Sleep is a state of altered consciousness (different levels of awareness), characterized by certain patterns of brain activity.
State of awareness, including a person s feelings, sensations, ideas, and perceptions People who are fully aware with their attention focused on something are conscious of that something A person who is not completely aware is in a different level of consciousness altered state of consciousness (e.g., sleep) Freud s level of consciousness
Stages of Sleep I II III IV (deepest sleep of all)
REM Sleep A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, a high level of brain activity, a deep relaxation of the muscles, and dreaming Known as active sleep as if you were awake Almost all dreaming takes place at REM sleep Lasts 15-45 minutes We go through this cycle every 90 minutes At no point does your brain become inactive
Spend 1/3 of our lives in sleep Newborns 16 hours a day sleeping, ½ of it in REM sleep Teens 10 to 11 hours Young Adults 8 hours Elderly 5 hours
Rhythm of activity and inactivity lasting approximately one day Biological clock genetically programmed to regulate physiological responses within 25 hours Jet Lag takes about one day for each hour of time change to reset your circadian clock Sleep is an active state essential for mental/physical functioning
Insomnia (mental) failure to obtain enough sleep at night in order to feel rested/why? anxiety, depression, overuse of alcohol/drugs
Sleep Apnea (physical) person has trouble breathing while asleep/flow of air to lungs actually stops/affects one in 100 Americans/usually occurs among older people
Narcolepsy suddenly falling asleep or feeling very sleepy during the day
Nightmares unpleasant dreams/occur during dream phase of REM sleep Night Terrors sleep disruptions that occur during Stage IV of sleep, involving screaming, panic, and confusion
Sleepwalking walking or carrying out behaviors while asleep, without any memory of doing so/associated with children/may be inherited/not dangerous to wake sleepwalkers Sleep Talking talk in your sleep/talk as if carrying a conversation with someone
The Content of Dreams Often we incorporate our everyday activities into our dreams
Dream Interpretation Freud believed that no matter how simple or mundane, dreams may contain clues to thoughts the dreamer is afraid to acknowledge in his/her waking hours Contain hidden meanings Some researchers believe dreaming allows people a chance to review and address some of the problems they faced during the day Removing certain, unneeded memories Form of mental housecleaning
Daydreams Dreaming while we are awake Usually when we are in situations that require little attention or when we are bored Lucid Dreaming
Hypnosis Form of altered consciousness in which people become highly suggestible to changes in behavior and thought Used for assistance in quitting smoking, losing weight, etc. Does not put participant to sleep Theories of Hypnosis Uses of Hypnosis Posthypnotic Suggestion A suggestion made during hypnosis that influences the participant s behavior afterward
Process of learning to control bodily states with the help of specialized machines Feedback makes learning possible
Focusing of attention to clear one s mind and produce relaxation Three Approaches 1. Transendental Meditation - repetition of mantra 2. Mindfulness Meditation - focuses on the present moment 3. Breath Meditation - concentration on one s respiration - process of inhaling and exhaling
Psychoactive Drugs Interact with central nervous system to alter a person s mood, perception, and behavior (e.g., caffeine, alcohol, marijuana, LSD) Chemicals that affect the nervous system and result in altered consciousness How Drugs Work Drug molecules act like neurotransmitters and hook onto the ends of nerve cells (neurons) and send out their own chemical messages
Marijuana Dried leaves and flowers of Indian hemp that produce an altered state of consciousness when smoked or ingested THC tetrahydrocannabinol active ingredient
Hallucinations Perceptions that have no direct external cause Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feelings that do not exist Portions of brain that respond to incoming stimuli become disorganized, while central nervous system is aroused
Hallucinogens Drugs that produce hallucinations Psychedelic create loss of contact with reality LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) A potent psychedelic drug that produces distortions of perception and thought Trip lasts 6 to 14 hours May have flashback experiences, even months/years after taking LSD
Opiates Usually called narcotics Opium, morphine, heroin Alcohol Most widely used and abused mind-altering substance in the United States Depressant that serves to inhibit the brain s normal functions Increased drinking within specific time, ability to function diminishes
Drug Abuse and Treatment Drug abusers are people who regularly use illegal drugs or excessively use legal drugs Can turn into addiction