucks

Sleep Disorders

Insomniapersistent problems in falling or

staying asleep

Narcolepsyuncontrollable sleep attacks

Sleep Apneacessation of breathingoften associated with snoringrepeatedly awakes sufferer

Night Terrors and NightmaresNight Terrors

occur within 2 or 3 hours of falling asleep, usually during Stage 4

high arousal- appearance of being terrified

Nightmaresoccur towards morningduring REM sleep

Dreams- Freud

Sigmund Freud- The Interpretation of Dreams (1900)wish fulfillment discharge otherwise unacceptable

feelings

Manifest Contentremembered story line

Latent Contentunderlying, uncensored meaning

Dreams

As Information Processinghelps consolidate day’s

memoriesstimulates neural

development

REM ReboundREM sleep increases following

REM sleep deprivation

Hypnosis

Hypnosisa social interaction in

which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts or behaviors will spontaneously occur

a relaxed state

Hypnosis

Posthypnotic Amnesiasupposed inability to recall what

one experienced during hypnosisinduced by the hypnotist’s

suggestion

Hypnotic Suggestibilityrelated to subject’s openness to

suggestionability to focus attention inwardlyability to become imaginatively

absorbed

Hypnosis

Orne & Evans (1965)control group instructed to

“pretend”unhypnotized subjects performed

the same acts as the hypnotized ones

Posthypnotic Suggestion

suggestion to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized

used by some clinicians to control undesired symptoms and behaviors

Hypnosis and Pain

Dissociationa split in consciousnessallows some thoughts and behaviors

to occur simultaneously with others

Hidden ObserverHilgard’s term describing a

hypnotized subject’s awareness of experiences, such as pain, that go unreported during hypnosis

Drugs and Consciousness

Psychoactive Druga chemical substance that alters

perceptions and alters mood

Physical Dependence physiological need for a drugmarked by unpleasant withdrawal

symptoms

Psychological Dependencea psychological need to use a drugfor example, to relieve negative emotions

Dependence

Toleranceneed for progressively larger

doses to achieve same effect

Withdrawaldiscomfort and distress with

discontinued use

Psychoactive Drugs

Depressantsdrugs that reduce neural activity slow body function

alcohol, barbiturates, opiates

Stimulantsdrugs that excite neural activity speed up body function

caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines

Psychoactive Drugs

Hallucinogenspsychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs

that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

LSD

Psychoactive Drugs

Barbituratesdrugs that depress

the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement

Psychoactive Drugs

Opiatesopium and its derivatives

(morphine and heroin)opiates depress neural

activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

Psychoactive Drugs

Amphetaminesdrugs that stimulate

neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes

Psychoactive Drugs

LSD lysergic acid diethylamidea powerful hallucinogenic drugalso known as acid

THCthe major active ingredient in

marijuanatriggers a variety of effects,

including mild hallucinations

Psychoactive Drugs

Drug Type Pleasurable Effects Adverse Effects

Alcohol Depressant Initial high followed by Depression, memory loss, organ relaxation and disinhibition damage, impaired reactions

Heroin Depressant Rush of euphoria, relief from Depressed physiology, pain agonizing withdrawal

Caffeine Stimulant Increased alertness and Anxiety, restlessness, and wakefulness insomnia in high doses;

uncomfortable withdrawal

Metham- Stimulant Euphoria, alertness, energy Irritability, insomnia, phetamine hypertension, seizures

Cocaine Stimulant Rush of euphoria, confidence, Cardiovascular stress, energy suspiciousness, depressive crash

Nicotine Stimulant Arousal and relaxation, sense Heart disease, cancer (from tars) of well-being

Marijuana Mild Enhanced sensation, pain relief Lowered sex hormones, disrupted hallucinogen distortion of time, relaxation memory, lung damage from smoke

Near Death Experiences

Near Death Experiencean altered state of consciousness

reported after a close brush with death

often similar to drug-induced hallucinations

Near Death Experiences

Dualismthe presumption that mind

and body are two distinct entities that interact

Monismthe presumption that mind

and body are different aspects of the same thing