CONSCIOUSNESS
Did you know...
 World Record – Longest period of time a human
has intentionally gone without sleep (no
stimulants)
 Randy Gardner (1964) 17-years old
 264 Hours (11 days)
 Held Press Conference on last day – spoke without
slurring
 Health was monitored – negative cognitive & behavioral
changes were reported
 After falling asleep – slept 14 hours, 40 minutes.
Facts
Although some people insist they NEVER dream, research
suggests EVERYONE dreams during the night
In sleep labs, people wakened from REM periods report
80-100% were dreaming w/ vivid & colorful images (even
bizarre, abnormal things were reported vividly)
Consciousness refers to different levels of
awareness of one’s thoughts and feelings
• Alertness to nonalertness
• Not completely aware = altered state
• i.e. sleep
FREUD’S LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
SLEEP
NREM
NREM NREM NREM
There are two (2) major types of sleep
1. REM sleep, a stage of sleep characterized by rapid
eye movements, a high level of brain activity, a deep
relaxation of the muscles and dreaming
• This is the time when we will dream.
• “Active sleep”
• 15 minutes (beginning of night) to 45 minutes
(end of night)
• Your voluntary muscles are paralyzed.
2. NREM sleep. This stands for non-rapid eye
movement and is the other type of sleep.
• Where we spend the majority of our sleep time
• Divided into 4 stages (first four)
• Decreases in length as nights’ sleep
progresses.
• “Quiet sleep”
HOW MUCH SLEEP DO I NEED?
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T GET
SLEEP?
• It can affect immune system.
• It can cause you to hallucinate.
• You will have less energy.
• Your cognitive performance can be affected.
Texting and sleep
2010 Research –
Average teen sends more than 100 text messages per day.
Major cause of sleep deprivation in teens
Texts may awaken you and decrease sleep
Playing games on your phone before bed can prevent sleep
Study showed that 77.5% of teens that text or surf web at
night have trouble falling asleep
Can cause mood, behavior, and cognitive problems during
the day including ADHD, anxiety, depression
CIRCADIAN RHYTHM
24-hour biological clock; genetically
programmed; regulates physiological
responses
Disrupting the circadian rhythm causes problems
Sleep is regulated by environment/industrial clock, NOT your circadian rhythm
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS?
Problems that can result from disrupting the
circadian clock
– Accidents (body prepared for sleep, trying to stay
awake to drive, alertness decreases)
– Jet lag
– Illness
Your circadian rhythm for body temperature influences
your sleep preferences
Treating Circadian Problems
– Melatonin - supplements have been proven to
help people sleep
Sleep Disorders
Insomnia
 Persistent problems falling asleep
 Effects 10% of the population
 Primary insomnia: Primary
insomnia means that a person is
having sleep problems that are
not directly associated with any
other health condition or
problem.
 Secondary insomnia: Secondary
insomnia means that a person is
having sleep problems because of
something else, such as a health
condition (like asthma,
depression, arthritis, cancer, or
heartburn); pain; medication they
are taking; or a substance they
are using (like alcohol).
Sleep Disorders
Insomnia
Sleep
Apnea
Narcolepsy
Definition
Associated with
Failure to get enough sleep at night
Daytime - fatigue, impaired
concentration, memory difficulty, lack of
well-being
Daytime - exhausted; chances of
Repeated periods during sleep when a
developing increases when overweight,
person stops breathing
use alcohol or sedatives
Suddenly falling asleep or feeling very
sleepy during the day
Daytime – sleep attacks accompanied
by REM sleep
Narcolepsy
 Suffer from sleeplessness
and may fall asleep at
unpredictable or
inappropriate times.
 Directly into REM sleep
 Less than .001 % of
Click above to see Skeeter the narcoleptic dog.
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.
Night Terrors
 Wake up screaming and
have no idea why.
 Not a nightmare.
 Most common in children
(boys) between ages 2-8.
NIGHTMARES & NIGHT TERRORS
Nightmares – unpleasant dreams occur during REM
Night terrors – sleep disruptions in stage IV; involve
screaming, panic, confusion; often no memory of it
SLEEPWALKING
Most common in young children – will outgrow it
Linked to stress, fatigue, drug use
Somnambulism
• 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.
DREAMS
Everybody dreams
Often incorporate everyday activities into dreams
FREUD (Dream interpretation): Dreams have hidden
meaning/reveal the unconscious
MANY DREAM THEORIES:
• problem-solving theory
• mental housecleaning/clean brain
• extending waking life
HYPNOSIS
state of consciousness resulting from a
narrowed focus of attention and characterized
by heightened suggestibility
USES:
• entertainment
• pain reduction
• quit smoking
MEDITATION
The focusing of attention to clear one’s mind and
produce relaxation
USES:
• lower
blood pressure, heart rate
• benefits vary greatly
DRUGS & CONSCIOUSNESS
PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS: chemicals that affect the
nervous system and result in altered states
Stimulants: elevate mood, increase energy & alertness
• caffiene
• cocaine
• Meth
Depressants: slow down nervous system
• alcohol
• sleeping pills
Hallucinogens: change persons perception of reality
• marijuana
• LSD
MARIJUANA & ALCOHOL
Marijuana
• the dried leaves and flowers of Indian hemp (cannabis sativa)
that produce altered states of consciousness
• effects vary from person to person, situation to situation
• studies suggest more dangerous to lungs than cigarette
• disrupts memory formation
• psychological addiction?
Alcohol
• can loosen inhibitions
• despite stimulating effect is a depressant
• Can cause brain and liver damage
• underage drinking has actually decreased