States of Consciousnesssleep – dreams – hypnosis - drugs

Consciousness What does it mean to be

“conscious”?Consciousness is AWARENESS of ourselves and our environment.

• Our conscious attention is selective.We can choose to focus on something in particular, like our breathing, a phrase (mantra) or the scenery that you pass as you drive home.

consciousness experiments(http://viscog.beckman.uiuc.edu/djs_lab/demos.html)

50% of people fail to see the gorilla when concentrating on counting the passes

Sleep Why do we need sleep?

Sleep protects us

• How much sleep do we need? (according to the National Institutes of Health-2007)

newborns

Sleep helps us recuperate (repair tissue & build-up our immune system / fight infection)Sleep improves cognitive functioning (accidents are more likely when one is sleep deprived)

Sleep helps us grow

18 hours

10-12 hours

teens9 hours

adults7-8 hours

kids elderly5-6 hours

Sleep helps us cope emotionally

Sleep improves memory (memory consolidation)

Scheduling a good night's sleep could be one of the smartest health priorities you set. It's not just daytime drowsiness you risk when shortchanging yourself on your seven to eight hours. Possible health consequences of getting too little or poor sleep can involve the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, and nervous systems.

reasons not to skimp on sleep

Source: US News & World Report - Sarah Baldauf - Oct 16, 2008

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1) Less may mean more. For people who sleep under seven hours a night, the fewer zzzz's they get, the more obese they tend to be, according to a 2006 Institute of Medicine report. This may relate to the discovery that insufficient sleep appears to tip hunger hormones out of whack. Leptin, which suppresses appetite, is lowered; ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, gets a boost.

2) You're more apt to make bad food choices. A study published this week in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that people with obstructive sleep apnea or other severely disordered breathing while asleep ate a diet higher in cholesterol, protein, total fat, and total saturated fat. Women were especially affected.

3) Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance, its precursor, may become more likely. A 2005 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that people getting five or fewer hours of sleep each night were 2.5 times more likely to be diabetic, while those with six hours or fewer were 1.7 times more likely.

4) The ticker is put at risk. A 2003 study found that heart attacks were 45 percent more likely in women who slept for five or fewer hours per night than in those who got more.

5) Blood pressure may increase. Obstructive sleep apnea, for example, has been associated with chronically elevated daytime blood pressure, and the more severe the disorder, the more significant the hypertension, suggests the 2006 IOM report. Obesity plays a role in both disorders, so losing weight can ease associated health risks.

6) Auto accidents rise. As stated in a 2007 report in the New England Journal of Medicine, nearly 20 percent of serious car crash injuries involve a sleepy driver--and that's independent of alcohol use.

7) Balance is off. Older folks who have trouble getting to sleep, who wake up at night, or are drowsy during the day could be 2 to 4.5 times more likely to sustain a fall, found a 2007 study in the Journal of Gerontology.

8) You may be more prone to depression. Adults who are chronically sleep deprived report more mental distress, depression, and alcohol use. Adolescents suffer, too: One survey of high school students found similarly high rates of these issues. Middle schoolers, too, report more symptoms of depression and lower self-esteem.

9) Kids may suffer more behavior problems. Research from an April issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine found that children who are plagued by insomnia, short duration of sleeping, or disordered breathing with obesity, for example, are more likely to have behavioral issues like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

10) Death's doorstep may be nearer. Those who get five hours or less per night have approximately 15 percent greater risk of dying--regardless of the cause--according to three large population-based studies published in the journals Sleep and the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Am I Sleep Deprived?1. I need an alarm clock in order to wake up at the appropriate time.2. It’s a struggle for me to get out of bed in the morning.3. Weekday mornings I hit the snooze button several times to get more sleep.4. I feel tired, irritable, and stressed-out during the week.5. I have trouble concentrating and remembering.6. I feel slow with critical thinking, problem solving, and being creative.7. I often fall asleep watching TV.8 I often fall asleep in boring meetings or lectures or in warm rooms.

Am I Sleep Deprived?9. I often fall asleep after heavy meals or after a low dose of alcohol.10. I often fall asleep while relaxing after dinner.11. I often fall asleep within five minutes of getting into bed.12. I often feel drowsy while driving.13. I often sleep extra hours on weekend mornings.14. I often need a nap to get through the day.15. I have dark circles around my eyes.

Biological Rhythms and Sleep*Circadian Rhythms occur on a 24-25 hour cycle and include

sleep and wakefulness.

Termed our “biological clock,” it can be altered by artificial light.

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Morning Light triggers the suprachiasmatic nucleus (in the hypothalamus) to decrease melatonin from the pineal glandEvening Fading light triggers the suprachiasmatic nucleus to increase melatonin.

Doctors and researchers are reporting an increase in illness related to decreased melatonin production – why do you think this might be happening?

As our body prepares for sleep,our body temperature changes

Goes down as we go to sleep

Goes up as we wake up

Sleep StagesMeasuring sleep: About every 90 minutes, we pass

through a cycle of five distinct sleep stages.

Hank Morgan/ Rainbow

90-Minute Cycles During Sleep

With each 90-minute cycle, stage 4 sleep decreases and the duration of REM sleep

increases.

stage 1

stage 2

stage 3

stage 4

REM•Light sleep – easy to awaken•Hypnagogic jerks•Theta waves

2

3

4

•Slightly deeper sleep•Sleep spindles

•Deeper sleep•Delta waves

•Deepest sleep•Delta waves•Sleep walking•Growing (in kids)

•Sleep talking•Wetting the bed•Night terrors

•Dreaming•Rapid eye movement•Paradoxical sleep

Sleep Disorders*1. Insomnia: A persistent inability to

fall asleep.

2. Narcolepsy*: Overpowering urge to fall asleep that may occur while talking or standing up.

3. Sleep apnea: Failure to breathe when asleep.

Sleep DisordersChildren are most prone to:

Night terrors: The sudden arousal from sleep with intense fear accompanied by physiological reactions (e.g., rapid heart rate, perspiration) which occur during Stage 4 sleep.

Sleepwalking: A Stage 4 disorder which is usually harmless and unrecalled the next day.

Sleeptalking: A condition that runs in families, like sleepwalking.

What We Dream

1. Negative Emotional Content: 8 out of 10 dreams have negative emotional content.

2. Failure Dreams: People commonly dream about failure, being attacked, pursued, rejected, or struck with misfortune.

3. Sexual Dreams: Contrary to our thinking, sexual dreams are sparse. Sexual dreams in men are 1 in 10; and in women 1 in 30.

Manifest Content: A Freudian term meaning the story line of dreams.

Why We Dream1. Wish Fulfillment: Sigmund Freud

suggested that dreams provide a psychic safety valve to discharge unacceptable feelings. The dream’s manifest (apparent) content may also have symbolic meanings (latent content) that signify our unacceptable feelings.

2. Information Processing: Dreams may help sift, sort, and fix a day’s experiences in our memories.

Why We Dream3. Physiological

Function: Dreams provide the sleeping brain with periodic stimulation to develop and preserve neural pathways. Neural networks of newborns are quickly developing; therefore, they need more sleep.

Why We Dream4. Activation-Synthesis Theory: Suggests that

the brain engages in a lot of random neural activity. Dreams make sense of this activity.

5. Cognitive Development: Some researchers argue that we dream as a part of brain maturation and cognitive development.

All dream researchers believe we need REM sleep. Whendeprived of REM sleep and then allowed to sleep,

we show increased REM sleep called REM Rebound.

Chapter 7 pt. 2: States of Consciousness

Hypnosis* Hypnosis: involves a

state of awareness characterized by deep relaxation, heightened suggestibility, and focused attention.

Hypnotist suggests changes in sensations, thoughts, behavior, and perceptions.

Hypnosis Theories

State Theory (Unsupported by Research)*:

The State Theory argues hypnosis reflects an altered state of consciousness where participants enter a trance-like level of consciousness whereby the hypnotist has control of the participant’s “subconscious.”

Hypnosis Theories: Based on Research

SOCIAL INFLUENCE THEORYHypnosis as a social phenomenon: argues that participants are doing what’s expected of them. Participants are just following a role of how one is supposed to act when hypnotized and it provides a socially acceptable reason to follow certain suggestions.

Argue pain relief from hypnosis is caused by normal shift/split in selective attention:

Ex: Pain not felt during soccer game.

Hypnosis Theories: Based on Research

Dissociation Theory blends social influence and state theories.

Hilgard argued hypnosis is caused by a social agreement that allowed dissociation: split in consciousness, which allows certain voluntary and involuntary behaviors to be controlled in part by a hypnotist.

Hilgard’s “Hidden Observer” Research Supports Dissociation Theory

Hidden Observer: describes hypnotized subject’s awareness of experiences, such as pain, that go unreported during hypnosis. The “hidden observer” feels the pain so is associated with normal consciousness.

› Ex: Part of person feels the pain during ice water experiments.

Dissociation and Pain Studies

› Pain relief studies: theorists say pain stimulus is dissociated (split) from the emotional suffering of pain.

› But is there some part of the person that is feeling the pain? Yes according to “Hidden Observer”

Hypnosis Medical uses of hypnosis

Perspectives On Dissociation

Hypnosis Concepts: Can Hypnosis Have an Effect After The Session?

Posthypnotic Amnesia: supposed inability to recall what one experienced during hypnosis; induced by the hypnotist’s suggestion. “You will no longer remember anything you experienced today.”

Posthypnotic Suggestion: a suggestion made during a hypnosis session that will be carried out after hypnosis session is over. “You will no longer feel the need to smoke after this session is over.”

Facts About Hypnosis Unhypnotized people can do

and will do the same things as hypnotized people. Ex: throw acid in face.

Those who are imaginative and fantasy prone are best hypnosis patients.

No one can be hypnotized if they do not want to be.

Altered Consciousness and Drugs Psychoactive Drug: Any chemical

substance that alters perceptions and mood. Impairs brain mechanisms that help us make good decisions.

Three Basic Categories:› Depressants: “Downers” calm neural activity

and slow body functions. Includes opiates and barbiturates.

› Stimulants: “Uppers” excite neural activity

› Hallucinogens: distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

Why Do Drugs Get People “High?” No matter what type of drug

from alcohol to cocaine, drugs work at the neurological level and at the brain’s synapses.

› Some drugs stimulate the release of certain neurotransmitters.

› Others mimic the activity of neurotransmitters (agonists)

› Others inhibit the release of neurotransmitters (antagonists)

Use the link below for an interactive explanation about the impact of drugs on the brain and behavior

Mouse Party

Drugs and Impact on Your Body The most addictive drugs

like heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines stimulate the reward centers in your brain making you feel a sense of euphoria.

Drugs and Social Expectations Drug experiences vary

depending on the culture you are in.

Often people act how they think they should act when on a certain drug.

Ex: Alcohol belief studies.

Depressants• Alcohol: suppresses parts of

the brain that control judgment, inhibitions, and can seriously alter physical functioning in high doses (balance, memory, consciousness, death).

• Urges you feel when sober, you are more likely to act upon when drunk.

• Alcohol will increase any tendency you have whether it is harmful or helpful.

• It always acts a depressant, even if you only have one drink.

Depressants Barbiturates:

depress CNS and reduce anxiety but impair memory and judgment.

Ex: sleep aids, “special k,” benzodiapezines (xanax and valium), tranquilizers, etc.

Depressants Opiates: opium and its

derivatives from poppy plant, depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.

Ex: morphine, heroin, opium.

Opiates usually mimic endorphins; causes massive craving, withdrawal, and addiction because body stops producing its natural opiates.

Heroin Derived from Morphine in 1800s by Bayer Company

Stimulants Wide variety of substances fall under

the category of stimulants including:› Caffeine› Nicotine› Amphetamines (“speed”) and methamphetamines (“crystal meth”)

› Cocaine› MDMA (Ecstasy)

Stimulants Speed up heart rate and

breathing rates, often use to keep awake, lose weight, or to boost mood.

All stimulants can become highly addictive and often come with a “crash” when high is over with.

Stimulants Cocaine: powerful stimulant

usually snorted or smoked that induces 15 to 30 minute “rush.” Crack produces even quicker and more intense high but lasts shorter period of time.

Drug depletes the brain’s supply of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine often causing depression. Also increases paranoia and increases risk of heart problems.

May increase aggressive behaviors and causes extreme addiction.

Stimulants Methamphetamine:

(crystal meth, ice, speed). Causes large increases in alertness and may cause increase in energy and produce a euphoria.

Often leads to extreme addiction, insomnia, nervousness, or even seizures.

Hallucinogens Also Called Psychedelics

Drugs create hallucinations, altered perceptions, and blur line between self and external world.

Most well known hallucinogen is LSD: (lysergic acid diethylamine): probably most powerful hallucinogen.

Other examples include: marijuana, peyote, angel dust, mescaline, and “magic mushrooms.”

Hallucinogens Marijuana: consists of

flowers and leaves from the hemp plant and when smoked or ingested acts as a mild hallucinogen.

Relaxes, disinhibits, and impairs motor functions of individuals while at the same time amplifying sensitivity to colors, sounds, tastes, and smells.

Main active ingredient=THC

Hallucinogens• In recent years, Marijuana has also been

promoted for medical use. • Advocates say that marijuana serves as

relief for people suffering from intense pain, nausea, or that have trouble eating.

• Although the medical community is split on issue, most recognize the toxicity of the smoke is a definite drawback to using the drug medically.

• Marijuana also disrupts memory formation and may cause sexual dysfunctions.

General Concepts and Drugs• Physical vs. Psychological

Dependence• Tolerance: diminishing

effect of drug with the same dose, requires user to take more to get same high.

• Withdrawal: discomfort and distress associated with quitting the use of an addictive drug.

Influences on Drug Use Perception of the risk involved with a

drug helps predict levels of use.

Influences on Drug UseAlso evidence that there may be

biological influences in drug use. Examples:Identical twin with alcoholism other twin has increased risk.

Molecular geneticists have found gene that is more common in people with alcoholism.

Influences on Drug Use Peer factor is perhaps most

powerful. Family strength, religiousness,

morality are near as big as predictors as whether or not peers use drugs. If your friends do drugs, odds are high that you may do them too.

This is why many addicts have to change their social networks in order to remain drug free.