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by Karen Huffman
States of Consciousness
Consciousness
• Consciousness–Refers to an organism’s awareness
of itself and its surroundings.
Circadian Rhythms
• Many of our behaviors display rhythmic variation.– Circadian rhythms
• One cycle lasts about 24 hours (e.g. sleep-waking cycle).
• Light is an external cue that can set the circadian rhythm.
• Some circadian rhythms are endogenous suggesting the existence of an internal (biological) clock.
Sleep• Sleep is a behavior AND an altered state of
consciousness.
• We spend about a third of our lives in sleep.– A basic issue is to understand the function of sleep.
Myths of Sleep• Everyone needs 8 hrs of sleep per night to maintain
good health.• No longer a myth• In order to perform at optimal level
• Learning of complicated subjects such as calculus can be done during sleep.
• Some people never dream.• Dreams last only a few seconds.• Genital arousal during sleep reflects dream content.
• May be a useful index of physical versus psychological causes of impotence in males
Stages of Sleep• Hypnagogic state: “pre-sleep” stage marked by
visual, auditory and kinesthetic sensations.• Non-REM
Stage oneStage twoStage threeStage four
• REM: rapid eyes movements, high frequency brain waves, paralysis of large muscles and dreaming
Functions of Sleep
• REM Sleep:– Consolidation of new memories– Role in learning– Absent in lower mammals
• Non-REM sleep– People deprived of all sleep show greater time
spent in non-REM sleep the next night.
Functions of Sleep
• New research shows that sleep helps implant emotional memories and delete unemotional memories.
Effects of Sleep Deprivation
• Reduced immunity
• Mood alteration
• Reduced concentration and motivation
• Increased irritability
• Lapses in attention
• Reduced motor skills
Theories of Sleep
• Repair/Restoration – Sleep allows for recuperation from physical,
emotional, and intellectual fatigue.
• Evolutionary/Circadian– Sleep evolved to conserve energy and protect
our ancestors from predators.
Theories of Dreaming
• Psychoanalytic: Dreams represent disguised symbols of repressed desires and anxieties.– Manifest versus latent content
• Biological: Dreams represent random activation of brain cells during sleep.
• Cognitive: Dreams help to sift and sort the events of the day.
Dysomnias• Insomnia
– Difficulty in getting to sleep or remaining asleep and has many causes.
– Situational: related to anxiety
– Drug-induced: Use of sleeping pills or other drugs can result in insomnia
• Sleep apnea: – Person stops breathing and is awakened when blood levels of
carbon dioxide stimulate breathing.
• Narcolepsy: – Sleep appears at odd times.
– Sleep attack: urge to sleep during the day
Parasomnias• Nightmares:
– Anxiety-arousing dreams– Generally occurring during REM sleep.
• Night Terrors: – Usually boys 4-12. – Abrupt awakenings from NREM sleep – Feelings of panic
Drugs
• Drugs– Chemicals that have biological effects within the
body.
• Psychoactive drugs– Chemicals that change conscious awareness or
perception.– Depressants slow down the nervous system.– Stimulants speed up the nervous system.– Opiates relieve pain.– Hallucinogens alter sensory perception .
Drug Use and Abuse
• Drug abuse: – Drug use that causes emotional or physical harm to the
user.
• Addiction– Results from repeated drug use.
• Tolerance– More drug is required.
– Drug abstinence leads to withdrawal symptoms.
Drug Use and Abuse
• Drug dependence can be:– Physical:
• Withdrawal reactions are noted when drug use is terminated.
– Psychological: • Associated with a craving for the drug
Examples of Drug Types
• Depressants: alcohol, barbiturates
• Stimulants: caffeine, amphetaminecocaine,
nicotine
• Opiates: heroin, morphine, oxycodone
• Hallucinogens: LSD, mescaline, marijuana
Depressants• Alcohol is particularly dangerous when combined
with barbiturates.– Abuse can lead to serious losses in cognitive
functioning
– In US involved in nearly ½ of all:• Murders
• Suicides
• Spousal abuse
• Accidental deaths in the
– 3rd leading cause of birth defects
Stimulants
• Nicotine– Considered single most preventable cause of
death & disease in US.
• Cocaine – Causes physical damage– Severe addiction– Psychological dependence– Can interfere with electrical activity of the heart
Opiates
• Narcotics– Such as morphine & heroin, produce their
effects by mimicking endorphins.
Hallucinogens
• LSD- associated with “bad trips”
• Marijuana has some properties of depressants, narcotics and hallucinogens at higher doses.
“Club Drugs”
• MDMA (Ecstasy)– High doses can cause
• Dangerous increases in body temperature
• Dangerous increases in blood pressure– Leading to
– Seizures
– Heart attacks
– Strokes
• Can produces long lasting damage to the brain.
Factors that Lead to Drug Abuse
• Positive associations: the drug is portrayed in a positive fashion in the media.
• Biological factors: the drug induces a pleasurable state (usually related to dopamine activity in the brain).
• Prevention of withdrawal: person continues to take the drug to avoid withdrawal effects.
• Conditioning of drug craving: cues associated with drug use can elicit craving for the drug.
Hypnosis
• Hypnosis is an altered state of heightened suggestibility.
• The hypnotic state is characterized by:– Narrow and focused attention– Imagination– Passive receptive attitude– Reduced reaction to pain– Heightened suggestibility
Myths of Hypnosis
• People can be hypnotized against their will.
• People will do immoral things while hypnotized.
• Hypnosis improves memory recall.
• Hypnotized persons have special strength.
• Hypnosis is fake.
Altered States
• Meditation• refers to a set of techniques that promote a
heightened sense of awareness.– can involve body movements and posture,
focusing of attention on a focal point, or control of breathing
– can induce relaxation, lower blood pressure, and can be associated with a sense of euphoria
Why do people alter consciousness?
• Sacred rituals
• Social interactions
• Individual rewards