States of Consciousness

Sleep Sleep is a state of consciousness. We are less aware of our surroundings, but conscious. Circadian Rhythm – the “biological clock”; regular rhythms that occur on a 24 hr cycle (body temp, wakefulness, etc.)#13#13

Sleep Cycle Researchers use an EEG machine to determine stages of sleep. When you are awake or in the onset of sleep, your brain emits alpha waves. In onset of sleep, people may have mild hallucinations, like a feeling of falling.

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.

Stage 2 More theta waves that get progressively slower. Begin to show sleep spindles (short bursts of rapid brain waves).

Stages 3 and 4 Slow wave sleep The brain produces delta waves. If awoke, you will be very groggy. Vital for restoring body’s growth hormones and good overall health. From stage 4, your brain begins to speed up and you go to stage 3, then 2, then…

REM Sleep Rapid Eye Movement Often called paradoxical sleep: – Brain is very active. – Body is essentially paralyzed. Dreams usually occur in REM. REM Rebound

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia persistent problems falling asleep Effects 10% - 15% of the population

Narcolepsy suffer from sleeplessness and may fall asleep at unpredictable or inappropriate times severe cases - directly into REM sleep 1 out of 2000 people Click above to see Skeeter the narcoleptic dog.

Sleep Apnea a person stops breathing during their sleep wake up momentarily, gasp for air, then fall back asleep 1 in 20; very common, especially in overweight males

Night Terrors Characterized by intense crying, screaming, or fear Not a nightmare Most common in children between ages Stage 4

Somnambulism a.k.a. - Sleep Walking most often occurs during stage 4 more common in children (especially those who have experienced night terrors) harmless

Sleeptalking can occur during any sleep stage typically garbled and non-sensical like sleepwalking, common in children and harmless

Dreams

Freud’s Theory of Dreams Dreams are a roadway into our unconscious. Manifest Content (storyline) Latent Content (underlying meaning)

Activation-Synthesis Theory the cerebral cortex is trying to interpret random electrical activity we have while sleeping that is why dreams sometimes make no sense a biological theory

Information-Processing Theory dreams are a way to deal with the stresses of everyday life we tend to dream more when we are more stressed

Hypnosis

Hypnosis 11:50 11:50 Altered State of Consciousness? Posthypnotic Suggestion – a proposition, made to a “hypnotized” subject, to be carried out after hypnosis Posthypnotic Amnesia - supposed inability to recall things that happened during hypnosis

Hypnotic Theories Role Theory Hypnosis is NOT an altered state of consciousness. Different people have various levels of hypnotic suggestibility. A social phenomenon where people want to believe and/or fulfill the “role” of the hypnotized. Support: the young and those with richer “fantasy lives” are more susceptible research has shown that those who are told to act as hypnotized do the same as those who are “hypnotized” Age regression hypnosis problems State Theory Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness. Support: – Some health benefits (especially “treatment” of pain; obesity)

Dissociation Theory Theory by Ernest Hilgard and his experiments with ice water.  We voluntarily divide our consciousness.  We have a “hidden observer”, or a part of us that is always aware

Drugs

Let’s Have a Mouse Party! mouse party mouse party

Drugs Our brain is protected by a layer of capillaries called the blood-brain barrier. The drugs that are small enough to pass through are called psychoactive drugs.

Drugs are either…. faces of meth faces of meth Agonists Antagonists Reuptake inhibitors If a drug is used often, a tolerance is created for the drug. Thus you need more of the drug to feel the same effect. If you stop using a drug you can develop withdrawal symptoms.

Stimulants Speed up body processes. More powerful ones (like cocaine) give people feelings of invincibility.

Depressants Slow down body processes. – Alcohol – Anxiolytics (barbiturates and tranquilizers)

Alcohol More than 86 billion dollars are spent annually on alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is involved in 60% of ALL crimes. Alcohol is involved in over 70% of sexual assaults.

Hallucinogens a.k.a. - Psychedelics cause changes in perceptions of reality i.e. - LSD, peyote, psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana. reverse tolerance – when successive doses cause equal effect of original doses

Opiates Have depressive and hallucinogenic qualities. Agonist for endorphins. Derived from poppy plant. Morphine, heroin, methadone and codeine. All these drugs cross the placental barrier…. teratogens.