1. States of Consciousness

2. Consciousness  Is our awareness of ourselves and our environment. Allows one to think and plan Enables concentration  Jake doesn’t agree with this formulation…

3. Waking Consciousness  Selective Attention – the limited aspect of experience that we focus our attention on. Dichotomoue hearing; cocktail party effect Can you sing along with the radio when you drive?  Daydreams & Fantasies – Bad when escapist and counterproductive Adaptive when relieving boredom, problem solving, or a coping method.

4. Sleep and Dreams Circadian Rythyms – biological clock set for 24 hour period. Circadian Rythyms – biological clock set for 24 hour period. –Melatonin – produced in darkness, and slows biological activity.

5. Sleep Stages Awake and relaxed – alpha waves Awake and relaxed – alpha waves Stage 1 Sleep – ca. 5 min, hallucinations (perception w/o sensation) Stage 1 Sleep – ca. 5 min, hallucinations (perception w/o sensation) Stage 2 – ca. 20 min, sleep spindles (bursts of brainwave activity) Stage 2 – ca. 20 min, sleep spindles (bursts of brainwave activity) Stage 3 – transition, a few minutes Stage 3 – transition, a few minutes Stage 4 – delta waves Stage 4 – delta waves –Stages 3 & 4 are slow wave sleep and are difficult to awaken people from REM – paradoxical sleep REM – paradoxical sleep

6. REM After about an hour of sleep return to stage 1: REM After about an hour of sleep return to stage 1: REM Lasts about 10 minutes Lasts about 10 minutes Cycle repeats every 90 minutes Cycle repeats every 90 minutes Genital arousal ‘always’ occurs Genital arousal ‘always’ occurs Brainstem blocks messages to muscles Brainstem blocks messages to muscles

7. Why Sleep? Growth hormone released Growth hormone released Low sleep: poor attention Low sleep: poor attention Tissue repair – lowers body temperature Tissue repair – lowers body temperature So we don’t run into (or off of) stuff in the dark So we don’t run into (or off of) stuff in the dark

8. Sleep Disorders Insomnia – persistent problems falling or staying asleep Insomnia – persistent problems falling or staying asleep Sleep Apnea – stop breathing during night; snoring Sleep Apnea – stop breathing during night; snoring Narcolepsy – spontaneously fall asleep Narcolepsy – spontaneously fall asleep Night terrors – occur during stage 4 sleep, not REM Night terrors – occur during stage 4 sleep, not REM

9. Dreams Might put together information from the day (manifest content: the storyline) Might put together information from the day (manifest content: the storyline) Might be subconscious desires, conflicts that would be unsafe to express otherwise (latent content) Might be subconscious desires, conflicts that would be unsafe to express otherwise (latent content) Freud’s interpretation of dreams… (1900) Freud’s interpretation of dreams… (1900) REM rebound – when deprived of REM you will return more and more rapidly to REM sleep REM rebound – when deprived of REM you will return more and more rapidly to REM sleep

10. Hypnosis Facts & Falsehoods – you cannot recall more accurately in hypnosis Facts & Falsehoods – you cannot recall more accurately in hypnosis you can separate awareness you can separate awareness some people are more hypnotizeable than others some people are more hypnotizeable than others can alleviate pain can alleviate pain Hypnosis may be an authority effect – remember Stanley Milgram? Hypnosis may be an authority effect – remember Stanley Milgram?

11. Drugs Dependence & Addiction Dependence & Addiction Tolerance – with use effects diminish, so you gotta take more to get the same effectTolerance – with use effects diminish, so you gotta take more to get the same effect Withdrawal – pain after cessation of administrationWithdrawal – pain after cessation of administration Physical dependence – characterized by withdrawalPhysical dependence – characterized by withdrawal Psychological dependence – drug becomes an important part of person’s life, often as a way of relieving negative emotionsPsychological dependence – drug becomes an important part of person’s life, often as a way of relieving negative emotions

12. Psychoactive Drugs Depressants (alcohol, barbiturates, opiates) – reduce neural activity & slow body functions Depressants (alcohol, barbiturates, opiates) – reduce neural activity & slow body functions Stimulants (caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, nose candy) – excite neural activity & speed up body functions Stimulants (caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, nose candy) – excite neural activity & speed up body functions Hallucinogens (weed, LSD, shrooms, X) – distort perception & evoke sensory images w/o input from environment Hallucinogens (weed, LSD, shrooms, X) – distort perception & evoke sensory images w/o input from environment X is real bad! – triggers dopamine release (reinforcing use); triggers release of serotonin & prevents reuptakeX is real bad! – triggers dopamine release (reinforcing use); triggers release of serotonin & prevents reuptake X can break your brain. Serotonin receptors can be damaged, which can result in depressed mood, interference in circadian rhythms, suppress immune system, inhibit memory & cognitive functionsX can break your brain. Serotonin receptors can be damaged, which can result in depressed mood, interference in circadian rhythms, suppress immune system, inhibit memory & cognitive functions

13. Influences on Drug Use Genetics Genetics Culture Culture

14. NDE Near Death Experience (more accurately, “I came back from the dead” experience) –About 1/3 people who die and come back experience NDEs, not everyone –Stable across cultures and time –Explained by oxygen deprivation –People who experience isolation/extreme conditions also have ‘mystic experiences’

15. Monism or Dualism Monism – there is no mind, just brain Dualism – mind and brain are distinct (but not necessarily separate) Both have problems that are very difficult to address, but most biopsychologists take a monistic stance.

16. References Myers, D. (2005). Exploring Psychology (6 th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers. Myers, D. (2005). Exploring Psychology (6 th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers. www.crystalinks.com/ reality.html www.crystalinks.com/ reality.html www.crystalinks.com/ reality.html www.crystalinks.com/ reality.html