copyright © 2007 pearson education canada 1 body rhythms and mental states chapter 5

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

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Body Rhythms and Body Rhythms and Mental StatesMental States

Chapter 5Chapter 5

Copyright © 2007Pearson Education Canada

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Chapter OutlineChapter Outline

• Biological rhythms: The tides of Biological rhythms: The tides of experienceexperience

• The rhythms of sleepThe rhythms of sleep• Exploring the dream worldExploring the dream world• Consciousness-altering drugsConsciousness-altering drugs• The riddle of hypnosisThe riddle of hypnosis


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Biological Rhythms: Tides of Biological Rhythms: Tides of ExperienceExperience

• Understanding biological rhythmsUnderstanding biological rhythms

• Endogenous biological rhythmsEndogenous biological rhythms

• Circadian rhythmsCircadian rhythms

• When internal clocks are out of syncWhen internal clocks are out of sync

• Moods and long-term rhythmsMoods and long-term rhythms

• Menstrual cycles and moodsMenstrual cycles and moods


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Understanding Biological RhythmsUnderstanding Biological Rhythms

• ConsciousnessConsciousness– Awareness of oneself and the environment.Awareness of oneself and the environment.

• Biological rhythmsBiological rhythms– A periodic, more or less regular fluctuation in a A periodic, more or less regular fluctuation in a

biological system; may or may not have biological system; may or may not have psychological implicationspsychological implications

• EntrainmentEntrainment– Biological rhythms are synchronized with external Biological rhythms are synchronized with external

events such as changes in clock time, temperature, events such as changes in clock time, temperature, and daylightand daylight


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Endogenous Biological RhythmsEndogenous Biological Rhythms

• Circadian RhythmsCircadian Rhythms– Occur about every 24 hoursOccur about every 24 hours– Example: The sleep-wake cycleExample: The sleep-wake cycle

• Infradian RhythmsInfradian Rhythms– Occur less often than once a dayOccur less often than once a day– Examples include birds migrating, bears hibernatingExamples include birds migrating, bears hibernating

• Ultradian RhythmsUltradian Rhythms– Occur more frequently than once a day, about every Occur more frequently than once a day, about every

90min90min– Examples include stomach contractions and hormone Examples include stomach contractions and hormone

levelslevels


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Circadian RhythmsCircadian Rhythms• Occur in plants, animals, and peopleOccur in plants, animals, and people• To study endogenous circadian rhythms, To study endogenous circadian rhythms,

scientists isolate volunteers from time cuesscientists isolate volunteers from time cues• Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

– Located in the hypothalamus, responsible for Located in the hypothalamus, responsible for circadian rhythms by regulating melatonin, a circadian rhythms by regulating melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal glandhormone secreted by the pineal gland


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When Internal Clocks are When Internal Clocks are Out of SyncOut of Sync

• Internal desynchronizationInternal desynchronization– A state when biological rhythms are not in A state when biological rhythms are not in

phase with one anotherphase with one another– Circadian rhythms are influenced by Circadian rhythms are influenced by

changes in routine. Examples include:changes in routine. Examples include:• Airplane flights across time zonesAirplane flights across time zones• Adjusting to new work shiftsAdjusting to new work shifts• Also, illness, stress, fatigue, excitement, drugs, Also, illness, stress, fatigue, excitement, drugs,

and mealtimesand mealtimes


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Moods and Long-term RhythmsMoods and Long-term Rhythms

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – A controversial disorder in which person A controversial disorder in which person

experiences depression during the winter experiences depression during the winter and an improvement of mood in the springand an improvement of mood in the spring

– Treatment involves phototherapy or Treatment involves phototherapy or exposure to fluorescent lightexposure to fluorescent light

– Evaluating frequency of and treatment for Evaluating frequency of and treatment for SAD is difficultSAD is difficult


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Menstrual Cycles and MoodMenstrual Cycles and Mood

• Physical symptoms are commonPhysical symptoms are common– Cramps, breast tenderness and water Cramps, breast tenderness and water

retentionretention

• Emotional symptoms are rareEmotional symptoms are rare– Irritability and depressionIrritability and depression– Fewer than 5% of women have symptoms Fewer than 5% of women have symptoms

predictablypredictably


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Why Women Overestimate “PMS”Why Women Overestimate “PMS”

• They notice depression or irritability when They notice depression or irritability when these moods occur premenstrually but these moods occur premenstrually but overlook times when moods are absent overlook times when moods are absent premenstrually premenstrually

• They attribute irritability before menstruation They attribute irritability before menstruation to PMS and attribute irritability at other times to PMS and attribute irritability at other times to other reasonsto other reasons

• They are influenced by cultural attitudes and They are influenced by cultural attitudes and myths about menstruationmyths about menstruation


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Research Conclusions about “PMS”Research Conclusions about “PMS”• No gender differences exist No gender differences exist

in moodin mood• There is no relation between There is no relation between

stage of menstrual cycle stage of menstrual cycle and emotional symptomsand emotional symptoms

• No consistent “PMS” pattern No consistent “PMS” pattern exists across menstrual exists across menstrual cyclescycles

• No connection exists No connection exists between “PMS” and between “PMS” and behaviourbehaviour


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The Rhythms of SleepThe Rhythms of Sleep

• Why we sleepWhy we sleep

• Sleep deprivation & disordersSleep deprivation & disorders

• The realms of sleepThe realms of sleep


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Why We SleepWhy We Sleep• The exact function of sleep is uncertain The exact function of sleep is uncertain

but sleep appears to provide time for: but sleep appears to provide time for: – the body to eliminate waste products from the body to eliminate waste products from

muscles muscles – repair cellsrepair cells– strengthen the immune system, and strengthen the immune system, and – recover abilities lost during the dayrecover abilities lost during the day


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Sleep Deprivation & Disorders Sleep Deprivation & Disorders • Sleep deprivation leads to decreases in physical and Sleep deprivation leads to decreases in physical and

mental functioning.mental functioning.• Sleep apneaSleep apnea

– Breathing briefly stops during sleep, causing the person to Breathing briefly stops during sleep, causing the person to choke and gasp and momentarily waken.choke and gasp and momentarily waken.

• NarcolepsyNarcolepsy– A sleep disorder involving sudden and unpredictable daytime A sleep disorder involving sudden and unpredictable daytime

attacks of sleepiness or lapses into REM sleepattacks of sleepiness or lapses into REM sleep

• Staying up late and not allowing oneself enough sleepStaying up late and not allowing oneself enough sleep– 2/3 of North Americans get fewer than recommended 8 hours2/3 of North Americans get fewer than recommended 8 hours


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Realms of SleepRealms of Sleep

• Stage 1. Feel self drifting on Stage 1. Feel self drifting on the edge of consciousnessthe edge of consciousness

• Stage 2. Minor noises won’t Stage 2. Minor noises won’t disturb youdisturb you

• Stage 3. Breathing and Stage 3. Breathing and pulse have slowed downpulse have slowed down

• Stage 4. Deep sleepStage 4. Deep sleep• REM. Increased eye REM. Increased eye

movement, loss of muscle movement, loss of muscle tone and dreamingtone and dreaming


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A Typical Night’s Sleep for A Typical Night’s Sleep for a Young Adulta Young Adult


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Exploring the Dream WorldExploring the Dream World

• Dreams as unconscious wishesDreams as unconscious wishes

• Dreams as efforts to deal with Dreams as efforts to deal with problemsproblems

• Dreams as a by-product of mental Dreams as a by-product of mental housekeepinghousekeeping

• Dreams as thinkingDreams as thinking

• Dreams as interpreted brain activityDreams as interpreted brain activity


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Dreams as Unconscious WishesDreams as Unconscious Wishes

• Freud concluded that dreams provide insight Freud concluded that dreams provide insight into our unconsciousinto our unconscious

• Manifest content includes aspects of the Manifest content includes aspects of the dream we consciously experience and latent dream we consciously experience and latent content includes unconscious wishes and content includes unconscious wishes and thoughts symbolized in the dreamthoughts symbolized in the dream

• To understand a dream we must distinguish To understand a dream we must distinguish manifest content from latent contentmanifest content from latent content

• Not everything in dreams is symbolicNot everything in dreams is symbolic


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• Dreams may reflect ongoing conscious issues Dreams may reflect ongoing conscious issues such as concerns over relationships, work, such as concerns over relationships, work, sex or healthsex or health

• Dreams are more likely to contain material Dreams are more likely to contain material related to a person’s current concerns than related to a person’s current concerns than chance would predictchance would predict– Example: college students and testingExample: college students and testing

• Males and females appear to dream about Males and females appear to dream about similar issues now that lives and concerns of similar issues now that lives and concerns of two sexes have become more similartwo sexes have become more similar

Dreams as EffortsDreams as Efforts to deal with Problems to deal with Problems


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Dreams as By-product of Mental Dreams as By-product of Mental HousekeepingHousekeeping

• Unnecessary neural connections in Unnecessary neural connections in the brain are eliminated and the brain are eliminated and important ones are strengthenedimportant ones are strengthened

• The brain divides new information The brain divides new information into “wanted” and “unwanted”into “wanted” and “unwanted”

• What we recall as dreams are only What we recall as dreams are only brief snippets from scanning and brief snippets from scanning and sorting that occurs during REM sleepsorting that occurs during REM sleep


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Dreams as ThinkingDreams as Thinking

• Dreams are a modification of the Dreams are a modification of the cognitive activity that goes on when we cognitive activity that goes on when we are awakeare awake

• Difference between wakefulness and Difference between wakefulness and dreaming is that we are cut off from dreaming is that we are cut off from sensory input and bodily feedback sensory input and bodily feedback during dreaming during dreaming


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Dreams as Interpreted Brain ActivityDreams as Interpreted Brain Activity

• Activation-synthesis theoryActivation-synthesis theory– Dreaming results from the cortical Dreaming results from the cortical

synthesis and interpretation of neural synthesis and interpretation of neural signals triggered by activity in the lower signals triggered by activity in the lower part of the brainpart of the brain

– At same time, brain regions that handle At same time, brain regions that handle logical thought and sensation from the logical thought and sensation from the external world shut downexternal world shut down


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Activations Synthesis TheoryActivations Synthesis Theory


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Consciousness-altering DrugsConsciousness-altering Drugs

• Classifying drugsClassifying drugs

• The physiology of drug effectsThe physiology of drug effects

• The psychology of drug effectsThe psychology of drug effects

• The drug debateThe drug debate


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Classifying DrugsClassifying Drugs

• Psychoactive drugPsychoactive drug– Substance capable of influencing perception, Substance capable of influencing perception,

mood, cognition, or behaviourmood, cognition, or behaviour– TypesTypes

• Stimulants speed up activity in the CNSStimulants speed up activity in the CNS• Depressants slow down activity in the CNSDepressants slow down activity in the CNS• Opiates relieve painOpiates relieve pain• Psychedelic drugs disrupt normal thought Psychedelic drugs disrupt normal thought

processesprocesses


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The Physiology of Drug EffectsThe Physiology of Drug Effects

• Psychoactive drugs work by acting on brain Psychoactive drugs work by acting on brain neurotransmitters. These drugs can:neurotransmitters. These drugs can:– increase or decrease the release of neurotransmittersincrease or decrease the release of neurotransmitters– prevent reabsorption of excess neurotransmitters by prevent reabsorption of excess neurotransmitters by

the cells that have released themthe cells that have released them– block the effects of neurotransmitters on receiving cells, block the effects of neurotransmitters on receiving cells,

oror– bind to receptors that would ordinarily be triggered by a bind to receptors that would ordinarily be triggered by a

neurotransmitter or a neuromodulatorneurotransmitter or a neuromodulator


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Cocaine’s Effect on the BrainCocaine’s Effect on the Brain

• Cocaine blocks the brain’s Cocaine blocks the brain’s reabsorption (“reuptake”) of reabsorption (“reuptake”) of the neurotransmitters the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, dopamine and norepinephrine, so levels of these substances so levels of these substances riserise– Results in an overstimulation of Results in an overstimulation of

certain brain circuits and a brief certain brain circuits and a brief euphoric higheuphoric high

– When drug wears off, depletion When drug wears off, depletion of dopamine may cause user to of dopamine may cause user to “crash”“crash”


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The Psychology of Drug EffectsThe Psychology of Drug Effects

• Reactions to psychoactive drugs depend on:Reactions to psychoactive drugs depend on: – Physical factors such as body weight, Physical factors such as body weight,

metabolism, initial state of emotional metabolism, initial state of emotional arousal and physical tolerancearousal and physical tolerance

– Experience or the number of times a person Experience or the number of times a person has used a drughas used a drug

– Environmental factors such as where and Environmental factors such as where and with whom one is drinkingwith whom one is drinking

– Mental set or expectations for drug’s effectsMental set or expectations for drug’s effects


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The Drug DebateThe Drug Debate

• Can we distinguish between use and abuse?Can we distinguish between use and abuse?• Many ‘legal’ drugs are highly consumedMany ‘legal’ drugs are highly consumed

e.g., coffee, tobacco, alcohole.g., coffee, tobacco, alcohol• Many ‘illegal’ drugs reportedly have positive Many ‘illegal’ drugs reportedly have positive

or medical usesor medical uses• Canadians debate over marijuana use and Canadians debate over marijuana use and

benefits as well as “safe-injection sites” for benefits as well as “safe-injection sites” for heroin, cocaine and other IV drugs heroin, cocaine and other IV drugs


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The Riddle of HypnosisThe Riddle of Hypnosis

• Defining hypnosisDefining hypnosis

• The nature of hypnosisThe nature of hypnosis

• Theories of hypnosisTheories of hypnosis


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Defining hypnosisDefining hypnosis

• A procedure in which the practitioner A procedure in which the practitioner suggests changes in the sensations, suggests changes in the sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings or perceptions, thoughts, feelings or behaviour of the subjectbehaviour of the subject


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The Nature of HypnosisThe Nature of Hypnosis

• Hypnotic responsiveness depends more Hypnotic responsiveness depends more on the person being hypnotized than on on the person being hypnotized than on the skill of the hypnotistthe skill of the hypnotist

• Hypnotized people can’t be forced to do Hypnotized people can’t be forced to do things against their willthings against their will

• Feats performed under hypnosis can be Feats performed under hypnosis can be performed by motivated people without performed by motivated people without hypnosishypnosis


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The Nature of HypnosisThe Nature of Hypnosis

• Hypnosis doesn’t increase accuracy of Hypnosis doesn’t increase accuracy of memorymemory

• Hypnosis doesn’t produce a literal re-Hypnosis doesn’t produce a literal re-experiencing of long-ago eventsexperiencing of long-ago events

• Hypnotic suggestions have been used Hypnotic suggestions have been used effectively for medical and psychological effectively for medical and psychological purposespurposes


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Theories of HypnosisTheories of Hypnosis• Dissociation theoriesDissociation theories

– Hypnosis is a split in consciousness in which one part Hypnosis is a split in consciousness in which one part of the mind operates independently of the rest of the of the mind operates independently of the rest of the consciousness, orconsciousness, or

– During hypnosis, dissociation occurs between an During hypnosis, dissociation occurs between an executive control system in the brain (probably frontal executive control system in the brain (probably frontal lobes) and other brain systems involved in thinking lobes) and other brain systems involved in thinking and actingand acting


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Theories of HypnosisTheories of Hypnosis• Sociocognitive theoriesSociocognitive theories

– Effects of hypnosis result from interaction between Effects of hypnosis result from interaction between social influence of the hypnotist (socio) and the abilities, social influence of the hypnotist (socio) and the abilities, beliefs and expectations of the subject (cognitive)beliefs and expectations of the subject (cognitive)

– Can explain “alien abduction” and “past-life regressionCan explain “alien abduction” and “past-life regression

copyright © 2007 pearson education canada 1 body rhythms and mental states chapter 5

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