States of Consciousness Chapter 5 States of Consciousness This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images Any rental, lease or lending of the program. ISBN: 0-131-73180-7 Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Levels of Consciousness Preconscious Nonconscious Nonconscious Unconscious Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Levels of Consciousness Conscious – Brain process of which we are aware Nonconscious – Brain process that does not involve conscious processing (e.g. heart rate, breathing, control of internal organs) Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Levels of Consciousness Preconscious – Information that is not currently in consciousness, but can be brought into consciousness if attention is called to it Unconscious – Many levels of processing that occur without awareness Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

What Cycles Occur in Everyday Consciousness? Consciousness changes in cycles that correspond to our biological rhythms and the patterns of stimulation in our environment Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Sleep and Dreams Biological Rhythms Circadian Rhythm periodic physiological fluctuations Circadian Rhythm the biological clock regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle, such as of wakefulness and body temperature

What Cycles Occur in Everyday Consciousness? Daydreaming – A common variation of consciousness in which attention shifts to memories, expectations, desires, or fantasies and away from the immediate situation Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Sleep Cycle Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Function of Sleep Possible functions of sleep include: To conserve energy To restore the body (neurotransmitters, neuron sensitivity) To build “neural nets” and flush out useless information from the brain Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Need for Sleep Over the years, the need for REM sleep decreases considerably, while the need for NREM sleep diminishes less sharply Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Sleep Debt vs. The Circadian Clock Sleep debt – Deficiency caused by not getting the amount of sleep that one requires for optimal functioning Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 REM Rebound When we have been deprived of sleep (REM and NREM) over a period of time, we fall quickly into REM sleep and spend more time there than in a usual night of sleep cycling. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Sleep Disorders Insomnia – Involves insufficient sleep, the inability to fall asleep quickly, frequent arousals, or early awakenings Sleep apnea – Respiratory disorder in which person intermittently stops breathing while asleep Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Sleep Disorders Narcolepsy – Involves sudden REM sleep attacks accompanied by cataplexy Cataplexy – Sudden loss of muscle control that occurs before narcoleptic sleep attack; waking form of sleep paralysis Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Sleep Disorders Night terrors – The screaming of a child in deep sleep, who, once awakened, has no memory of what mental events might have caused the fear Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 REM Sleep Disorder When the body does not go into sleep paralysis during REM sleep (pons) and a person dreams vividly while moving around without restraint. Is dangerous to themselves and others. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Dreams as Meaningful Events Freud believed dreams served the following two functions: To guard sleep To serve as sources of wish fulfillment Dream content Varies by culture, gender, and age Frequently connects with recent experience May help us form memories Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Dreams: Freud Sigmund Freud--The Interpretation of Dreams (1900) wish fulfillment discharge otherwise unacceptable feelings Manifest Content remembered story line Latent Content underlying meaning

What Other Forms Can Consciousness Take? An altered state of consciousness occurs when some aspect of normal consciousness is modified by mental, behavioral, or chemical means Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

What Other Forms Can Consciousness Take? Hypnosis *** Meditation *** Psychoactive drug states *** All “Altered States of Consciousness” Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Hypnosis Hypnosis – Induced state of altered awareness, characterized by heightened suggestibility and deep relaxation Hypnotizability – Degree to which an individual is responsive to hypnotic suggestions Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Hypnosis As an Altered State Experts disagree about whether hypnosis involves A distinct state of consciousness Heightened motivation Social processes such as role playing A dissociate state (Hilgard’s “hidden observer” view) Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Hypnosis Dissociation Hidden Observer a split in consciousness allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others Hidden Observer Hilgard’s term describing a hypnotized subject’s awareness of experiences, such as pain, that go unreported during hypnosis

Practical Uses for Hypnosis Hypnosis can have practical uses for Researchers Psychological treatment Medical and dental treatment Hypnotic analgesia – Diminished sensitivity to pain while under hypnosis Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Meditation Meditation – Form of consciousness change induced by focusing on a repetitive behavior, assuming certain body positions and minimizing external stimulation Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Benefits of Meditation *Aid to coping with physiological reactions to stress *More theta and alpha waves (deep relaxation) *Lower blood pressure *Increase melatonin secretion at night *Reduce levels of chronic pain Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Benefits of Meditation Reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and hostility Reduce risk of heart disease Reduce stress levels in cancer patients to increase recovery and reduce recurrence Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007