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
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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”
– One type is the circadian rhythm
• 24-hour biological cycle
Circadian Rhythm
• 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
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
• 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
• Often called paradoxical sleep
– Beta Waves
– Brain is very active, as if you
were awake
• Dreams usually occur in REM
• 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
• If deprived of REM, the next
time we sleep we go into REM
rebound
Sleep Cycles
Waves Mnemonic
•
•
•
•
•
•
Be
Aware
That
Sleep
Demands
Bed
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•
•
•
•
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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
– Freud suggested that dreams provide a safe way to
express our unacceptable unconscious desires
– Manifest Content
– Latent Content
• 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
– Our brain is trying to interpret the random electrical
activity we have while sleeping
• This is why dreams sometimes make no sense
Sleep Disorders
Disorder
Description
Insomnia
•Persistent problems falling asleep or staying asleep
•Effects 10% of the population
Narcolepsy
•Fall asleep at unpredictable or inappropriate times
•Directly into REM sleep
•Less than .001 % of population
Sleep apnea
•A person stops breathing during their sleep
•Wake up momentarily, gasps for air, then falls back asleep
•Very common, especially in heavy males
•Can be fatal
Nightmares
•Frightening dreams that wake a sleeper from REM
•Persistent nightmares reflect psychological disturbance
Night terrors
•Wake up screaming and have no idea why
•Not a nightmare; happens during SWS
•Most common in children (boys) between ages 2-8
Somnambulism
Somniloquy
•Sleep-walking
•Most often occurs during the first few hours of sleeping and in stage 4 (deep sleep)
•If you have had night terrors, you are more likely to sleep walk when older
•Sleep-talking
•4% of adults; 50% of children
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
• 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
• 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
• If a drug is used often, a tolerance is created
for the drug
– You need more of the drug to feel the same effect
• Physiological & psychological dependence
– 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
Type
Category
Depressants
Narcotics/Opiates
Sedatives
Alcohol
Drugs
Effects
Morphine
Heroine
Opium
Methdone
Codeine
Barbituates
Nonbarbituates
Euphoria
Relaxation
Anxiety
reduction
Reduced
inhibition
Pain relief
(narcotics)
Side-Effects
Lethargy
Drowsiness
Impaired coordination
Impaired mental
functioning
Constipation (narcotics)
Mood swings (Sedatives)
Dejection (Sedatives)
Severely impaired
coordination
Imparired mental
functioning
Increased urination
Mood swings
Depression
Quarrelsomeness
Hangover
Stimulants
Stimulants
Type
Category
Drugs
Cocaine
Methamphetamine
Caffeine
Stimulants
Nicotine
Ecstasy (MDMA)
Effects
Side-Effects
Elation
Excitement
Increased
alertness
Increased
energy
Reduced
fatigue
Increased blood
pressure
Increased heart rate
Increased talkativeness
Restlessness
Insomnia
Reduced appetite
Increased sweating &
urination
Anxiety
Paranoia
Increase aggressiveness
Panic
Hallucinogens
Type
Category
Drugs
Effects
Hallucinogenic
Increased sensory awareness
Euphoria
LSD
Hallucinogens Mescalin Altered perception
Psilocybin Hallucinations
Insightful experiences
Cannabis
Marijuana Mild euphoria
Relaxation
Hashish
Altered perceptions
THC
Enhanced awareness
Side-Effects
Dialated pupils
Nausea
Mood swings
Paranoia
Jumbled thinking
Impaired judgment
Anxiety
Panic reaction
Dehydration (MDMA)
Overheating (MDMA)
Bloodshot eyes
Dry mouth
Reduced STM
Sluggish motor coordination
Sluggish mental functioning
Anxiety