1. 1 States of Consciousness

2. Table of Contents 2 States of Consciousness Characteristics of consciousness at any given time ranging from alert wakefulness (consciousness) to altered states (i.e. deep sleep, hypnosis, drug induced states).

3. Table of Contents 3 Did you know… in a typical 8 hour night, you spend about an hour and a half in REM sleep ? Unfortunately, most dreams are forgotten. This time is broken up into four or five "REM periods" ranging in length from 5 to 45 minutes. http://www.psywww.com

4. Table of Contents 4 Basic Concepts Circadian Rhythms – 24 hr biological cycles –Cycle of sleep/other body functions –* “Free running rhythms” tend to be 25 hours Sleep –NREM – all stages outside of REM –REM – rapid eye movement

5. Table of Contents 5 A Physiological Index of Consciousness Sleep Research Instruments Used: –Electroencephalograph – measures brain electrical activity Identifying brain-waves –Amplitude (height) –Frequency (cycles per second) »Beta waves (13-24 cps) - awake »Alpha waves (8-12 cps) - drowsy »Theta waves (4-7 cps) – stages one and two sleep »Delta waves (<4 cps) – stages three and four –Electromyograph – measures muscle activity –Electrooculograph – measures eye movements –Other bodily functions, such as heart rate, respiration and temperature, are also observed

6. Table of Contents 6 Did you know… the muscles contractions that you have right as you fall asleep are called “hypnic jerk” ? http://www.psywww.com Myoclonic contraction is another name for hypnic jerk.

7. Table of Contents 7 Beta waves Theta waves Delta waves (large, slow waves) Alpha waves Sleep talking Sleepwalking & bed wetting REMREM

8. Table of Contents 8 Sleep Stages: Cycling Through Sleep Stage 1: brief, transitional (1-7 minutes) –alpha -> theta –hypnic jerks Stage 2: sleep spindles (10-25 minutes) Stages 3 & 4 : slow-wave sleep (30 minutes) REM: EEG similar to awake –irregular breathing and pulse, loss of muscle tone –vivid dreaming –initially a few minutes, progressively longer through the night –developmental differences in REM sleep (infants more)

9. Table of Contents 9 Did you know… REM atonia, the normal body function in which the muscles that move the body are "turned off" during REM sleep, can last for brief seconds after you awake ? A student who suffered from sleep paralysis (like her mother and grandmother) said the easiest "cure" is not to struggle but to go back to sleep and wake up a second time. http://www.psywww.com

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11. Table of Contents 11 Did you know… "lucid dreaming" refers to dreaming while knowing that you are dreaming ? Many have experienced this, often waking up immediately after the realization. However, it is possible to continue the dream while remaining fully aware that you are dreaming. http://www.psywww.com

12. Table of Contents 12 The Neural Bases of Sleep Brain Structures: –Ascending Reticular Activating System Don’t write this… A system of afferent fibers running through the reticular formation that influence physiological arousal. When these fibers are cut, animals will sleep continuously. If they are stimulated, arousal and alertness result. –Pons (critical in generation of REM sleep) Physiological pathway of the biological clock: –Light levels -> retina -> (suprachiasmatic nucleus of) hypothalamus -> pineal gland -> secretion of melatonin (a hormone that adjusts the biological clock) Neurotransmitters: –Acetylcholine and serotonin (most influential) –Also involved: norepinephrine, dopamine, and GABA

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14. Table of Contents 14 Why Do We Sleep? Hypothesis 1: Conservation Theory –Sleep evolved to conserve organisms’ energy Hypothesis 2: Adaptive Non-Responding Theory –Immobilization during sleep is adaptive because it reduces danger Inconsistencies: stages – why do we have them? Hypothesis 3: Restorative Theory –Sleep helps animals to restore energy and other bodily resources Inconsistencies: “second wind”, rest vs. sleep, increase in some functions during sleep * this theory has most support, but issue is still debated

15. Table of Contents 15 Sleep Deprivation Complete deprivation –3 or 4 days max for typical person –Effects on functioning and mood are modest, critical thinking does lower Partial deprivation/sleep restriction –Effects: impaired attention, reaction time, coordination, and decision making especially w/ long or monotonous tasks –Accidents: Chernobyl, Exxon Valdez Selective deprivation –REM and slow-wave sleep: rebound effect –Suggests we need these levels of sleep

16. Table of Contents 16 Did you know… students who study and get some good REM sleep retain the information better and for longer periods of time than students who pull “all-nighters” ? The brain needs time to process, consolidate and place the information in long term memory. Point being…don’t “cram”! http://www.psywww.com

17. Table of Contents 17 Scientific support showing “all-nighters” are NOT helpful!!!!!!!

18. Table of Contents 18 Sleep Problems Insomnia (35 in 100, more men))– difficulty falling or staying asleep Narcolepsy (1 in 1000) – sudden onset of sleep during normal waking hours, the person goes directly into REM sleep. Sleep Apnea (1 in 25) – reflexive gasping for air that awakens sleeper, person stops breathing Nightmares – anxiety arousing dreams – REM Night Terrors – intense autonomic arousal and panic – NREM – more common in children, not indicative of emotional trouble Somnambulism – sleepwalking (stage 4 sleep)

19. Table of Contents 19 Notice where night terrors and nightmares occur in relation to REM.

20. Table of Contents 20 Dreams and Dreaming: Content and Significance Dreams – mental experiences during sleep –Content usually familiar –Common themes –Waking life spillover – day residue –Notes: people dream in NREM too Adult like dreams develop at around 11-13, suggesting that dreaming is a cognitive ability that develops gradually. Western vs. Non-Western interpretations –People in Western cultures pay little attention to dreams as meaningful messages in their lives, while people from many non- Western cultures are likely to view dreams as important information about themselves, the future, or the spiritual world.

21. Table of Contents 21 Hypnosis: Altered State of Consciousness or Role Playing? Hypnosis = a systematic procedure that increases suggestibility Hypnotic susceptibility: individual differences –Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale suggests…10% of people are especially easy to hypnotize, 10% especially difficult Effects produced through hypnosis: –Anesthesia –Sensory distortions and hallucinations –Disinhibition –Posthypnotic suggestions and amnesia

22. Table of Contents 22 Hypnosis Theories Role playing – acting in accordance w/ hypnotist, stage hypnosis State Theory – an altered state of consciousness Dissociation Theory –subjects dissociate “split” various aspects of behavior and perception from “self” (share control w/ hypnotist)

23. Table of Contents 23 Did you know… borrowing concepts from Mesmer's animal magnetism, Manchester surgeon James Braid coined the term hypnosis in 1843. ? The term refers to Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep. http://www.psywww.com

24. Table of Contents 24 Meditation Meditation = practices that train attention to heighten awareness and bring mental processes under greater voluntary control –Decreased heart rate & breathing –Predominant alpha & theta waves –CT scan shows heightened prefrontal cortex activity & lowered parietal activity Yoga, Zen, transcendental meditation (TM) –Potential physiological benefits Similar to effective relaxation procedures (differences yet to be identified)

25. Table of Contents 25 Commonly Abused Drugs & Their Effects Categories of psychoactive drugs –Narcotics (opiates) – pain relieving –Sedatives/depressants (barbiturates)– sleep inducing –Stimulants – increase CNS activity –Hallucinogens – distort sensory and perceptual experience –Cannabis – produce mild, relaxed euphoria –Alcohol – produces relaxed euphoria, decreases in inhibitions –MDMA – produces a warm, friendly euphoria

26. 26 THE END Quiz/Mini-test next period. States of consciousness cards due.