Chapter 5

Consciousness Consciousness is an awareness of our internal and external stimuli Variations in consciousness are measured with an EEG (electroencephalogram) – EEG patterns vary by level of consciousness Beta Waves = Awake and REM Alpha Waves = Relaxed/Drowsy Theta Waves = Light Sleep Delta Waves = Deep Sleep

Biological Rhythms Periodic fluctuations in physiological functioning – These are our “biological clocks” circadian rhythm – One type is the circadian rhythm 24-hour biological cycle

Circadian Rhythm melatonin The hormone melatonin regulates your circadian rhythms If you ignore/disrupt it, your sleep will suffer – Example “jet lag” from flying across time zones

Sleep Sleep is not just one event, but a series of stages – Stages 1-4 & REM – In this order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 5 (REM) We go through these stages about every 90 minutes

Stage 1 Kind of awake, kind of asleep Hypnic jerks/ myoclonic jerks Hypnic jerks/ myoclonic jerks common in this stage Only lasts a few minutes Usually only once a night Theta Waves

Stage 2 Theta Waves get slower Lasts about 10 minutes sleep spindles Begin to show sleep spindles – short bursts of rapid brain waves

Stages 3 and 4 Slow wave sleep – Delta waves If awoken you will be very groggy About 30 minutes Essential for restoring body’s growth hormones and overall health – From stage 4, your brain begins to speed up – You go back to stage 3 – Then 2… – Then…

REM Sleep Rapid Eye Movement Rapid Eye Movement Often called paradoxical sleep – Beta Waves – Brain is very active, as if you were awake Dreams usually occur in REM REM atonia Body is essentially paralyzed (REM atonia) – Body stops releasing serotonin, histamines, and norepinephrine Prevents you from moving during REM sleep If it doesn’t, you will move while in REM sleep REM rebound If deprived of REM, the next time we sleep we go into REM rebound

Sleep Cycles

Waves Mnemonic Be Aware That Sleep Demands Bed Beta Alpha Theta Spindles Delta Beta

Age & REM

Why We Sleep We spend 1/3 of our lives asleep; so why do we sleep? – Sleep protected our ancestors from harm – Sleep helps restore and repair brain tissue – Sleep restores and rebuilds our fading memories – Sleep allows the pituitary gland to release human growth hormone

Sleep Deprivation Fatigue Impaired concentration, speech, & motor functioning Emotional irritability Depressed immune system Death

Amount Of Sleep

Why We Dream Wish Fulfillment Wish Fulfillment – Freud suggested that dreams provide a safe way to express our unacceptable unconscious desires – Manifest Content – Latent Content Cognitive Theory Cognitive Theory – A way to deal with the stresses of everyday life and/or engage in creative thinking to solve a problem This is why we tend to dream more when we are stressed Activation-Synthesis Theory Activation-Synthesis Theory – Our brain is trying to interpret the random electrical activity we have while sleeping This is why dreams sometimes make no sense

Sleep Disorders

Hypnosis A systematic procedure that may produce a heightened state of suggestibility – Different people have various states of hypnotic suggestibility Works better on people who are: – imaginative – easily absorbed in experiences

Hypnotic Phenomenon Anesthesia Sensory distortions and hallucinations Disinhibition Posthypnotic suggestion – Must be willing Posthypnotic amnesia – Most people actually remember

Theories of Hypnosis Role-Playing Theory Social Cognitive Behavior Theory AKA Social Cognitive Behavior Theory – Hypnosis is NOT an altered state of consciousness. Its a social phenomenon where people want to believe Who? Dissociation Theory Divided Consciousness Theory AKA Divided Consciousness Theory – Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness Dramatic health benefits – It works best for pain Who?

Meditation Practices that train your attention to heighten awareness and control Many health benefits Alpha waves – Relaxed state

Drugs Can be agonists, antagonists, or reuptake inhibitors tolerance If a drug is used often, a tolerance is created for the drug – You need more of the drug to feel the same effect dependence Physiological & psychological dependence withdrawal – If you stop using a drug you can develop withdrawal symptoms – Leads to addiction

Psychoactive Drugs Drugs that act on the nervous system to alter consciousness, modify perceptions, and change moods. 3 Types: 1.Depressants- drugs that slow down mental and physical activity 2.Stimulants- drugs that increase central nervous system activity 3.Hallucinogens- drugs that modify a person’s perceptual experiences Also called Psychedelics

Depressants

Stimulants

Hallucinogens