consciousness

CHAPTERCHAPTER 55ConsciousnessConsciousness

Choose 1 topic and write a Journal Entry about it

1. An article on Lucid Dreaming2. An article on Power Nap (“Siesta Time: Power Napping” written

for The Economist, 2002)3. Hypnosis as a part of Therapy Process4. Internet use brings you into an altered state of consciousness5. Unconscious Thought

Do you believe that the unconscious exists? Do you believe that the unconscious influences your behavior? Should the concept of the unconscious continue to be studied by psychologists?

Are you surprised by how much time you spend online each day? Are you surprised by how much time you spend online in one sitting? Does it feel like it is that much time as you are online? Do you want to decrease your daily time online? Why or why not? Do you think you are ever going with the flow when you are online? Do you think that Internet use can be considered an altered state of consciousness? Why or why not?

Learning Outcomes

Define consciousness.

Explain the nature of sleep and various sleep disorders.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Explain various uses of hypnosis, forms of medication, and biofeedback techniques in altering consciousness.

Explain the concepts of substance abuse; identify categories of drugs and how they alter consciousness.

Learning Outcomes

What is Consciousness?What is Consciousness?

Consciousness

Sensory AwarenessSelective AttentionDirect Inner AwarenessSense of SelfWaking State

ConsciousnessThe awareness of the

sensations, thoughts, and feelings being experienced

at a given momentWaking consciousness Altered states of

consciousness

Ryan McVay/Getty Images

Preconscious, Unconscious, Nonconscious PreconsciousNot currently in awareness, but readily available

UnconsciousUnavailable to awareness under most circumstances

NonconsciousBodily processes that can not be experienced through

sensory awareness

Sleep and Sleep and DreamsDreams

Biological and Circadian Rhythms

Circadian rhythm is a cycle that is connected with the 24-hour period of Earth’s rotationCycle of wakefulness and sleep

The Stages of SleepUsing EEG records, sleep stages are recorded

by different brain wavesNonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep

First four stages of sleepStage 1 is lightest; Stage 4 is deepest

Rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep

Stages of SleepStage 1

The stage of transition between wakefulness and sleep that is characterized by relatively rapid, low-voltage brain waves

The Stages of SleepStage 1

Slow down from alpha waves to theta waves

Hypnagogic state may be experienced

Stage 2– Characterized by a

slower, more regular wave pattern and momentary interruptions of sharply pointed spiky waves called sleep spindles

Stages of SleepStage 3

Brain waves become slower with an appearance of higher peaks and lower valleys in the wave pattern

Stage 4Deepest stage of

sleep where people are least responsive to outside stimuli and the wave patterns are more slower and regular

Delta waves

Sleep Cycles

90-100 minutes per cycleSleep patterns change during the night.Typical night

60% - Stages 1 & 2 sleep20% - Stages 3 & 4 sleep20% - REM sleep

Sleep Cycles

The Stages of Sleep

REM sleepRapid eye movementsParadoxical sleepWhen awakened in REM sleep, 80% report dreams

Typical Night of Sleep

Tend to undergo 5 cycles through the stages of sleep

First time in stage 4 sleep is usually the longest

Sleep becomes lighter as the night wears on

REM sleep becomes longer as night wears onLast REM period may be about 30 minutes

Sleep Cycles

Functions of SleepRejuvenates the bodyHelps us recover from stressHelps us consolidate learning and

memoriesProblem-solving

May promote development of infants’ brains

Amount of Sleep

Amount of sleep needed may be partly genetically determined

Additional sleep is needed when you are under stress

As you age, you require less sleep

Sleep, Learning and Memory

Individuals deprived of REM sleepLearn more slowlyForget what they have learned quicker

Show REM rebound

DreamsCognitive activity that occurs while you are sleeping

Most vivid during REM sleepMay dream in color or black and white

Pleasant dream or nightmare

Do blind people dream?

Why Do We Dream What We Dream?

Memories of the day Traumatic events – NightmaresReflections of unconscious desires – Freud

What does PET Scan reveal limbic and paralimbic regions (associated with emotion & motivation)

-active during REM sleep

Association areas of prefrontal cortex (regions that control logical analysis & attention)inactive during REM

Source: Feldman

Activation-Synthesis Model of DreamingAcetylcholine and the pons stimulate responses that lead to dreamingReticular activation system stimulates parts of the cortex involved in memory

part of the brain involved in attention, sleep, and arousal

Cortex then synthesizes sources of stimulation into dreams (most likely dream of recent events

Sleep Disorders

InsomniaNarcolepsyApnea

Deep Sleep DisordersOccur in stage 3 or 4 sleepMore common in children

Sleep TerrorsBed-WettingSleepwalking

Altering Consciousness Altering Consciousness Through Hypnosis, Through Hypnosis, Meditation, and BiofeedbackMeditation, and Biofeedback

HypnosisAltered state of consciousness in which people

are suggestible and behave as though in a trance

Used in medical proceduresHypnotic tranceHypnotic suggestibility

Explaining the Effects of Hypnosis

Role theory explains hypnotic events in the terms of the person’s ability to act as though he or she were hypnotized

Response set theory views that response expectancies play a key role in the production of the experiences suggested by the hypnotistPositive response

VIDEO: Weight Loss Hypnosis

MeditationFocusing consciousness to alter relationship

between the self and the environmentTranscendental Meditation (TM)

Far Eastern MeditationUse of mantrasRelaxation response

Mindfulness Meditation (MM)Focus on the present momentDialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

BiofeedbackA system that provides information about a

bodily function in order to gain some control over it

Biofeedback training (BFT)helps combat stress, tension and anxiety

Electromyograph (EMG)Monitors muscle tension

Altering Altering ConsciousnessConsciousnessThrough DrugsThrough Drugs

Drug Use: The Highs and Lows of Consciousness

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Drug Use: The Highs And Lows of Consciousness

Psychoactive drugsInfluence a person’s emotions, perceptions, and behavior

Jack Star/PhotoLink/Getty Images

Addictive drugsProduce a biological or psychological

dependence in the user, and withdrawal from them leads to a craving for the drug that, in some cases, may be nearly irresistible

Substance Abuse and Dependence

Substance abuse is repeated use of a substance despite impaired functioning

Substance dependence is characterized by loss of control over use of the substance

Tolerance - habituation to a drug, with the result that increasingly higher doses of the drug are needed to achieve similar effects

Withdrawal symptoms - a characteristic cluster of symptoms that results from sudden decrease in an addictive drug’s level of usage

Psychological dependence

signs include anxiety including shakiness, rapid pulse and sweating which can be mistaken for physiological dependence

Biological dependence

the body becomes so accustomed to functioning in the presence of a drug that it cannot function in its absence.

Delirium Tremens (DT’s)experienced by chronic alcoholics when they

suddenly lower their intake of alcohol. (physiological) Symptoms include:

heavy sweatingRestlessnessgeneral disorientation terrifying hallucinations

Causes of Substance Abuse and DependenceExperimentationReinforcement by peers or positive effects

Avoidance of withdrawal effectsGenetic predisposition toward physiological dependence

Stimulants: Drug HighsAffect the central nervous system by causing a rise in heart rate, blood pressure, and muscular tensionCaffeineNicotineCocaine “crack”Amphetamines “speed”

Jack Star/PhotoLink/Getty Images

Depressants: Drug LowsImpede the nervous system by

causing neurons to fire more slowly

Alcohol (pain relief)- Rohypnol

Tranquilizers (anxiety reduction)Ryan McVay/Getty Images

Barbiturates (sleeping pill)- produce a sense of relaxation- Deadly when combined with alcohol Nembutal Seconal Phenobarbital

Depressants: Drug Lows

Narcotics: Relieving Pain and Anxiety

Increase relaxation and relieve pain and anxietyHeroinMethadoneMorphine

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OpiatesGroup of narcotics derived from

the opium poppyLaboratory produced opioids

Morphine, heroin, codeine, Demerol

Major application is pain reliefProvides a strong euphoric “rush”

Hallucinogens: Psychedelic DrugsDrugs that are capable of producing hallucinations, or changes in the perceptual processMarijuana (THC active ingredient)MDMA (Ecstasy)LSD Royalty-Free/CORBIS

End of discussion

Psychoactive drugs influence a person’s perceptions, emotions, and behavior (Feldman, 2008)

Depressants

Stimulants

Tolerance habituation to a drug, with the result that increasingly higher doses of the drug are needed to achieve similar effects

AlcoholMost abused drug

Binge drinkingWhat about Filipino adolescents?Alcohol ads

AlcoholDepressant

Slows activity of central nervous system

EffectsLowers inhibitionsImpairs cognitive functioning and coordination

AlcoholMen more likely to become

alcoholic than womenAlcohol has stronger effect on women

Biological constraintsCan lead to physiological

dependence

OpiatesGroup of narcotics derived from

the opium poppyLaboratory produced opioids

Morphine, heroin, codeine, Demerol

Major application is pain reliefProvides a strong euphoric “rush”

Can lead to dependence: stops the production of endorphins

Heroin was once used as a cure for addiction to morphine

Methadone (slower) is used to treat dependence on heroin

BarbituratesDepressants with medical uses

Relaxation, pain management, treatment of epilepsy, high blood pressure and insomnia

Produces mild euphoriaRapidly lead to dependenceDangerous to mix barbiturates and

alcohol

StimulantsAmphetaminesTaken in high doses produces

euphoric feelingMay cause insomnia, restlessness, psychotic symptoms and a “crash” upon withdrawal

StimulantsTolerance develops quickly and

users may become dependentRitalin

Common treatment for hyperactive children (immature cerebral cortex)

Decrease aggression

StimulantsCocaine

Stimulant that produces euphoric feelings

Physical dangersSudden rises in blood pressure, decreased oxygen supply to the heart, quickened heart rate

OverdoseCan cause restlessness and insomnia, tremors, headaches, nausea, convulsions, hallucinations, delusions, cardiorespiratory collapse

How Cocaine Produces Euphoria and Why People “Crash”

LSDSynthetic hallucinogenProduces vivid, colorful hallucination