Levels of Consciousness

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1 Levels of Consciousness Consciousness - An organism s or individual s awareness of, or possibility of knowing what is happening inside or outside itself Subconscious - Consciousness just below the level of awareness. It contains thoughts and ideas just out of our awareness. Unconscious - A deeper level of awareness is the unconscious. It contains thoughts and desires about which we have no true or direct knowledge.

2 Waking Consciousness Levels of information Processing Parallel processing subconscious information processing occurs simultaneously on many parallel tracks. Serial processing conscious processing takes place in sequence

3 Waking Consciousness Fantasy-prone personalities someone who imagines and recalls experiences with lifelike vividness and who spends considerable time fantasizing

They operate on freerunning cycles (under their own control).

4 Biological Clocks Biological clocks are internal units that control parts of the body and which are regulated by nature. They operate on freerunning cycles (under their own control). Through entrainment, some cycles can be modified to fit a different rhythm (sleep-wake cycle).

5 Circadian Rhythms The human body has a natural rhythm or cycle of sleep and wakefulness of 25 hours. Contrast this to the light-dark cycle of 24 hours. The human circadian rhythm is based on an entrained 24-hour cycle. Most people s low points (temperature, blood pressure, and weakness ) generally fall between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.

8 Premenstrual Syndrome Negative mood score 3 Recalled mood is worse than earlier reported 2 1 Premenstrual Menstrual Intermenstrual Menstrual phase Actual Recalled mood

9 Sleep and Dreams REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep recurring sleep stage vivid dreams paradoxical sleep muscles are generally relaxed, but other body systems are active

10 Sleep and Dreams Sleep periodic, natural, reversible loss of consciousness

11 Sleep and Dreams REM SLEEP NREM SLEEP 1. Rapid eye movement 1. Non-rapid eye movement 2. Increases in length as night s sleep progresses. 2.Decreases in length as night s sleep progresses. 3. Vivid dreams 3. Vague, partial images and stories 4. Nightmares 4. Incubus attacks (night terrors) 5. Paralyzed body 5. Sleepwalking & talking in sleep 6. Essential part of sleep 6. Less essential part of sleep

12 Brain Waves and Sleep Stages Beta Waves Wide awake waves Alpha Waves slow waves of a relaxed, awake brain Delta Waves large, slow waves of deep sleep Hallucinations false sensory experiences Sleep Spindles Begin during stage 2 sleep and increase through the cycle

13 The Nature of Sleep and Dreams

14 Stages in a Typical Night s Sleep Sleep stages 1 Awake REM Hours of sleep

15 Stages in a Typical Night s Sleep Minutes of Stage 4 and REM Decreasing Stage Increasing REM Hours of sleep

16 Stages of Sleep Upon reaching stage 4 and after about 80 to 100 minutes of total sleep time, sleep lightens, returns through stages 3 and 2 REM sleep emerges, characterized by EEG patterns that resemble beta waves of alert wakefulness muscles most relaxed rapid eye movements occur dreams occur Four or five sleep cycles occur in a typical night s sleep; less time is spent in slow-wave, more is spent in REM

17 Functions of Sleep Restoration theory body wears out during the day and sleep is necessary to put it back in shape Adaptive theory sleep emerged in evolution to preserve energy and protect during the time of day when there is little value and considerable danger

18 Sleep Deprivation Effects of Sleep Loss fatigue impaired concentration depressed immune system greater vulnerability to accidents

19 Sleep Deprivation Has little effect on performance of tasks requiring physical skill or intellectual judgment Hurts performance on simple, boring tasks more than challenging ones

20 Sleep Deprivation Accident frequency 2,800 Less sleep, more accidents More sleep, fewer accidents 2,700 4,200 2, ,500 2,400 Spring time change (hour sleep loss) Monday before time change 3,800 3,600 Fall time change (hour sleep gained) Monday after time change

21 Individual Differences in Sleep Drive Some individuals need more and some less than the typical 8 hours per night Nonsomniacs sleep far less than most, but do not feel tired during the day Insomniacs has a normal desire for sleep, but is unable to and feels tired during the day

22 Sleep Disorders Insomnia persistent problems in falling or staying asleep Narcolepsy uncontrollable sleep attacks Sleep Apnea temporary cessation of breathing momentary reawakenings

23 Sleep Disorders REM sleep disorder sleeper acts out his or her dreams Night terrors sudden arousal from sleep and intense fear accompanied by physiological reactions (e.g., rapid heart rate, perspiration) that occur during slow-wave sleep Nightmares a vivid dream depicting frightening disturbing, anxiety-provoking events.

24 Sleep Disorders Nightmares Night Terrors 1. Occurs during REM sleep, usually during the second half of the night. 1. Occurs during NREM sleep, usually during the first hour of the night. 2. Mild physiological changes 2. Drastic bodily changes: breathing & heart rate rise dramatically. 3. Associated with vivid images 3. Associated with panic 4. Most likely to occur during REM rebound. 4. Most likely to occur in children

25 Practical Issues in Sleep Sleepwalking (somnambulism) About 25% of all children have at least one episode of sleepwalking. It typically occurs during the first three hours of sleep. Walking and Talking Many people walk and talk in their sleep. It is normal. It is not dangerous to awaken a sleepwalker, as long as the person feels safe and secure.

26 The Psychology of Dreams Usually dreams contain everyday occurrences such as interactions with family, friends, school teachers, and so on. They also contain ideas about fears and inadequacies. Everyone dreams...

Dream Content Usually contain imagined conquests Take place outdoors more than indoors May be recurrent Usually involve running or jumping

27 Dream Content Usually contain imagined conquests Take place outdoors more than indoors May be recurrent Usually involve running or jumping Usually involve strong emotions Contain visual, auditory, and even taste sensations. (About 50% of our dreams are in color. No one knows why.)

28 Dreams: Freud Sigmund Freud--The Interpretation of Dreams (1900) wish fulfillment discharge otherwise unacceptable feelings Manifest Content remembered story line Latent Content underlying meaning

29 Manifest Content Monsters On Bikes I have this recurring dream of being chased by a gang of monsters on bikes. I know the neighborhood that I am in because I used to live there. I am on foot trying to get away and hiding in places that I know are safe. But they keep finding me. I also know it is Halloween, because I am in costume and so is everyone else. I am screaming for help, but the people around me, and the people whose doorbells I am ringing keep telling me that there is no one after me. They ask me if I want some candy to calm myself down. Then they start taking guns and shooting at me, but they miss. Finally, I can't run anymore, and they catch up to me, and grab me by my nose when I wake up. Thank you! Jessica October 1, 2000

30 Latent Content Hi Jessica, Chase dreams are quite common and often reflect a situation that you are afraid in confronting. Being chased by a gang of monsters sounds quite frightening. You indicated that in your dream it was Halloween. These monsters were probably really people dressed in their own mask and costumes. The scenario of your dream and being that it is Halloween, furthers my belief that you are truly afraid in directly confronting a particular situation. Disguises and costumes protect and shield your real self. Behind a mask, you adapt a new persona and and feel freer in releasing your inhibitions. The costume/mask provides some sort of barrier against your vulnerabilities. It protects you from being hurt. Another significant aspect of your dream is that the people you turn to for help turns against you. Does this parallel a situation in your waking life where you felt betrayed or that your trust was undermined? Next time you have another chase dream, turn around and confront the chasers. You may be surprised to find that what you are running from is not all that frightening. In doing so, you will even find that your recurring chase dreams will occur less often. Best Regards, Steve

31 Dreams As Information Processing helps facilitate memories REM Rebound REM sleep increases following REM sleep deprivation

32 Sleep Across the Lifespan

33 The Purpose of Dreaming One hypothesis about dreaming is that it is a time for the brain to replenish chemicals used up during the day and to process information.

A third hypothesis about dreaming suggests that it gives the brain an opportunity

34 E=MC 2 A second hypothesis says that dreams are used to work out problems experienced throughout the day. A third hypothesis about dreaming suggests that it gives the brain an opportunity to sift through and reorganize events of the day. It creates a dream to organize the events. We dream to make sense of the random situations.

35 Hypnosis Hypnosis is a state of relaxation. Attention is focused on certain objects, acts, or feelings. Anton Mesmer believed power came from magnetism. Hypnotic results really come from the power of suggestion to focus or block. Trances are periods of deep relaxation. No one can be hypnotized to do something they wouldn t do anyway.

36 Hypnosis Hypnosis a social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur Posthypnotic Amnesia supposed inability to recall what one experienced during hypnosis induced by the hypnotist s suggestion

37 Hypnosis Unhypnotized persons can also do this

38 Hypnosis Orne & Evans (1965) control group instructed to pretend unhypnotized subjects performed the same acts as the hypnotized ones Posthypnotic Suggestion suggestion to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized used by some clinicians to control undesired symptoms and behaviors

39 Hypnosis Dissociation a split in consciousness allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others Hidden Observer Hilgard s term describing a hypnotized subject s awareness of experiences, such as pain, that go unreported during hypnosis

40 Facts and Falsehoods 1. Can hypnosis work for anyone? 2. Can hypnosis enhance recall of forgotten events? Age regression relive an earlier experience 3. Can hypnosis force people to act against their will? 4. Can hypnosis be therapeutic? 5. Can hypnosis alleviate pain?

41 Explaining Hypnosis

43 Drugs and Consciousness Psychoactive Drug a chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood Physical Dependence physiological need for a drug marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms Psychological Dependence a psychological need to use a drug for example, to relieve negative emotions

44 Dependence and Addiction Drug effect Big effect Response to first exposure Tolerance diminishing effect with regular use Withdrawal After repeated exposure, more drug is needed to produce same effect discomfort and distress that follow discontinued use Little effect Small Drug dose Large

45 Psychoactive Drugs Depressants drugs that reduce neural activity slow body functions alcohol, barbiturates, opiates Stimulants drugs that excite neural activity speed up body functions caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, cocaine

46 Psychoactive Drugs Hallucinogens psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input LSD

47 Psychoactive Drugs Alcohol in large or small doses it is a depressant. Small doses may indeed, enliven a drinker, but they do so by slowing brain activity that controls judgment and inhibitions. It contributes to the greatest number of deaths.

48 Psychoactive Drugs Barbiturates drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement

49 Psychoactive Drugs Opiates opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin) opiates depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

50 Psychoactive Drugs Amphetamines drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes

51 Cocaine Euphoria and Crash

52 Psychoactive Drugs Ecstasy (MDMA) synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen both short-term and long-term health risks LSD lysergic acid diethylamide a powerful hallucinogenic drug also known as acid THC the major active ingredient in marijuana triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations

53 Trends in Drug Use 80% High school seniors reporting drug use Alcohol Marijuana/ hashish Cocaine Year

54 Perceived Marijuana Risk Percent of twelfth graders 100% Perceived great risk of harm in marijuana use Used marijuana Year

55 Psychoactive Drugs

56 Near-Death Experiences Near-Death Experience an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death often similar to druginduced hallucinations

57 Near-Death Experiences Dualism the presumption that mind and body are two distinct entities that interact Monism the presumption that mind and body are different aspects of the same thing

States of Consciousness

Myers PSYCHOLOGY (7th Ed) Chapter 7 States of Consciousness Waking Consciousness Consciousness our awareness of ourselves and our environments Sleep and Dreams Biological Rhythms periodic physiological