States of Consciousness

Consciousness  Process by which the brain creates a model of internal and external experience

Historical background  The emergence of behaviorism lessened the study on consciousness  Consciousness as a legitimate field of psychological study reemerged in the 1960’s because of advances in neuroscience and interest in altered states of consciousness.

Levels of Consciousness  Conscious Level- Most common is wakeful: what occurs here is memory, emotions, processing and this allow us to manipulate and respond to our environment. This thinking occurs serially. Most common is wakeful: what occurs here is memory, emotions, processing and this allow us to manipulate and respond to our environment. This thinking occurs serially.

Levels of Consciousness  Nonconscious Level-any brain process that does not involve conscious processing, including both pre and unconscious (which is why you can chew gum, walk, and breathe at the same time. This involve actions of a parallel nature.

Levels of Consciousness  Preconscious Level-memories that are not currently in one’s consciousness but can be easily recalled.  Unconscious- cognition without awareness (anesthesia, hypnosis)

Altered States of Consciousness  Altered State-state in which there is a shift in the quality or pattern of mental activity as compared to waking consciousness.  Hypnosis-state of consciousness in which a person is especially susceptible to suggestion.

Altered States of Consciousness  Use of Psychoactive Drugs-use of drugs to take a shortcut to that alter thinking, perception, memory or some combination of those abilities.  Meditation-mental series of exercises meant to refocus attention and achieve trancelike state of consciousness

Altered States of Consciousness  Sleep- most common altered state, it is one of the body’s biological rhythms or natural cycles of activity that the body must go through.  All altered states share the fact that critical thinking is inhibited (ex dreamer may perceive an unrealistic dream as logical while he/she is experiencing it)

Biological Clocks  Internal timing devices that are set for hours, single days, or monthly. For humans, it is important in regulation of sleep. Influences variation in blood pressure, alertness and body temp. (ex body temp peaks in afternoon and lowest around 3- 4am. Location of biological clocks is hypothalamus.

Biological Clocks  Retina sends signals to small structure in the hyposthalamus classed the suprachaiamatic nucleus (SCN)  The SCN receives light info from a special set of ganglian cells in the retina which then sends info to areas in the hindbrain that promote sleep or wakefulness.  The SCN signals the nearby pineal gland which secretes melatonin and plays a key role in adjusting biological clocks.

Circadian Problems and treatments  Shift work-changing from day to night work changes a body’s circadian rhythm  Jet Lag- changes the body’s biological clock  Resetting the clock-shifts the day without changing the actual time according to daylight.

Circadian Problems and treatments  Melatonin- hormone secreted by pineal gland. It increases with darkness and decreases with light.

Sleeping and Dreaming  Daydreaming-mildly altered state of consciousness and mainly alters attention.  Stages of sleep-our bodies cycle between REM and NREM sleep

Sleeping and Dreaming  Characteristics of Sleep- Human sleep patterns follow a circadian rhythm corresponding to patterns of light and darkness. Human sleep patterns follow a circadian rhythm corresponding to patterns of light and darkness. Average adults experience 4 to 6 90 minute cycles of NREM (non rapid eye movement) and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep per night, although the ratio of NREM to REM varies as the night progresses. Average adults experience 4 to 6 90 minute cycles of NREM (non rapid eye movement) and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep per night, although the ratio of NREM to REM varies as the night progresses.

Sleeping and Dreaming  Characteristics of Sleep- Babies have 50% REM sleep whereas adults have 25-30% REM sleep. Babies have 50% REM sleep whereas adults have 25-30% REM sleep. REM helps us restore memories. Babies obviously learn more early on. REM helps us restore memories. Babies obviously learn more early on. Need for sleep varies among individuals, but ranges from 20 hours for infants to 6 hours for adults in their 70’s. Need for sleep varies among individuals, but ranges from 20 hours for infants to 6 hours for adults in their 70’s.

Sleeping and Dreaming  Characteristics of Sleep- Loss of sleep can result in weight gain, shortened life span, grogginess, and sometimes tragedy Loss of sleep can result in weight gain, shortened life span, grogginess, and sometimes tragedy Benefits of sleep include mental alertness, being more artistic, and more creative Benefits of sleep include mental alertness, being more artistic, and more creative

Sleeping and Dreaming  A sleeper progresses through Stages 1 through 4, then climbs back from Stage 4 to Stage 1 or 2, then experiences REM sleep  This happens for 40-50% of sleep and the average person progresses through all the Stages of sleep.

Sleeping and Dreaming  Stage 0-a person is very relaxed with eyes closed  Quiet Sleep-this is NREM sleep  Stage 1-slower theta activity  Stage 2-sleep spindles appear, fast (beta) brain activity, similar to those in waking state  Stage 3-progressively deeper state of relaxed sleep. Delta waves appear for the first time. Heart rate and breathing slow down.

Sleeping and Dreaming  Quiet Sleep-this is NREM sleep  Stage 4-electrical activity of the brain increases and sleeper climbs back up through stages.  OR rather than going into Stage 1 again though, the sleeper begins to produce fast beta waves on the EEG along with REM. After about 10 minutes of REM, the sleeper slips back into Stage 2 and repeats. Each succeeding REM gets longer and longer.

Sleeping and Dreaming  Active Sleep-this is REM sleep  OR rather than going into Stage 1 again though, the sleeper begins to produce fast beta waves on the EEG along with REM. After about 10 minutes of REM, the sleeper slips back into Stage 2 and repeats. Each succeeding REM gets longer and longer.

Sleeping and Dreaming  Active Sleep-this is REM sleep  Nearly all dreams occur in REM  Periods of REM sleep increase during the night  REM sleep causes atonia which is muscular weakness. The brain seems to be active and awake while the body shows loss of muscle tone.  During REM, hormones are released that influence growth

Sleeping and Dreaming  NREM sleep function  Mostly still debatable but seems to be restorative.  REM rebound  Is a phenomenon that occurs after REM deprivation in which people experience increased amounts of REM sleep

Theories of Dreaming  Dreaming is a series of thoughts  Duration of dreaming ranges from a few seconds to a few minutes to as long as an hour  Organization of dreaming is usually somewhat logical and story-like

Theories of Dreaming  Activation Synthesis Theory-the information accessed during waking hours have influence on the synthesis of our dreams  Problem Solving – Adler said dream allow us to problem solve. Dreams are problem solving devices.  Freud  Manifest-the actual content  Latent-the symbol or hidden meaning

 5. Noah is a just and righteous man who obeys God.

 6. God wants humanity to begin anew from the virtuous line of Noah and his family.

 7. It is important to obey God based on the rewards that Noah receives for his piety while the rest of humanity is destroyed for its sinfulness and disobedience.