States of Consciousness
States of Consciousness
• Consciousness – the awareness of ourselves
and our environment
– Ex:
• Altered States – unaware of ourselves and
our environment
– Ex:
How do we know it’s an altered
state?
Levels of Consciousness
We know that various
levels exists beyond
the conscious level.
Biological Rhythms
24 hour cycle:
90 minute cycle: sleep cycles.
Sleep
• Circadian Rhythm –
– Sleep, Temperature, Thinking
– Melatonin –
– Suprachiasmatic nucleus – in hypothalamus
causes pineal gland to produce melatonin
• When light strikes the retina the
hypothalamus’ SCN
production
of melatonin by the
• Decreasing light causes the SCN to
production of melatonin,
leading you to sleep
Circadian Rhythm
Circadian Rhythm
• Body Temp –
• Thinking sharpest, memory most accurate at
• Circadian rhythm is affected by
• Artificial light and dark cave
Sleep
• Awake
• Beta waves • Alpha waves - the
relatively slow brain
waves of a relaxed,
• Conscious
• Sleep –
Sleep Cycle
Click to see an
awake brain.
• 5 Stages of Sleep
• Takes about 90-100
minutes to pass
through the 5
stages.
• Brain’s waves will
change according to
the sleep stage
• NREM • REM -
Stage 1
– Stage 1:
• Slow breathing, irregular heart beat
• hallucinations –
• Hypnagogic sensations –
• Alpha & Theta waves
Stage 2
• Begins 20 min. into
sleep
• Theta Waves that
get progressively
slower.
• sleep spindles –
• Gets longer
throughout the night
Stages 3
• Slow wave sleep.
• Theta & Delta waves.
– Delta waves –
• Lasts about 30 min
• Difficult to awaken
• Vital for restoring body’s
growth hormones and good
overall health.
•
as the night
goes on
Stage 4
• Delta waves.
• Lasts about 30 min
• Difficult to awaken
• Night Terrors –
– Seldom wakeup fully
– Not nightmares (REM)
*Sleep talking can
occur at any stage of
sleep
•
as the night goes on
• Start to ascend back through stage 3, 2, then…..
REM Sleep
• Rapid Eye Movement –
• Paradoxical sleep –
• 90 min. - Gets longer throughout the
night
• Dreams occur during REM
• Genital arousal
• REM Rebound
Typical Nights Sleep
Stages of Sleep
Sleep Stages
Alpha waves
Theta waves
Why Do We Sleep?
• Variations in sleeping patterns
• Cultural influences
• Sleep debt
The Effects of Sleep Loss
• US Navy and NIH studies
– Allowed to sleep unencumbered ….__________/night
felt energized and happier
• Age and sleep loss
– Teens need _________ hrs if not, function below peak
• Chronic sleep loss
The Effects of Sleep Loss
Spring and fall time changes
Sleep Theories
• Sleep theories
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Sleep Disorders
Insomnia
• Insomnia –
• Effects 10% of the
population
• Primary versus
Secondary Insomnia
Narcolepsy
• Narcolepsy –
Click above to see Skeeter the narcoleptic dog.
• Directly into REM
sleep
• Less than .001 % of
population.
Sleep Apnea
• Sleep Apnea –
– Wake up
momentarily,
, then falls back
asleep.
– Very common,
especially in
.
– Can be fatal.
Night Terrors
• Night Terrors –
• Not a nightmare.
• Most common in
children (boys)
between ages 2-8.
Somnambulism
• Somnambulism –
• Most often occurs
during the first few
hours of sleeping and
in __________ (deep
sleep).
• If you have had night
terrors, you are more
likely to sleep walk
when older.
Dreams Theories
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Freud’s Theory of Dreams
• Dreams are a
roadway into our
unconscious.
• Manifest Content • Latent Content -
Activation-Synthesis Theory
• Activation- Synthesis
theory –
• Why dreams sometimes
make no sense.
• Biological Theory -
Information-Processing Theory
• Information – Processing
Theory –
• We tend to dream more
when we are more
stressed.
Physiological Function Theory
• Physiological
Function Theory -
A Lifetime of Sleep
Cognitive Development Theory
• Cognitive Development
Theory –
Critical Considerations: Does not address the
neuroscience of dreams.
REM Rebound
• REM Rebound –
• Dreaming serves a
biological function
• YOU need your REM
SLEEP!
Hypnosis
A heightened openness to suggestion
Hypnosis
• Hypnosis –
– Responsive to hypnosis if
• Rich
•
to and
to be hypnotized
•Posthypnotic suggestion –
Research on Hypnosis
• Age-Regressed suggestion – People act as they believe children would, but
children.
• Hypnotically “Refreshed” memories
– Memories retrieved from hypnosis are combination
of
• Social influence Theory (our behaviors are
influenced by others) - acting out role of
– No more likely to perform dangerous acts than
Hypnotic Theories
1. Role Theory
• Hypnosis is NOT an altered
state of consciousness.
• Different people have
various state
• Social influence theory - A
social phenomenon where
people want to believe
• Good
• Involves conscious
• Would show no changes in
• Work better on people with
richer
lives.
• SPANOS
2. State Theory
• Hypnosis is an altered state
of consciousness.
– Distinctive
accompanies hypnosis
– Would see changes on
• Dramatic health benefits
• It works for
best.
Divided Consciousness Theory
3. Divided Consciousness
Theory/Dissociation Theory (Ernest
Hilgard) -
• Ice Water Experiment.
• Participant dissociates pain sensation
from emotional suffering
• Most lifted finger if some
• No
of pain
•
Practical Uses of Hypnosis
• Hypnotic analgesia –
– fMRI’s show reduction in
– HOW? Distracting attention
or, Gate Control Theory, but
not
• Relieved
,
asthma, stress related skin
disorders,
• Useful in treating