Sleep and Dreams
Hypnosis
Drugs
Near Death Experience
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Spontaneous- drowsiness, day dreaming
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Physiological- cravings or hallucinations
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Psychologically induced- hypnosis,
Meditation
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Annual Cycles- hibernation, migration (SAD)
Menstrual Cycle- 28 days
24 Hour Cycles- hormone secretion, body
temp. and sleep/wake
Sleep- 90 minute cycles of various stages of
sleep.
Circadian rhythm- biological clock- light in
retina signals hypothalamus to alter the level
of biochemical substances (MELATONIN)
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Our body temperature drops in the
afternoon- about 12 hours after the main
period of sleep
Between 3 & 5 PM there are more accidents
and less work productivity
Benefits of naps- increased performance
(pilots)
The longer the nap, the better the benefit
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When awake we display Beta Waves
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Measuring sleep: About every 90 minutes,
we pass through a cycle of five distinct
sleep stages.
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Alpha & Theta Waves are displayed in
stages 1 & 2
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Delta Waves in stages 3 and 4 (slower)
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Stage 1 (20 minutes)- images resembling
hallucinations- transition from awake to sleep
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Stage 2- spindles- we are truly asleep- spend the
most time here
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Stage 3 & 4 (about 30 minutes)- most difficult to
awaken
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REM- about 10 minute durations- one hour into
falling asleep AKA Paradoxical Sleep (internally
aroused, but outwardly paralyzed)
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Depressed immune systems
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Impaired concentration, communication and
creativity
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Increased irritability
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Metabolic and hormonal function altering
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Protective role in human evolution
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Brain needs it
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Rebuilds memory
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Growth hormone
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10 – 15% complain of insomnia (trouble getting to or
staying asleep)
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Narcolepsy- 1 in 2000 people- may lapse into REM sleep
immediately at random times
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Sleep Apnea- 1 in 20 people- temporary stop breathing
and then awakening
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Night Terrors- mostly children- during first few hours of
stage 4 sleep (not nightmares)
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Sleepwalking and talking- also more common in children
during stage 4 because the stages lasts longer
Dreams- mostly about ordinary events
1. Negative Emotional Content:
2. Failure Dreams:
3. Sexual Dreams: Sexual dreams in men are
1 in 10; and in women 1 in 30.
Though researchers disagree on WHY they
agree on the need for REM sleep and the
importance of the dreams
Wish Fulfillment: The dream’s manifest
(apparent) content may also have symbolic
meanings (latent content) that signify our
unacceptable feelings.
2. 2. Information Processing: Dreams may
help sift, sort, and fix a day’s experiences in
our memories.
1.
3. Physiological Function: Dreams provide the
sleeping brain with periodic stimulation to
develop and preserve neural pathways.
4.
Activation-Synthesis Theory: Suggests that
the brain engages in a lot of random neural
activity. Dreams make sense of this activity.
4.
Cognitive Development: Some researchers
argue that we dream as a part of brain
maturation and cognitive development.
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So, What happens if a person is deprived of
REM sleep?
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Research shows that we enter the REM stage
more quickly the more often we are
awakened during the sleep cycles
1.
Posthypnotic Suggestion: Suggestion carried
out after the subject is no longer hypnotized.
2.
Posthypnotic Amnesia: Supposed inability to
recall what one experienced during hypnosis.
3.
Those susceptible to hypnosis often have the
ability to focus attention totally on a task and
are highly imaginative
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1.
Courtesy of News and Publications Service, Stanford University
2.
Social Influence Theory:
Hypnotic subjects may
simply be imaginative
actors playing a social
role.
Divided Consciousness
Theory: Hypnosis is a
special state of
dissociated (divided)
consciousness (Hilgard,
1986, 1992).
(Hilgard, 1992)
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Psychoactive Drug: A chemical substance that alters
perceptions and mood (effects consciousness).
1.
Withdrawal: Upon stopping use of a drug (after
addiction), users may experience the undesirable
effects of withdrawal.
2.
Dependence: Absence of a drug may lead to a
feeling of physical pain, intense cravings
(physical dependence), and negative emotions
(psychological dependence).
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The use of drugs is based on biological,
psychological, and social-cultural influences.
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1. Alcohol- affects motor skills, judgment, and
memory…and increases aggressiveness while
reducing self awareness.
2. Barbiturates- depress the activity of the central
nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing
memory and judgment. Nembutal, Seconal, and
Amytal are some examples.
3. Opiates- Opium and its derivatives (morphine and
heroin) depress neural activity, temporarily
lessening pain and anxiety. They are highly
addictive.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Caffeine
Nicotine
Cocaine
Ecstasy
Amphetamines
Methamphetamines
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Amphetamines stimulate neural activity, causing
accelerated body functions and associated energy
and mood changes, with devastating effects.
National Pictures/ Topham/ The Image Works
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Greg Smith/ AP Photos
Ecstasy or
Methylenedioxymethamphet
amine (MDMA) is a
stimulant and mild
hallucinogen. It produces a
euphoric high and can
damage serotonin-producing
neurons, which results in a
permanent deflation of mood
and impairment of memory.
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Cocaine induces immediate euphoria followed by a crash.
Crack, a form of cocaine, can be smoked. Other forms of
cocaine can be sniffed or injected.
http://www.ohsinc.com
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1. LSD: (lysergic acid diethylamide) powerful
hallucinogenic drug (ergot fungus) that is
also known as acid.
2. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol): is the
major active ingredient in marijuana (hemp
plant) that triggers a variety of effects,
including mild hallucinations.
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Near-death experiences raise the mind-body issue.
Can the mind survive the dying body?
1.
Dualism: Dualists believe that mind (nonphysical) and body (physical) are two distinct
entities that interact.
2.
Monism: Monists believe that mind and body
are different aspects of the same thing.
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