Chapter 4

States of Consciousness

RM: Py Test

What Is Consciousness?

• Awareness? Aware of what?

• Why is it like a stream?

• Normal consciousness?

• Altered states of consciousness?

Circadian Rhythm• Circadian rhythms >

biological changes that occur on a daily schedule

Hormones

Circadian Rhythm

Circadian Rhythm

• The free-running sleep-wake cycle is ~25 hours.

• To = a 24-hour day, the cycle is reset by external cues.

Circadian Rhythm

• Jet travel, shift work can disrupt rhythms

• Jet lag > difference between internal clock and time in environment.

• Easier to adapt to phase delays (east-west travel) than to phase advances

• Rotating shifts

• Sleep deprivation

The Study of Sleep

• About 90 minutes > NREM (Stages I to 4) REM.

• Adults repeat cycle 4-6 times per night

Sleep and Consciousness

Sleep and aging

Sleep and aging

Sleep Disorders

• Insomnia• Apnea• Narcolepsy Narcolepsy II• Sleepwalking (Stage 4) • Sleep terrors (Stage 4) sleep; usually disappears

w/o tx.• REM sleep behavior disorder > usually men• SIDS

Dreams

• REM sleep

• Freud > dreams fulfill sexual and aggressive wishes; we forget dreams because of repression.

• Analyze manifest content to get at latent content (the “true meaning”).

• Latent content

• Activation-synthesis

Hypnosis

• ~90 – 95 % hypnotizable• Used in pain relief: Relaxation? Distraction? Expectations?

Hypnosis

• Crime recall - Improves recall, more sure, but sometimes more distorted• Age regression• Past-life regression

4-14

Psychoactive Substances

• Chemicals that can alter consciousness, perception, mood, and behavior• How do you know if you are addicted?

• Work/school• Health• $• Relationships

• Terms:• Tolerance• Withdrawal

• Most widely used illicit drug?

4-15

Incidence of Illicit Drug Use

4-16

Theories of Addiction

• Biological• Ego-Deficit (Psychosocial)

4-17

Drug Use: Alcohol

• ~ 40% of traffic fatalities• ~ 80% of HS students in last year have had a drink• CNS inhibitant • Most states have lowered the BAC that defines intoxication to .08.• Korsakoff’s syndrome

DUI

4-18

Ilicit Drugs

Barbiturates• CNS depressant• Related to benzodiazapines; includes valium and rohypnol

Amphetamines/stimulants• Ritalin, Cylert, Adderall; Caffeine• Methamphetamine (ice, crystal, glass, tweak, crank)• Cocaine - leaves of coca plant

Opiates• heroin, morphine

Hallucinogens• PCP, Ecstasy (MDMA, X, XTC), LSD (acid)

[next]

4-19

Long-Term Effects of Ecstasy

Growing evidence that MDMA can have dramatic effects on memory and attention.

4-20

Nicotine

Largest single preventable cause of premature death in USA

Anti-smoking commercial

4-21Second-hand smoke

Altering Consciousness With Drugs

• Hallucinogens > changes in perception, including hallucinations. – lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)– phencyclidine piperidine (PCP).