ConsciousnessAP Psychology

STATES of Consciousness

Conscious/Awake

Daydreaming

meditatingUnder the

influence of drugs

Sleeping

hypnosis

You can divide these states even further…

AP students in psychology should be able to do the following:• Describe various states of consciousness and their impact on behavior.

Conscious/Awake is a vague concept that is usually defined by psychologists as the

awareness of our environment and ourselves.

• Sights, smells, sounds, etc.• Environmental awareness and

reaction

Sensory Awareness

• Feelings and imagination (MIND)• No sensory organs involved

Direct-Inner Awareness

• “I think ,therefore, I am”• Aware that you are an individual

Sense of Self

These are LEVELS of the conscious state…not STATES of consciousness!!

AP students in psychology should be able to do the following:• Describe various states of consciousness and their impact on behavior.

Consciousness

PreconsciousUnconscious

Nonconscious

Sensory awareness, direct-inner awareness, sense of self

Not aware now, but can recall if you have to “subconscious”

Unavailable under most circumstances

Basic biological functioning (hair growing, pupils adjusting)

Parallel Processing is

“subconscious”

Conscious processing processes different information sequentially (Serial Processing), thus making Conscious processing slow.

Passed out; fainted, most

levels of anesthesia

A coma

LEVELS…Not STATES Conscious/Awake

Everyone fantasizes Fantasizing (day dreaming) may help reduce stress, increase creativity, and even

prepare for future events.

But some 4% of the population fantasize so vividly that they have a Fantasy-prone personality. As adults they spend more than half their time fantasizing, which eventually leads to difficulties sorting fantasy from reality.

Getting way too “in” to something – Twilight – false reality/expectations of relationships…can

play out in ACTUAL relationships.

Daydreaming (state)

AP students in psychology should be able to do the following:• Describe various states of consciousness and their impact on behavior.

Sleeping and Dreaming

Circadian rhythm is our “Biological clock”

that runs on a 24-hour day cycle. But isolated individuals without

clocks or daylight usually adopt a 25-hour day cycle.

And if we experience jet lag from travelling, our biological clock will

reset to adapt.http://www.nigms.nih.gov/publications/factsheet_circadianrhythms.htm

AP students in psychology should be able to do the following:• Describe various states of consciousness and their impact on

behavior.• Discuss aspects of sleep and dreaming:— stages and characteristics of the sleep cycle;— theories of sleep and dreaming;— symptoms and treatments of sleep disorders.

Circadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism’s environment.

They are found in most living things, including animals, plants and many tiny microbes.

Sleeping and Dreaming— stages and characteristics of the sleep cycle;

Sleep Protects: Sleeping in the darkness when predators loomed about kept our

ancestors out of harm’s way.

Sleep Recuperates: Sleep helps restore and repair brain tissue.

Sleep Helps Remembering: Sleep restores and rebuilds our fading memories.

Sleep and Growth: During sleep, the pituitary gland releases growth hormone.

Older…release less of this hormone and sleep less

Why We Sleep:Accepted Theories

— theories of sleep and dreaming;

Sleeping and DreamingSLEEP CYCLE/STAGES

— stages and characteristics of the sleep cycle;

SLEEP CYCLE/STAGESFalling asleep: release of ALPHA WAVES – slow & relaxing

Stage 1: Brief/ can be easily awakenedExperience hallucinations/flashing images/falling sensation/body jerks

Stage 2: ~20 minutes/still easy to wakeCharacterized by bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain activity (sleep spindles)

Stage 3: Transitioning to stage 4/hard to wakeBrain emitting large, slow DELTA WAVES

Stage 4: Deep sleep/hard & unpleasant to wakeDelta waves causing nearly paralytic stage (don’t hear, etc.)

— stages and characteristics of the sleep cycle;

After about 1.5 hours of sleep, our eyes start to move rapidly and jerky

accompanied by increased brain activity. This is called REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement).

The only time you dream is if you’re in REM sleep, but you can be in REM sleep and not

dream.

Sleeping and DreamingSLEEP CYCLE/STAGES

R.E.M. Sleep

SLEEP CYCLE/STAGES

R.E.M. SleepAfter first sleep cycle, when returning up to stage 2 sleep – you enter R.E.M. sleep.

R.E.M. stages lengthen with each cycle, then disappear as you naturally wake.

Sleeping and DreamingFact:

Everyone dreams; the difference lies in whether they remember it or not

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200504/why-we-dream

• To satisfy our unconscious drives and wishesFreud’s wish-fulfillment

• To “sort out” the day’s events and file away memories.Information Processing

• To develop and preserve neural pathways• Provides brain with needed stimulation to prevent

awakeningPhysiological

• To make sense of neural “static” (activity) – helps “explain” to mind what brain is doing activating different areas.

Activation-synthesis

• To show brain maturation and development; practice current level of understanding/processingCognitive development

Sleeping and Dreaming

WHAT we dream:(And we dream for 6 years)

Most common content of dreams (based on recollection and brain activity) is an incorporation of the previous days’ nonsexual experiences and

preoccupations (Freud calls this the manifest content – he says it covers up deeper meanings and desires…latent

content)

SleepSleep-deprived effects include: suppressed immune systems, decreased creativity, slight hand tremors, slow performance and misperceptions on monotonous tasks.

BUT a sleep-deprived person does as well as anyone on highly motivating tasks (running, arcade games)

Sleep helps us regenerate; our tissues are restored, energy is conserved, and growth hormones are released from pituitary

SLEEP DISORDERS

Most Common Sleep Disorders

Insomnia Narcolepsy Sleep apnea

Night errors

Most adults have experienced insomnia or sleeplessness at one time or another in their lives (30%-50% )

10% have chronic insomnia.

Insomnia is a symptom, not a stand-alone diagnosis or a disease.

In general, insomnia resolves when the underlying trigger is removed or corrected.

Seek medical attention when their insomnia becomes more chronic

Treatment

Should be directed towards finding the cause.

Manage and control the underlying problem, as this alone may eliminate the insomnia.

Treating the symptoms of insomnia without addressing the main cause is rarely successful.

Insomnia"difficulty initiating or

maintaining sleep, or both"

— symptoms and treatments of sleep disorders.

Occurs when the brain cannot normally regulate cycles of sleep and

waking. This can cause daytime excessive sleepiness (ES) that results in

episodes of falling asleep suddenly.

It is estimated that narcolepsy affects 1 in every 2000 Americans

There is no cure for narcolepsy – drug therapy can decrease the symptoms…hopefully a drug to “trick” the brain will come out soon.

— symptoms and treatments of sleep disorders.

NarcolepsyNarcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder

These episodes usually last 10 seconds or more and occur repeatedly throughout the night.

People with sleep apnea will partially awaken as they struggle to breathe, but in the morning they will not be aware of the disturbances in their sleep.

Treatment:Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol and medications that relax the central nervous system (muscle relaxants), losing weight, and quitting smoking.

Special pillows or devices that keep them from sleeping on their backs, or oral appliances to keep the airway open during sleep.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), in which a face mask is attached to a tube and a machine that blows pressurized air into the mask and through the airway to keep it open.

Surgical procedures that can be used to remove tissue and widen the airway.

— symptoms and treatments of sleep disorders.

Sleep ApneaSleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by brief

interruptions of breathing during sleep.

Mesmerism : Credit for the popularity of hypnosis goes to Franz Anton Mesmer, a

physician, who mistakenly thought he discovered “animal magnetism.”

Some of his patients experienced a trancelike state and felt better upon waking up.

• Describe historic and contemporary uses of hypnosis (e.g., pain control, psychotherapy).

Transition between Mesmer's animal magnetism and modern therapeutic hypnosis was represented by James Braid, who coined the term hypnosis in 1843.

The term refers to Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep, because most forms of mesmerism at that time involved the production of an apparently sleep-like condition.

History of Hypnosis

Aspects of Hypnosis :

Posthypnotic Suggestion: Suggestion carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized.

Posthypnotic Amnesia: Supposed inability to recall what one experienced during hypnosis.

• Describe historic and contemporary uses of hypnosis (e.g., pain control, psychotherapy).

a sleep like condition psychically induced, in which the subject loses consciousness but responds, with certain limitations, to the suggestions of the hypnotist.

HYPNOSIS

Uses/Purpose:

1. Method of psychotherapy (to change unwanted behavior)

2. Pain Control(brain/mind focus on something else)

Is Hypnosis an Altered State of Consciousness?

Social Influence Theory: Hypnotic subjects may simply be

imaginative actors playing a social role.

Divided Consciousness Theory:

Hypnosis is a special state of dissociated (divided) consciousness

Those who practice hypnosis agree that its power resides in

the subject’s openness to suggestion.

Can anyone experience hypnosis?

Yes, to some extent.

Can hypnosis enhance recall of forgotten events?

No.

Can hypnosis be therapeutic? Yes.

Can hypnosis alleviate pain? Yes.

Can hypnosis force people to act against their will?

No.

HYPNOSIS

Psychoactive Drug: A chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood (effects consciousness).

Dependence: Continued use of a psychoactive drug produces tolerance. With repeated exposure to a drug, the drug’s effect lessens. Thus it takes greater quantities to get the desired effect.

Addiction:Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.

Withdrawal: Upon stopping use of a drug (after addiction), users may experience the undesirable effects of withdrawal. Absence of a drug may lead to a feeling of physical pain, intense cravings (physical dependence), and negative emotions (psychological dependence).

• Discuss drug dependence, addiction, tolerance, and withdrawal.

DRUGS

Psychoactive Drugs : Depressants Stimulants Hallucinogens

Depressants : are drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

They include: Alcohol Barbiturates Opiates

Alcohol : affects motor skills, judgment, and memory…and increases aggressiveness while reducing self awareness.

Barbiturates : Drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment. Nembutal, Seconal, and Amytal are some examples.

Opiates: Opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin) depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety. They are highly addictive.

• Identify the major psychoactive drug categories (e.g., depressants, stimulants) and classify specific drugs, including their psychological and physiological effects.

Stimulants : are drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Caffeine Nicotine Cocaine Ecstasy Amphetamines Methamphetamines

Caffeine & Nicotine : increase heart and breathing rates and other autonomic functions to provide energy.

Amphetamines : stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes, with devastating effects.

Ecstasy : or Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a stimulant and mild hallucinogen. It produces a euphoric high and can damage serotonin-producing neurons, which results in a permanent deflation of mood and impairment of memory.

Cocaine : Cocaine induces immediate euphoria followed by a crash. Crack, a form of cocaine, can be smoked. Other forms of cocaine can be sniffed or injected.

Psychoactive Drugs : Depressants Stimulants Hallucinogens

• Identify the major psychoactive drug categories (e.g., depressants, stimulants) and classify specific drugs, including their psychological and physiological effects.

Hallucinogens : are psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory

images in the absence of sensory input.

LSD: (lysergic acid diethylamide) powerful hallucinogenic drug (ergot fungus) that is also known as acid.

THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol): is the major active ingredient in marijuana (hemp plant) that triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations.

Psychoactive Drugs : Depressants Stimulants Hallucinogens

• Identify the major psychoactive drug categories (e.g., depressants, stimulants) and classify specific drugs, including their psychological and physiological effects.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR0rneaFego&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

SUBSTANCE IMMEDIATE EFFECTS CONTINUEDHEAVY / REGULAR USE

WAYS OF TAKING

S T I M U L A N T

Tobacco Lasts ¼ - 2 hours. Increased heart & pulse rate

Heart & lung disease, cancer, high blood pressure, bronchitis & breathing difficulties Smoking

CaffeineLasts 2 - 4 hours. Increased alertness. Large doses can delay sleep.

Restlessness, upset stomach. Can be harmful for people with heart problems. Oral

AmphetamineSpeed

Lasts 4 - 8 hours. Highly stimulating. Excitement, increased activity & decreased appetite. Larger doses delay sleep.

Inability to sleep, restlessness, headaches, aggression. Can cause severe mental or emotional disturbances.

Snorting Injecting AnallyOral

Cocaine Crack Can last up to 4 hours. Feeling of self confidence & power, increased energy & decreased appetite.

Loss of concentration & motivation. Dizziness, aggression & mental disturbances. Can cause psychiatric complications. Snorting can lead to tearing of the nasal wall.

Snorting Injecting OralAnally

MDMAEcstasy

Can last up to 6 hours. Increased blood pressure, confidence & a feeling of closeness with others. Sensation of floating, anxiety, nausea & paranoia can occur.

Sensation of floating & other disturbed perceptions. Can cause convulsions, irrational behaviour, insomnia, depression.

Oral Injecting Anally

SUBSTANCE IMMEDIATE EFFECTS CONTINUEDHEAVY / REGULAR USE WAYS OF TAKING

D E P R E S S A N T

AlcoholSlurred speech, loss of inhibitions, relaxation, feelings of happiness & wellbeing or depression. Large doses can cause unconsciousness or hangover.

Can result in brain & other nervous systems damage, heart, pancreas, stomach & liver damage & sometimes death. Withdrawal can produce sweating, tremor, convulsions & delirium.

Oral

MinortranquillisersValium, Rohypnol, Serepax

Lasts 12 - 24 hours. Relief of anxiety & tension, drowsiness (possible sleep), lack of muscle coordination, blurred vision. In some cases excitability.

Depression, lack of muscle and speech coordination. Withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, tremor & convulsions can also occur while on a stable dose.

Oral Injecting Anally

OpoidsHeroin,

Lasts 4 - 24 hours. Relief of pain & anxiety, feelings of wellbeing, decreased awareness of outside world. Vomiting, drowsiness & sleep in some. High doses can cause unconsciousness & death.

High risk of overdose; HIV and hepatitis if sharing needles. Withdrawal symptoms are anxiety, sweating, cramps, runny nose, vomiting, insomnia, pain.

Oral Injecting Smoking Snorting

CannabisMarijuana

Can last up to 5 hours. Relaxation, laughter, increased appetite, slowing down of time, loss of concentration, decreased coordination & blood shot eyes. Can be hallucinogenic

Respiratory complications. Can decrease concentration & memory. Psychiatric problems possible if schizophrenic condition already exists.

Oral Smoking

Inhalants & Solvents

Petrol, Glue, Aerosol cans, Butane Gas

Lasts 1min - 3 hours. Petrol sniffing effects up to 6 hours. Feelings of happiness, excitement, relaxation & drowsiness. Half have illusions. Headaches & irritation common. Large amounts can cause illness & unconsciousness. Butane & aerosols may cause sudden death.

Liver, kidney & brain damage can result. Suffocation caused by plastic bags, choking on vomit. Inhalation

H A L L U C I N O G E N

HallucinogensLSDMagic mushroomsDMTPsydelic

Lasts 6 - 12 hours. Hallucinations ie seeing, hearing, feeling or thinking things that don't exist. Anxious feelings, panic, & nausea can occur.

Can increase the risk of severe mental disturbances. Can cause 'flashbacks' (where the drug experience can recur at anytime.)

Oral

InjectingHIV and hepatitis B & C infection can occur if sharing injecting

equipment. Injecting with dirty syringes can cause abscesses and blood poisoning.

New Injecting equipment should be used every time.

• Identify the major figures in consciousness research (e.g., William James, Sigmund Freud, Ernest Hilgard).

Major Figures inConsciousness Research

William James Sigmund Freud Ernest Hilgard