Chapter 3
STATES OF MIND
What is Consciousness?
 our awareness of internal and external
stimulation
How do we study consciousness?
 Cognitive Neuroscience—Used many
different fields of psychologists to implement
technology in the study of the consciousness.
Results: MRI, PET, EEG, CT
Function & Structure of
Consciousness
1. Consciousness helps our brains from being
overwhelmed by stimulation.
2. Consciousness is an interpretation of the world.
Function & Structure of
Consciousness
3. Consciousness helps us make a mental record of
the most meaningful elements in our lives.
4. Consciousness allows us to draw on lessons stored
in memory.
Levels of Consciousness
- Preconsciousness—Fond memories that
are cued to their recall.
- Subconscious— information stored into
memory without being consciously
attended to
Levels of Consciousness
- The Unconscious—Desires & emotions,
that if they existed at a conscious level,
would cause extreme behaviors and
anxiety (Freudian Theory)
- Nonconscious—Information processed in
the brain, but not represented in the
consciousness or memory (breathing,
blood pressure, etc.)
What are the Cycles of
Everyday Consciousness?
 Consciousness changes in cycles that
normally correspond to our biological
rhythms and to the patterns of our
environment
Circadian Rhythms
 Natural bodily pattern that repeats about
every 24 hrs
 Can change based on exposure to light and
darkness
 Jet lag can cause a disruption in our internal
clock
Daydreaming
 Mild consciousness alteration where
attention shifts to memories, expectations,
desires, or fantasies away from the
immediate situation.
Daydreaming
 Most people daydream every day
 Young adults report the most frequent
daydreams (amount declines with age)
 Not as vivid as our dreams at night
Sleep and Dreaming
Sleep Cycle
BRAIN POP!
1. Every 90 minutes we enter a REM period
•Dreaming takes place
•Voluntary Muscles are immobile or paralyzed
which is known as sleep paralysis
•Sleep paralysis keeps us from acting out our
dreams
2. The sleep in between is known as Non-REM
•Sleepwalking
•Sleeptalking
Sleep Cycle
Sleep Cycle
3. Most people go through the cycle 4-6 times
4. REM gets longer as the sleep cycle continues
•10 minutes the first cycle but up to one hour
the last cycle
Need for Sleep
 Most adults need anywhere from 6-9 hrs a
night
 Most adults get less sleep repeatedly
creating a SLEEP DEBT
Function of Sleep
1) Conserve energy
2) Restore itself
Need for Sleep
 Your need for sleep depends on different
factors:
 Genetic need for sleep
 Hormone melatonin
 Personality
 Age
How much sleep do you need?
 Answer the following questions with a
“yes” or “no”.
 1) Do you often get sleepy in your classes?
 2) D0 you sleep late on the weekends?
 3)Do you usually get sleepy when you get
bored?
How much sleep do you need?
 4) Do you often fall asleep while reading or
watching tv?
 5) Do you usually fall asleep while within
five minutes of going to bed?
 6) Do you awake in the morning feeling
that you are not rested?
 7) Would you oversleep if you did not use
an alarm clock to get you out of bed?
How much sleep do you need?
 If you answered “yes” to any of these
questions you are shorting yourself on
sleep!
Sleep Disorders
 Insomnia
 Sleep Apnea
 Narcolepsy
Insomnia
 The most common sleep disorder (1/3 of
adult population!)
 When people are not satisfied with the amt.
of sleep they get
 Symptoms: inability to fall asleep, waking
up throughout the night, waking up early in
the morning
 Common for people occasionally but
treatable with medication
Sleep Apnea
 Involves problems in the upper respiratory




tract which interferes with breathing during
sleep
Result: body awakens due to a stop in
breathing
SIDS (Sudden infant death syndrome) can
result from this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EHI3Gqfa
eE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpPH2sMo
b7U&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode
=1&safe=active
Narcolepsy & Cataplexy
 Sudden daytime sleep attacks without
warning
 Often accompanied by cataplexy- sudden
loss of muscle control
 Research shows that they have abnormal
REM sleep cycles (sleep paralysis is
mimicking cataplexy)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MBCeK
n0Oeo&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_
mode=1&safe=active
Why we dream…
 Some scientists think that dreams are
meaningful mental events, reflect
cognitive needs or important events
 Other argue that dreams are the brains
random activity during sleep and have no
special meaning
Things that can alter our
consciousness:
 Hypnosis
 Meditation
 Psychoactive Drugs
Hypnosis
 An induced altered state of awareness,
characterized by deep relaxation and focused
attention
 Uses for Hypnosis:
 Pain control
 Desensitizing phobias
 Addictions
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ryNp5qpsU
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvmCtssznbY&saf
ety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
Meditation
 Form of consciousness changed by inducing
focus on a repetitive behavior, assuming
certain body positions, and minimizing
external stimulation
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcz5gXM
K-ek
Psychoactive Drugs
 Chemicals that affect mental processes and
behavior
 Impair parts of the brain that typically help us
make good decisions
 Attractive because they stimulate the brains
“reward circuits”
 Hallucinogens
 Opiates
 Depressants
 Stimulants
hallucinogens
 Produce changes in consciousness by altering
perception of the external environment and inner
awareness
 Create hallucinations and blur the boundary between
self and external world
 Commonly used hallucinogens:
 Mescaline, psilocybin, LSD, PCP
 Cannabis is classified as a hallucinogen because of the
active ingredient THC
 Medical uses: PCP for veterinary anesthetic,
cannabis for nausea from chemo
 Psychological effects: fear, anxiety, confusion,
motor coordination impaired, memory loss,
 Lower potential for physical dependency
Opiates
 Derivatives of the opium poppy
 Suppress physical sensation and response to
stimulation
 Common opiates:
 Morphine, heroin, codeine
 Medical uses: Morphine and Codeine used as
painkiller and cough suppressant
 Highly addictive!!-addiction builds and users are
forced to up their dosage to satisfy craving
Depressants
 Slow down the mental and physical activity of
the body by inhibiting central nervous system
activity
 Impair reflexes and judgment
 Common depressants:
 Barbiturates (sedatives), benzodiazepines
(antianxiety), alcohol
 Alcohol elicits a variety of reactions ranging from
being friendly to depressed.
 Physical and psychological dependency often begins
with binge drinking
stimulants
 Increase central nervous system activity
 Speed up both mental and physical rates of activity
and enhance attention
 Medically used to treat sleep disorders and
ADHD
 Recreational use: amphetamines and cocaine
 Seek intense pleasurable sensations, increased self-
confidence, greater energy and alertness and euphoria
 Also experience frightening hallucinations, and
paranoid delusions
Stimulants continued
 Caffeine and nicotine
 Affect heart, blood circulation, and efficiency of
the brain
 Both addictive
Yoga Expectations
 Everyone should participate
 No one is an expert! None of us will be good!
 No negative comments
 Dress Appropriately
 You will have a write up afterwards about
how this is connected to states of mind
 If you have a mat at home- bring it! Extra
Credit!!!