Chapter 5: Consciousness
(* Asterisks indicate a
Vocabulary Term or
Information you need to
Know About a Vocabulary
Term)
Objective-Consciousness
• I will be able to apply the
concepts learned about
consciousness on tests, and
on individual and group
assignments
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Consciousness Terms on AP Exams in Recent
Years
Tolerance
Sleep Apnea
Marijuana / Hallucinogens
Hilgard’s Dissociative Theory of Hypnosis
State Theory of Hypnosis
The Sleep Cycle
Activation Synthesis Dream Model
Information Processing theory of Dreams
REM Sleep
REM Rebound
Circadian rhythm
Consciousness topics
SLEEP:
• 1. Why do we Sleep?
• 2.What are the stages of sleep?
DREAMING:
• 2.What purpose does dreaming serve?
• 4. What happens when we are dream
deprived?
ALTERED STATES OF
CONSCIOUSNESS(hypnosis, drugs, alcohol)
Consciousness: Personal Awareness
Awareness of Internal and External Stimuli
or Awareness of ourselves (feelings,
sensations, thoughts) and our environment
(things going on outside of ourselves)
Consciousness has Levels
Consciousness
Levels of Consciousness: from being
completely aware/alert to being totally
unconscious; other levels=
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Daydreaming (low level of awareness needed-)
Altered States (meds, drugs, hypnosis, sleep deprivation)
Sleep and Dreams
Implicit Memory (mental/emotional processes we are
unaware of but effect us)
Unconscious (anesthesia, blow to the head, disease)
Waking Consciousness
All of the thoughts and feelings
we have when we are awake
and alert.
Sleep/Waking Research
• Instruments used in sleep labs:
– Electroencephalograph(EEG) – brain
electrical activity
– Electromyograph (EMG) – muscle activity
– Electrooculograph (EOG)– eye
movements
– Other bodily functions also observed (heart
rate, breathing)
The Electroencephalograph:
A Physiological Index of Consciousness
• *EEG – monitors brain electrical activity as in
brain waves=shows dif. levels of
consciousness (awake, asleep, brain dead)
• *The brain wave tracings vary in (p179):
– *Amplitude (height)
– *Frequency (cycles per second)
*Alpha =awake, relaxed
*Delta -large, slow brain waves of deep sleep,
stages4)
Table 5.1 EEG Patterns Associated with States of Consciousness
Sleep Stages
• *Stage 1: brief, transitional, light sleep, drifting thoughts and
images, hallucinations=sensory experiences without sensory
stimuli (1-7 minutes); awoken easily
*hypnic jerks (sensation of falling); incorporate stage 1 info.
into memory- (i.e.,alien abductions claimed here)
• *Stage 2: sleep spindles (is burst of brain activity visible on an
EEG )-you are asleep here (about 20 minutes); sleep talking
common here; awoken easily
• *Stages 3 & 4: slow-wave or delta sleep (30 minutes to get
there and stay for 30 minutes); deep sleep; won’t hear thunder
*Stage 4: deepest phase; difficult to wake from-blood flow
to brain reduced; marked secretion of growth hormone (GHcontrols metabolism, physical growth, brain development)
• *Stage 5=*REM Sleep (Rapid Eye Movement) heart rate, blood
pressure 2X that of non-REM; EEG brain waves similar to awake,-so
aka Paradoxical Sleep; muscles paralyzed, vivid dreaming ;2 hrs a
night in REM,
*Sleep Cycle
• *Repeats every 90 minutes, 4 to 7Xs per
night
• Stage 4 gets briefer then disappears
• *REM and stage 2 get longer (40 to 60
minutes)
*Stages 1-4 = NREM (non-REM)-Marked by no
REM, little dreaming
*Stage 5/ REM vivid dreams
Figure 5.5 An overview of the cycle of sleep
What is Our Biological
Clock?
Biological Rhythms and Sleep
• *Circadian Rhythms/cycle – 24 hr bio.
Cycles- reacts to changes in darkness and
light-BIOLOGICAL CLOCKS
– Regulates sleep/other body functions
• *Physiological path of the biological clock:
– Light  retina  suprachiasmatic nucleus
of hypothalamus  pineal gland 
secretion of melatonin (hormone that
regulates CR/ bio.clock)
Melatonin increases in pm, decreases in am
Jet Lag (occurs as we cross over time zones)throws off out Circadian Rhythm
Biological Circadian Clock-located in
the hypothalamus
What happens when we ignore our clock to
go to sleep at a different time?
Jet Lag
Chronic Jet lag associate with decrease cognitive
performance
Readjustment takes a day for each time zone crossed
Can taking Melatonin Help to reset our
biological clocks?
-reset clock by spending a day outside in light
*Know: melatonin impacts cycle of awake
and sleep
Other events that throw off our
biological clock
Rotating Work Shifts-harder to adjust to than
jet lag
Studies show productivity decreases, accidents
go up; social relations and physical and
mental health are impacted.
What happens if we lack sleep?
• Increased hunger/weight gain
• Decreased mood, concentration, immune
function (most important)
• Irritable
• Mistakes
-Memory impaired
-hypertension (high blood pressure)
Sleep Deprivation
• Partial deprivation or sleep restriction
– impaired attention, reaction time,
coordination, and decision making
– accidents: Chernobyl, Challenger
– Medical errors of residents working 80
hours
– Truck drivers, young drivers, rotating shifts,
any night shift worker
Sleep Deprivation
• Complete deprivation
– 3 or 4 days max for most people
Figure 5.9 Effect of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance
Figure 5.7 The ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)
Culture may affect the
differences seen
Why We sleep-*Researchers can’t fully
explain the why
Why Do We Sleep?
– conserve organisms’ energy
– Immobilization during sleep reduces
danger
– recuperate-restore and repair brain tissue
– Making memories-restore fading memories
of day’s experience
– Feeds creative thinking
– growth
Sleep Deprivation
• Selective deprivation-being deprived of REM sleep
– REM and slow-wave sleep (stages 3 and 4): rebound
effect
*REM Rebound effect = when deprived REM sleep,
spend extra time in REM when they are able to sleep
*Rebound effect -similar results found for slow wave,
DELTA sleep
In one study, researchers had to waken subjects 64
times after three nights of REM deprivation
*Deprived of REM =anxious, irritable
and hungry
What can we assume about REM and
slow wave sleep? Theories:
1. *Memory Consolidation/
Information-Processing Dream
Theory=REM and slow wave
sleep help “firm up” days
learning=may be why babies
need more sleep.
(But, why do we dream about things
that never happened?)
*Freud Called dreams the “psychic
safety valve.” WHY???
Why We Dream- Theories
• 2.*Freud-wish fulfillment, satisfy
unconscious needs for sex,
accomplishments; (research does not
support)
* manifest content (actual dream story
line) and *latent content (hidden meaning
and symbols) of dreams
• 3.*Rosalind Cartwright-cognitive problem
solving view-work through our problemsmore creative since not constrained by logic
(limited support for this view)
Why We Dream-Theories
*4. Allan Hobson and Robert McCarleyActivation-Synthesis Model= a story is
created to make sense of neural signals that
produce “wide awake” brain waves during
REM
• 5. Physiological function-brain stimulation
from REM helps to develop and preserve
neural pathways-our BRAIN STAYS ACTIVE
*No conclusion as to why, but REM is
needed! Some proof: Most mammals
experience REM rebound
*Wake during REM-more likely to remember
dream
Figure 5.14 Three theories of dreaming
Dreaming Quick Facts
Children recall 20 to 30% of dreams after REM
awakening
Adult recall is 80%
Children’s content: under 5-images, no
storyline; 5 to 8-dream narratives, not well
developed, adult like at 11-13
(aggression/misfortune)
Dreaming Quick Facts
• *Non-REM-less vivid, less visual and less story like
• People are usually aware they are dreaming
• Hall-dreams center on common sources of internal
conflict, such as taking chances or playing it safe.
People dream very little about public affairs/ current
events.
• Dreams are self centered-about us
Dream Content
• incorporate previous days
experiences
• Sensory stimuli (ringing phone,
a loud noise, etc..) may be
woven into our dreams
• Dreams may reflect our culture
and daily activities
Men and Women’s Dream Contentreflect conventional gender roles
Men
women
• Strangers show up
more
• Act aggressively
more
• Love encounters
w/attractive female
strangers
• Dream of children
• Target of
aggression
• Love encounters
w/ boyfriend or
husband
Sleep Disorders
• *Narcolepsy – falling asleep uncontrollably ,
some go from wakefulness to REM (w/loss of
muscle tension )for 5 to 10 minutes
• *Sleep Apnea – gasping for air that awakens
a person and disrupts sleep
• *Nightmares – anxiety arousing dreams that
lead to wakening in REM-more common in
children-usually disappear – emotional issues
may be cause
Sleep Disorders
• *Somnambulism (during stage 4, slow
*
wave, DELTA
sleep) – sleepwalking, may
awaken or return to bed with no recollection
of event
Last 15 to 30 minutes
*Causes: genetic disposition
IT IS SAFE TO WAKEN THEM!
*Sleep Problems
• *Insomnia – difficulty falling or staying
asleep, or early morning wakings-same
problems as sleep deprived
*Causes- anxiety, emotional/health issues,
health issues, stimulant drugs
*Medications –benzodiazepine (aka
barbiturates) -can be used but can cause
dependence, sleepiness, *rebound
insomnia –when you go off of drug you have
worse insomnia
• *Night Terrors – intense arousal and panic –
in NREM, more common in children, no
dreams are recalled-does not indicate
emotional problem
REM Sleep Disorder
act out dreams-muscles not
paralyzed, caused by neurological
damage, in some cases causes
unknown
Figure 5.12 Sleep problems and the cycle of sleep
Hypnosis
Hypnosis: Altered State of Consciousness
• *Hypnosis = heightened suggestibility,
narrowed attention and enhanced fantasy
*Power is in the subject and not the
hypnotist
• *No changes in EEG activity from wake to this
state
• *Hypnotic susceptibility: individual
differences- those that are suggestible will
also respond to suggestion without hypnosiscalled imaginative suggestibility
Can Hypnosis Enhance Recall of
Forgotten Events?
• Age Regression to childhood? They act as
they think children would; may print like a 6 yr
old, but spell correctly; no change in brain
waves
• ‘Hypnotically Refreshed’ memories-combine
fact with fiction
Can Hypnosis Force People to Act
Against Their Will?
Page 193-NO-only do what we think is
acceptable behavior
*
Can Hypnosis
Alleviate Pain? YES
Effects Produced through *Hypnosis
(all information is part of Hypnosis)
1. Anesthesia for pain
2. Sensory distortions and hallucinations (smell
things not there, see things not there)
3. Disinhibition (may occur b/c one feels he is
not responsible for behavior)
4. Posthypnotic suggestion –amnesia of
hypnotic event common but subjects, when
pressed, subjects remember
Theories of Hypnosis
*No changes in EEG activity from wake to this
state
1. *Role Playing Theory – Barber and
Spanos-subjects act out role expectations
(such as age regression-facts recalled were
inaccurate)-no special state of
consciousness is needed to explain hypnotic
feats (“human planks”)
Theories of Hypnosis
*2. It is an altered state of consciousness
=proof is surgery without anesthetic and brain
activity consistent with reports of pain
suppression (DUE TO DISTRACTING
ATTENTION)
*3.Earnest Hilgard supports dissociation
theory=hypnosis causes us to divide our
consciousness (one part – a hidden observermonitors what is happening while the other
part obeys hypnotic suggestion-similar to
highway hypnosis- autopilot type driving
Psychoactive Drugs-How They Work
• *Psychoactive drugs-chemicals that change brain
chemistry through actions at neural synapses and
induce an altered state of consciousness
• *Neurotransmitters=chemicals that transmit
information between neurons at junctions called
synapses
• *Agonists-drugs that mimic (act as)
neurotransmitters
• *Antagonists - drugs that do not mimic but block
neurotransmitters
• *Drugs alter the natural levels of neurotransmitters in
brain
• See figure 5.15 on page 204
How Drugs Work
*DEPRESSANTS
*DEPRESSANTS (alcohol, barbiturates,
opiates) All relax central nervous systemalcohol combined w/ barbiturates are deadly
since both depress CNS
• Alcohol-disinhibition-sexual and otherwise,
memory disruption, shrinks brain, decreased
self awareness/control
• *Narcotics (opiates) –morphine, heroin- pain
relieving, euphoria, relaxation
• *Sedatives (barbiturates) – sleep inducing,
anticonvulsant, euphoria, relaxed reduced
inhibitions
*Stimulants (know all)
caffeine(most widely consumed
psychoactive substance) , nicotine,
amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy (combines
stimulant and mild hallucinogen-street name
for MDMA, Molly) methamphetamine–all
excite neural/CNS activity , elation, energy,
excitement, increased heart rate, decreased
appetite
• Methamphetamine releases dopamine and
increases energy and euphoria
Stimulants medically used to treat ADHD,
narcolepsy, and BED
*Hallucinogens (know All)
• Hallucinogens/Psychedelics (LSD,
mescaline, Ecstacy, Psilocybin– no medical
uses-distort sensory and perceptual
experience
• Hallucinogens cause vivid, distorted images
not based on sensory input
*Mild Hallucinogens (know all)
• *Cannabis (marijuana, Hashish, THC-all
derived from plant)–glaucoma and chemo produce mild, relaxed euphoria, altered
perceptions, enhanced awareness
• *MDMA (or ecstasy)–mix of amphetamines
and hallucinogens- produces warm, friendly
euphoria, feel sensual/empathetic
• See table 5.3 in your text on page 207
Drug Terms
*Tolerance-is neuroadaptation; need for more and
more drug for same effect
*Withdrawal-fever, chills, tremors, convulsions,
vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, sever pain (from heroin,
barbiturates and alcohol); fatigue, apathy, irritability,
depression (from stimulants)
*Substance Dependence/Addiction-evidence of
tolerance or withdrawal symptoms
*Physical Dependence/Addiction-have tolerance, and
experience withdrawal without it
*Psychological Dependence-are convinced they need
it to feel a certain way and to perform/function
socially
Table 5.3 Psychoactive Drugs: Tolerance, Dependence, Potential for Fatal Overdose, and Health Risks