Bell Ringer – Match up each description with the correct aspect of consciousness 1. biological functions that exist without our awareness 2. being aware of ourselves and our existence 3. being aware of things within yourself – memories, feelings, etc. 4. ideas not in our awareness right now, but could be if you had to recall them 5. also called the subconscious – information unavailable to awareness under most circumstances a. Sense of Self b. nonconscious level c. unconscious level d. inner awareness e. preconscious level

States of Consciousness

Levels of Consciousness Conscious Level Nonconscious Level Preconscious Level Subconscious Level Unconscious Level

The Sleeping Mind

Sleep Sleep is a state of consciousness. We are less aware of our surroundings. Circadian Rhythm – Our 24 hour body cycle Sequence of body changes

Evolutionary Function of Sleep Conservation-conserve energy Protective-away from night time predators Restorative-restores body tissue depleted during daily activities

Sleep Cycle Use an EEG machine to measure stages of sleep. When you are at the onset of sleep you experience alpha waves. Produces mild hallucinations, like a feeling of falling. Stages are defined by brainwave patterns.

Stage 1 Kind of awake and kind of asleep. Only lasts a few minutes, and you usually only experience it once a night. Your brain produces Theta Waves. Fantasies/bizarre images Click the couple to see Theta Waves

Stage 2 More Theta Waves that get progressively slower. Begin to show sleep spindles…short bursts of rapid brain waves. Lasts about 20 minutes Click image to see Stage Two of sleep.

Stages 3 and 4 Slow wave sleep. You produce Delta waves. If awoken you will be very groggy. Vital for restoring body’s growth hormones, building up resistance to infection, and recovering from stress. Click boys to see deep sleep. From stage 4, your brain begins to speed up and you go to stage 3, then 2….then ……

REM Sleep Rapid Eye Movement Brain is very active. May help infant brain development and “exercise” adult brains. Dreams usually occur in REM. Body is essentially paralyzed. Sleep paralysis Glycine? Acetylcholine? Carbachol? “supernatural” experiences 8hr night=REM 5 times As night progresses, so does REM length Click boy dreaming to see REM sleep.

Usually dream in “real time.” Often unable to recall dreams because it’s difficult to hold on to information from one state of consciousness to another.

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia Persistent problems falling asleep Affects 10% of the population “Racing minds” Comes and goes, esp. during anxiety/tension

Narcolepsy Suffer from sleeplessness and may fall asleep at unpredictable or inappropriate times. Directly into REM sleep Less than .001 % of population. Possible genetic disorder Skeeter

Sleep Apnea A person stops breathing during their sleep. Wake up momentarily, gasps for air, then falls back asleep. Air passages are blocked Very common, especially in heavy males. Can be fatal.

Nightmares Snakes and murderers are common Middle ages-work of the devil Products of REM sleep More likely if anxious or depressed

Night Terrors Wake up screaming and have no idea why. Not a nightmare. Most common in children (boys) between ages 2-8. Racing heart Memories usually vague Occur in deep sleep (Stages 3&4) Immaturity of the nervous system

Somnambulism Sleep Walking Most often occurs during the first few hours of sleeping and in stage 4 (deep sleep). If you have had night terrors, you are more likely to sleep walk when older. Typically don’t remember Immaturity of NS Lasts 15 seconds to 30 minutes. Genetic predisposition

Dreams

Most are about sex, aggression, and misfortune Falling, being chased or attacked common across cultures Blind have vivid dreams of sound, taste, smell, & touch Dream incorporation Artistic inspiration http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/11/18/o.twilight.newmoon.meyer/index.html Purpose remains a mystery But 4 major explanations exist.

1. Freud’s Theory of Dreams Dreams allow us to express unconscious wishes we find unacceptable in real life. Manifest Content (storyline/plot) Latent Content (hidden/disguised meaning)

Manifest Content

Latent Content Dream Interpretation

2. Activation-Synthesis Theory “brain sparks” Our Cerebral Cortex is trying to interpret random electrical activity we have while sleeping. Side effects of neurons firing. That is why dreams sometimes make no sense. A biological Theory.

3. Information-Processing Theory “Problem-Solving” Dreams are a way to deal with the stresses of everyday life. Rehearse scenarios of stressful situations. We tend to dream more when we are more stressed.

4. Neural Housekeeping Theory Brain eliminating or strengthening neural connections. Cleaning up brain files

Hypnosis

Hypnosis Altered state of consciousness? Posthypnotic suggestion Posthypnotic amnesia