Consciousness and Its Variations

1
Consciousness and Its Variations
2
Consciousness

• Described as a stream or river by William James
• Introspection tried to capture the structure of
  consciousness
• Modern study includes roles of psychological,
  physiological, social, and cultural influences

3
Circadian Rhythm

• Any rhythmic change that continues at close to a
  24-hour cycle in the absence of 24-hour cues
• body temperature
• cortisol secretion
• sleep and wakefulness
• In the absence of time cues, the cycle period
  will become somewhat longer than 24 hours

4
Circadian Rhythm
5
The Bodys Clock

• Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)cluster of neurons
  in the hypothalamus that governs the timing of
  circadian rhythms
• Melatoninhormone of the pineal gland that
  produces sleepiness
• Bright light decreases production of melatonin
  decreased light increases melatonin

6
Stages of Sleep
7
EEG Waves
ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/ jmp/dreams.html
8
Sleep Changes Throughout Life

• Changes in quality and quantity are apparent

9
Functions of Sleep

• Restoration theorybody wears out during the day
  and sleep is necessary to put it back in shape
• Adaptive theorysleep emerged in evolution to
  preserve energy and protect during the time of
  day when there is considerable danger

10
Sleep Deprivation

• Microsleep--episodes lasting only a few seconds
• REM rebound--deprivation of REM sleep causes
  increase in time spent in REM sleep to catch up
• NREM rebound--catching up on Stages 3 and 4 sleep

11
Individual Differences in Sleep Drive

• Nonsomniacssleep far less than most, but do not
  feel tired during the day
• Some individuals need more and some less than
  the typical 8 hours per night
• Insomniacshave a normal desire for sleep, but
  are unable to and feel tired during the day

12
Sleep Disorders

• Insomniainability to fall asleep or stay asleep
• Night terrorssudden arousal from sleep and
  intense fear accompanied by physiological
  reactions (e.g., rapid heart rate, perspiration)
  that occur during slow-wave sleep
• Narcolepsyoverpowering urge to fall asleep that
  may occur while talking or standing up
• Restless Legs Syndrome--RLS unpleasant sensations
  in lower legs and urge to move legs disrupts
  sleep.
• Sleep apneafailure to breathe when asleep
• REM sleep behavior disordersleeper acts out his
  or her dreams

13
Dreams and REM Sleep

• True dreamvivid, detailed dreams consisting of
  sensory and motor sensations experienced during
  REM
• Sleep thinkinglacks vivid sensory and motor
  sensations, is more similar to daytime thinking,
  and occurs during slow-wave sleep

14
Brain and REM Sleep

• Active areas during REM--amygdala and hippocampus
• Inactive areas during REM--frontal lobes and
  primary visual cortex
• REM sleep plays a role in memory consolidation

15
Significance of Dreams

• Psychoanalytic Interpretation
• Activation Synthesis Model

16
Psychoanalytic Interpretation

• Manifest contentelements of the dream that are
  consciously experienced and remembered
• Latent contentthe unconscious wishes that are
  concealed in the manifest content
• Dreams as wish fulfillments

17
Activation Synthesis Model

• Brain activity during sleep produces dream images
  (activation) which are combined by the brain into
  a dream story (synthesis). Meaning is to be found
  by analyzing the way the dreamer makes sense of
  the progression of chaotic dream images.

18
Hypnosis

• State of awareness
• Highly focused attention
• Increased responsiveness to suggestion
• Vivid imagery
• Willingness to accept distortions of logic
• Alteration of sensation and perception

19
Hypnosis and Memory

• Posthypnotic suggestion--during hypnosis a
  suggestion is made for the person to carry out
  some behavior after hypnosis is over
• Posthypnotic amnesia--inability to remember
  specific information because of a posthypnotic
  suggestion
• Hypermnesia--enhancement of memory because of
  posthypnotic suggestion

20
Meditation

• Sustained concentration that focuses attention
  and heightens awareness
• Lowered physiological arousal
• decreased heart rate
• decreased BP
• Predominance of alpha brain waves

21
Meditation Techniques

• Concentration techniques--control attention by
  focusing awareness on a visual image, word, or
  phrase
• Opening-up techniques--control attention by
  focusing on the here and now

22
Psychoactive Drugs

• Depressantsinhibit brain activity
• Opiatesproduce pain relief and euphoria
• Stimulantsincrease brain activity
• Psychedelicsdistort sensory perceptions

23
Common Properties

• Physical dependence
• Tolerance
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Drug rebound effect

24
Depressants

• AlcoholCNS depressant
• Barbituratesinduce sleep but can cause
  dependence and as a result serious withdrawal
  symptoms
• Tranquilizersrelieve anxiety but can be
  addictive
• Effects are additive

25
BAC Effects

• Euphoria (BAC 0.03 to 0.12)
• Excitement (BAC 0.09 to 0.25)
• Confusion (BAC 0.18 to 0.30)
• Stupor (BAC 0.25 to 0.4)
• Death (BAC more than 0.50 )

26
Areas of the brain that may be affected by FAS
27
Opiates

• Chemically similar to morphine and have strong
  pain-relieving properties, can be addictive
• Mimic the brains endorphins
• Heroin, methadone
• Percodan, Demerol

28
Stimulants

• Caffeine
• Nicotine
• Amphetamines
• Cocaine
• Stimulant induced psychosis

29
Psychedelics

• Create perceptual distortions
• Mescaline
• LSD
• Marijuana
• Flashback reactions and psychotic episodes

30
Club Drugs

• Ecstasy (MDMA)feelings of euphoria, increased
  well-being
• Side effectsdehydration, hyperthermia, tremor,
  rapid heartbeat
• Dissociative anestheticsinclude PCP and
  Ketamine. Deaden pain, produce stupor or coma,
  and may induce hallucinations.