Body Rhythms and Mental States

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Body Rhythms and Mental States

• Chapter 3

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What is the Nature of Consciousness?

• Consciousness The brains awareness of
  internal and external stimulation
• (filter or interpretation of events NOT a
  direct copy)

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The Functions and Structures of Consciousness

• Restricts attention
• Combines sensation with learning and memory
• Helps us select personally meaningful stimuli
• Allows us to draw on lessons stored in memory

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Mental Control

• Attention
• (limited resource)
• White Bear Study
• Automatic vs. Contolled Processes
• Preattentive Processes

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Sleep and Dreaming

• Circadian rhythms
• Rapid eye movements (REM)
• Sleep paralysis, paradoxical sleep
• REM rebound
• Non-REM (NREM) sleep

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Sleep Cycle

• NREM 4 stages
• deepest sleep early in night
• REM replaces Stage 1
• 60-90 between REM
• (most people have 4-6 cycles per night)

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Realms of Sleep

• Stage 1. Feel self drifting on the edge of
  consciousness.
• Stage 2. Minor noises wont disturb you.
• Stage 3. Breathing and pulse have slowed down.
• Stage 4. Deep sleep.
• REM. Increased eye movement, loss of muscle tone
  and dreaming.

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The Sleep Cycle
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The Need for Sleep
Over the years, the need for REM sleep decreases
considerably, while the need for NREM sleep
diminishes less sharply
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Why We Sleep

• The exact function of sleep is uncertain but the
  possible functions include
• eliminate waste products from muscles
• repair cells
• strengthen the immune system
• recover abilities lost during the day
• conserve energy
• Aid in learning/memory

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Why We Dream A Cross-Cultural Perspective

• Folk theories (visions, religion)
• Scientific approach
• Dreams as meaningful events
• Dreams as random brain activity

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Dreams as Meaningful Events

• To guard sleep (disguising images)
• To serve as sources of wish fulfillment
• Differences in dream content by age, gender, and
  culture

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Dreams as Random Brain Activity
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Hypnosis

• Hypnosis Induced state of altered awareness,
  characterized by heightened suggestibility and
  deep relaxation

Hypnotizability Degree to which an individual
is responsive to hypnotic suggestions
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Altered Consciousness

• Psychoactive drugs Chemicals that affect
  mental processes and behavior by their effects on
  the nervous system

Opiates
Depressants
Hallucinogens
Stimulants
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The Psychology of Drug Effects.

• Reactions to psychoactive drugs depend on
• Physical factors such as body weight, metabolism,
  initial state of emotional arousal and physical
  tolerance.
• Experience or the number of times a person has
  used a drug.
• Environmental factors such as where and with whom
  one is drinking.
• Mental set or expectations for drugs effects.

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Process of Addiction

• Psychological
• Dependence
• Associations
• People, Places, Things

• Biological/Physical
• Tolerance/dependence
• Withdrawal