1. Altered states of consciousness
General psychology 20

2. Sleep and dreams
Sleep is a state of altered consciousness characterized by certain patterns of brain activity
Very difficult to study
Two different types of sleep patterns: quiet sleep and active sleep

3. Stages of quiet sleep
As you begin to fall asleep your body temperature declines, pulse rate drops, breathing is slow and uneven, your body may twitch and your eyes may roll

4. Stages of quiet sleep STAGE I SLEEP
Pulse continues to slow and muscles relax
Breathing becomes uneven, brain waves grow irregular
Lasts for about 10 minutes

5. Stages of quiet sleep STAGE II SLEEP
Brain waves shift from low amplitude, high frequency to high amplitude, low frequency
Lasts for about 30 minutes

6. Stages of quiet sleep STAGE III SLEEP
Large amplitude delta waves every second or so
STAGE IV SLEEP
Deepest sleep of all – difficult to wake someone u
Large regular delta waves
Important to your physical and psychological well-being
Muscles are more relaxed but your eyes begin to move rapidly
Enter into a more active type of sleep called REM sleep

7. REM SLEEP
Rapid Eye Movement is considered “active sleep” as your brain emits activity similar to that of a fully awake person
Pulse rate and breathing become irregular
Levels of adrenal and sexual hormones rise – as if you were doing something very emotional or physically demanding
Lasts for about 10 minutes then you go back to stage III

8. How much sleep do I need?
Varies from individual to individual and depends on the stage of life they are in
Newborns spend hours a day sleeping
Teenagers may spend hours sleeping each night
Adults average about 8 hours
Seniors aged 65 and over may only need 5 hours

9. insomnia
The inability to fall asleep or stay asleep as long as desired
Can be caused by many things: alcohol, drugs, caffeine, hormones, heart disease, shift work, jet lag and exercise

10. discussion
What is the last dream you remember having? Share it with your neighbor (if it’s appropriate)
Why do you think we dream?
Do you think our dreams mean anything?

11. Dreams Dreams are mental activity that takes place during sleep
Dreams increase in length and intensity throughout the night
Often involve negative or unpleasant emotions
Happen in real-time – are not sped up or slowed down

12. Function of dreams
Some theorists believe that dreams are the brain’s way of “unlearning” or removing certain unneeded memories
Francis Crick believes the brain would not be as refined as it is if dreams did not serve this function

13. Dream interpretation
Dream interpretations have been dated back to 5000 BC
Freud argued that dreams are important to our emotional well-being
Dreams contain clues to thoughts and desires that the dreamer is afraid to acknowledge or express
Nathaniel Kleitman – argued that dreaming served no purpose whatsoever and that dreaming was a result of over-stimulated brain cells
Which theory do you believe? Why?

14. hypnosis
A form of altered consciousness in which people become highly suggestible and do not use their critical thinking skills
Can be made conscious of things they are usually unaware of and unaware of things they usually notice
Subjects are NOT asleep – they are highly receptive and responsive to certain internal and external stimuli
A subject must cooperate in order to by hypnotized, he/she is not under the hypnotists “power”
A subject cannot be induced to do things they would not do when “awake” – unless they want to

15. hypnosis
Post-hypnotic suggestion – when a hypnotist suggests things for their subjects to remember when the trance is over
Is helpful in changing unwanted behaviors like smoking or over-eating
Hypnosis reveals that people often have potential abilities they do not use

16. hallucinations Perceptions that have no direct external cause
Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting or feeling things that do not exist
Caused by hypnosis, meditation, certain drugs, withdrawal from certain drugs, psychological breakdown and sleep deprivation

17. Sensory deprivation
Involves subjects lying all day in a comfortable bed, only allowed to get up for meals and to use the bathroom
Had visors which kept them from seeing anything but dim light, all external sounds were drowned out by the hum of an air-conditioner, wore thick cotton gloves so they couldn’t feel anything – any sensory stimuli was very limited
This state was called “sensory deprivation”
Some subjects experienced hallucinations
Most subjects experienced irritability, restlessness and were very emotional
Can be used to help people relax

18. Psychoactive drugs
Drugs which interact with the central nervous system to alter a person’s mood, perception, and behavior
Can you think of any such drugs?

19. marijuana Active ingredient is tetra-hydrocannabinol (THC)
Users claim ordinary experiences are more intense, feel elated, ordinary events take on extra-ordinary significance
Can also heighten negative or unpleasant experiences like anxiety and depression

20. hallucinogens Main effect is to produce hallucinations
Demonstrate the ways in which the mind has the potential to function
Made from plants but recently have been made from complex chemical compounds

21. hallucinogens LSD – Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
Very potent, synthetic substance
Moods are intense and change rapidly
Hallucinations in which common objects become unrecognizable are common

22. hallucinogens ALCOHOL
Most widely used and abused substance in North America
Immediate effect of loosening inhibitions
Can have a temporary pleasant effect – however, if user frequently consumes a lot of alcohol the ability to function diminishes and can have long term health effects

23. biofeedback
Involves learning to control you internal physiological processes with the help of feedback from these physiological states
Subjects can be taught to control brain waves, heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, sweat-gland activity
Relies on machines to provide feedback about subtle moment to moment changes
Can be used to cure stress-related conditions

24. meditation
Focusing attention on an image or thought with the goal of clearing one’s mind and producing an inner-peace
Studies show change in physiological state – move into a state of deep relaxation
Can also lead to a change in behavior
Four elements required to reach deep meditation – a quiet environment, comfortable position, a “mental device” (a word repeated over and over), a passive attitude