States of Consciousness
Terms and Vocabulary
Activation-synthesis
hypothesis
An attempt to explain how dream content is affected by motor
commands in the brain that occur during sleep but are not carried
out.
Alcohol myopia
Shortsighted thinking and perception that occurs during alcohol
intoxication.
Alpha waves
Large, slow brainwaves associated with relaxation and falling
asleep.
Altered state of
consciousness (ASC)
A condition of awareness distinctly different in quality or pattern
from waking consciousness.
Anhedonia
An inability to feel pleasure.
Attention
deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD)
A behavioral problem characterized by short attention span, restless
movement, and impaired learning capacity.
Basic suggestion
effect
The tendency of hypnotized persons to carry out suggested actions
as if they were involuntary.
Beta waves
Small, fast brainwaves associated with being awake and alert.
Binge drinking
Consuming five or more drinks in a short time (four for women).
Biological rhythm
Any repeating cycle of biological activity, such as sleep and waking
cycles or changes in body temperature.
Caffeinism
Excessive consumption of caffeine, leading to dependence and a
variety of physical and psychological complaints.
Cataplexy
A sudden temporary paralysis of the muscles.
Concentrative
meditation
Mental exercise based on attending to a single object or thought.
Condensation
Combining several people, objects, or events into a single dream
image.
Consciousness
Mental awareness of sensations and perceptions of external events
as well as self-awareness of internal events including thoughts,
memories, and feelings about experiences and the self.
Deep sleep
Stage 4 slow-wave sleep; the deepest form of normal sleep.
Delta waves
Large, slow brainwaves that occur in deeper sleep (Stages 3 and 4).
Depressant (downer)
A substance that decreases activity in the body and nervous system.
Detoxification
In the treatment of alcoholism, the withdrawal of the patient from
alcohol.
Displacement
Directing emotions or actions toward safe or unimportant dream
images.
Dream processes
Mental filters that hide the true meanings of dreams.
Dream symbols
Images in dreams that serve as visible signs of hidden ideas, desires,
impulses, emotions, relationships, and so forth.
Drug interaction
A combined effect of two drugs that exceeds the addition of one
drug’s effects to the other.
Drug tolerance
A reduction in the body’s response to a drug.
Dual process
hypothesis of sleep
Proposes that NREM sleep reduces the overall level of brain
activation, allowing unimportant memories to be forgotten while
REM sleep sharpens memory for important events from the
previous day.
Electroencephalograph A device designed to detect, amplify, and record electrical activity
(EEG)
in the brain.
Hallucinogen
A substance that alters or distorts sensory impressions.
Hidden observer
A detached part of the hypnotized person’s awareness that silently
observes events.
Hypersomnia
Excessive daytime sleepiness.
Hypnosis
An altered state of consciousness characterized by narrowed
attention and increased suggestibility.
Hypnotic
susceptibility
One’s capacity for becoming hypnotized.
Insomnia
Difficulty in getting to sleep or staying asleep.
Latent content (of
dreams)
The hidden or symbolic meaning of a dream, as revealed by dream
interpretation and analysis.
Light sleep
Stage 1 sleep, marked by small irregular brainwaves and some
alpha waves.
Manifest content (of
dreams)
The surface, “visible” content of a dream; dream images as they are
remembered by the dreamer.
Meditation
A mental exercise for producing relaxation or heightened
awareness.
Microsleep
A brief shift in brain-wave patterns to those of sleep.
Mindfulness
A state of open, nonjudgmental awareness of current experience.
Mindfulness
meditation
Mental exercise based on widening attention to become aware of
everything experienced at any given moment.
Narcolepsy
A sudden, irresistible sleep attack.
Neurocognitive dream Proposal that dreams reflect everyday waking thoughts and
theory
emotions.
Night terror
A state of panic during NREM sleep.
Nightmare
A bad dream that occurs during REM sleep.
Non-REM (NREM)
sleep
Non–rapid eye movement sleep characteristic of Stages 2, 3, and 4.
Physical dependence
(addiction)
Physical addiction, as indicated by the presence of drug tolerance
and withdrawal symptoms.
Psychoactive drug
A substance capable of altering attention, memory, judgment, time
sense, self-control, mood, or perception.
Psychodynamic theory Any theory of behavior that emphasizes internal conflicts, motives,
and unconscious forces.
Psychological
dependence
Drug dependence that is based primarily on emotional or
psychological needs.
Rapid eye movements
Swift eye movements during sleep.
(REMs)
Relaxation response
The pattern of internal bodily changes that occurs at times of
relaxation.
REM rebound
The occurrence of extra rapid eye movement sleep following REM
sleep deprivation.
REM sleep
Sleep marked by rapid eye movements and a return to Stage 1 EEG
patterns.
Repair/restorative
theories of sleep
Propose that lowering body and brain activity and metabolism
during sleep may help conserve energy and lengthen life.
Restricted
Environmental
Stimulation Therapy
(REST)
A form of sensory deprivation that results in a variety of
psychological benefits.
Secondary elaboration Making a dream more logical and complete while remembering it.
Sensory deprivation
(SD)
Any major reduction in the amount or variety of sensory
stimulation.
Sleep apnea
Repeated interruption of breathing during sleep.
Sleep deprivation
Being prevented from getting desired or needed amounts of sleep.
Sleep spindles
Distinctive bursts of brainwave activity that indicate a person is
asleep.
Sleep stages
Levels of sleep identified by brain-wave patterns and behavioral
changes.
Sleep-deprivation
psychosis
A major disruption of mental and emotional functioning brought
about by sleep loss.
Somnambulists
People who sleepwalk; occurs during NREM sleep.
Stage hypnosis
Use of hypnosis to entertain; often, merely a simulation of hypnosis
for that purpose.
Stimulant (upper)
A substance that increases activity in the body and nervous system.
Stimulus control
Linking a particular response with specific stimuli.
Sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS)
The sudden, unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant.
Symbolization
The nonliteral expression of dream content.
Tranquilizer
A drug that lowers anxiety and reduces tension.
Waking consciousness A state of clear, organized alertness.
Wish fulfillment
Freudian belief that many dreams express unconscious desires.
Withdrawal symptoms Physical illness and discomfort following the withdrawal of a drug.