A Scream in the Night Imagine, your young child has been in bed for just a few hours, And you hear a blood chilling scream from the next room. Your child is having Night terrors. Infants: Alfie’s: Teens :

Night Terrors Wake up screaming and have no idea why. Not a nightmare. Most common in children (boys) between ages 2-8. In Teens and Adults may be brought on by stress. (A black/white actual footage) If you had night terrors when young, you may have sleep walking or panic attacks when older.

Murder While Sleep Walking REM Behavior rather than sleepwalking. Defense in murder trials. Kenneth Parks – drove and killed mother-in-law, attacked father-in-law, had history and no motive, was acquitted. Scott Falater – murdered his wife, cleaned it up

Somnambulism Sleep Walking Most often occurs during the first few hours of sleeping and in stage 4 (deep sleep). If you have had night terrors, you are more likely to sleep walk when older.

Why study Consciousness? The key difference between humans and lower animals. Forms of conscious awareness make up the better part of the human experience. With drug use still apart of young people’s life, it is important to understand how drugs affect our consciousness, our thinking and ultimately our behavior. To understand consciousness is to understand what it means to be who we are.

Different levels of consciousness? Consciousness – is your awareness of everything that is going on around you and inside your own head at any given moment which you use to organize your behavior. Waking consciousness – a state when sensations are clear and organized and you feel alert. Altered state of consciousness – when your mental activity drifts away from normal, waking consciousness, you become fuzzy, disorganized, and less alert. (many forms but most common is sleep)

Two types of Consciousness Are we consciously aware of every action we take? Explicit processing – effortful, aware of task and focused full attention- like presenting a report to the class. (prefix means “out or beyond”) Implicit processing – automatic processing, without awareness – like walking, brushing teeth. (prefix means “not”)

Each perspective has a view of Consciousness vs. Unconscious Freud’s/Psychodynamic - suggested three states: consciousness, preconscious, and unconscious Freud believed that the most important element is the unconscious processes that can affect behavior.

The Behaviorists started this new way of thinking because studying the unconscious is not scientific. Unconsciousness is not observable behavior. Criticized Freud’s ideas because they believed behavior could be explain without invoking conscious mental processes

The Biological Psychologists believed most unconscious behavior could be explained by instinctive urges to survive, thrive, or reproduce and that these urges were innate.

Cognitive and Contemporary Psychodynamic Psychologists take issue with the notion that an unconscious mind is driven by instinctive urges and repressed conflicts. Rather, they view conscious and unconscious mental life as complementary forms of information processing that work in harmony. Now we are more interested in the importance of sleep and dreams as they relate to health.

But Freud was right! Much of what occurs within our brain is beyond conscious access.

Altered States of Consciousness Sleeping, Daydreaming, Drugs, Meditation and Hypnosis

How and Why do we Sleep and Dream? We Can Not Do Without Sleep! Sleep is a state of consciousness. Controlled by the Hypothalamus. Micro sleeps – in class, can be dangerous. Sleep Deprivation – inattention, irritability, trembling hands, staring, drooping eyes, depression.

Sleep Sleep is a state of consciousness. Controlled by the Hypothalamus. Biological rhythm: Body temp. rise and fall Chemicals rise and fall Circadian Rhythm-Sleep/Wake cycle

Theories about function of sleep Adaptive theory -states that sleep evolved as a way to conserve energy and keep animals safe from predators that hunt at night. Explains why people sleep when they do. Restorative theory - states that sleep provides the body with an opportunity to restore chemicals that have been depleted during the day. Explains why people need to sleep.

Sleep Deprived? You may be sleep deprived if: you need your alarm clock to wake up. Find getting out of bed in the morning a struggle. Feel tired, irritable, or stressed out for much of the day. Have trouble concentrating, or remembering. Fall asleep after heavy meals. Fall asleep within five minutes of getting into bed. (normally takes 15 to 20 min.)

Sleep Cycle EEG machine can measure stages of sleep. We don’t go to sleep instantly, but go through a series of cycle and back again. There are two kinds of sleep; REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and non-REM REM is a dreaming state and non-REM is a more restful stage

Different Stages Beta – small and very fast waves, when you are awake. Alpha waves – slightly larger and slower waves, as you get drowsy. Theta waves – even slower and larger waves, stage one of sleep. Delta waves – slowest and largest waves, you are in deepest sleep. Non-SleepSleep

Alpha Waves When you first start relaxing into a light sleep. But not asleep yet. When you are at the onset of sleep you experience alpha waves. May produces mild hallucinations, like a feeling of falling.

Stage 1 – Sleep Stage Your brain produces Theta Waves. Slower and Larger waves than Alpha waves. Kind of awake and kind of asleep. Only lasts a few minutes, and you usually only experience it only once a night. Hypnogogic images – aliens and ghost experiences may be explained by this stage.

Stage 2 – Sleep Stage theta waves get progressively slower. show signs of sleep spindles…short bursts of rapid brain waves. Heart rate slows, breathing becomes more shallow and irregular.

Stages 3 and 4 – Sleep Stage Slowest and largest waves. Delta waves. If awoken you will be very groggy, but hard to wake. Vital for restoring body’s growth hormones and good overall health. From stage 4, your brain begins to speed up and you go to stage 3, then 2….then ……

REM Sleep Rapid Eye Movement Often called paradoxical sleep. Brain is very active, but body is essentially paralyzed. 90% of dreams usually occur. Stressful day equals more amount of REM sleep. REM Rebound –increase amounts of REM the next night to catch up. REM behavior disorder – a rare disorder where one is able to thrash around and act out dreams or nightmares during REM.

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia Persistent problems falling asleep Effects 10% of the population Primary versus Secondary Insomnia

Narcolepsy Suffer from sleeplessness and may fall asleep at unpredictable or inappropriate times. Directly into REM sleep Less than.001 % of population. id=E052CC051DDCBA244DAFE052CC051DDCBA244DAF&view=deta il&FORM=VIRE1

Sleep Apnea A person stops breathing during their sleep. Wake up momentarily, gasps for air, then falls back asleep. Very common, especially in heavy males. Can be fatal.

Sleep Disorders can Cause Sleep Deprivation (see module 9 for more)

Dreams

Freud’s Theory of Dreams Dreams are a roadway into our unconscious. Manifest Content (storyline) Latent Content (underlying meaning)

Activation-Synthesis Theory Our Cerebral Cortex is trying to interpret random electrical activity we have while sleeping. That is why dreams sometimes make no sense. Biological Theory.

Information-Processing Theory Dreams are a way to deal with the stresses of everyday life. We tend to dream more when we are more stressed.

How to remember your dreams:

How does Meditation affect consciousness ? Two types of: Concentrative – person focuses on some stimulus that can relax and clear your mind. Most common form that lower blood pressure and is associated with relaxation. Focus is inward. Receptive – person attempts to become aware of everything in their immediate conscious experience and involves trying to expand consciousness. Looking at the stars, walking in nature and trying to take it all in to your senses. Focus is outward.

Hypnosis – How does it work? Four steps always present: Tell person to focus on what is being said, relax and you are feeling tired, let go and accept suggestions easily, while you use your vivid imagination. All of this is called: Posthypnotic suggestion. Posthypnotic amnesia – not really very good evidence.

Hypnotic Theories Social-Role Playing Hypnosis is NOT an altered state of consciousness. Different people have various state of hypnotic suggestibility. A social phenomenon where people want to believe and want to play the role expected of them. Works better on people with richer fantasy lives. State Theory Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness. Dissociation – a splitting of conscious awareness. A person’s mind is dissociated from body. Dramatic health benefits It works for pain best.

Dissociation Theory Theory by Ernest Hilgard. We voluntarily divide our consciousness up. Ice Water Experiment – did not feel pain. We have a hidden observer - a level or a part of our mind remains aware of all that is going on around us, while hypnosis works only on the immediate conscious.

Hypnosis

15 minutes of Meditation with Deepak Chopra +easy+lesson&FORM=VDRE#view=detail&mid=6A89C69DDCF24DDB00696A89C69DDCF24DDB easy+lesson&FORM=VDRE#view=detail&mid=6A89C69DDCF24DDB00696A89C69DDCF24DDB0069 Download

Drugs are either…. Agonists - mimic Antagonists – nullifies Reuptake inhibitors - blocks If a drug is used often, a tolerance is created for the drug, thus you need more of the drug to feel the same effect. If you stop using a drug you can develop withdrawal symptoms.

Psychoactive Drugs Some drugs are useful and given and taken to help people with injuries and pain, but some drugs are taken for pleasure, to “get high”. What ever the reason, people can build up a physical dependence, two signs of dependence are drug tolerance and withdrawal symptoms when deprived of the drug. Both could lead to overdose.

Psychoactive Drugs Our brain is protected by a layer of capillaries called the blood-brain barrier. Drugs small enough to pass through Major categories: stimulants – drugs that excite neurons depressants – drugs that inhibit neurons Narcotics – painkilling depressants from opium Hallucinogenics – drugs that alter perceptions

Stimulants Speed up body processes. More powerful ones (like cocaine) give people feelings of invincibility.

Stimulants Speeds up the nervous system - causes neurons to fire more rapidly. (“uppers”) Heart beats faster, brains works faster. Causes the sympathetic nervous system to go in overdrive. Causes body to burn up energy reserves = “crash” Delusional, paranoid, violence, strokes Amphetamines – made in labs Cocaine – natural drug found in coca plants (Freud) Nicotine – more addictive than heroin and alcohol Caffeine – may increase pain relievers

Depressants Slows down body processes. Alcohol Anxiolytics (barbiturates and tranquilizers)

Depressants Drugs that slow or inhibit neuron functioning in the central nervous system. Barbiturates – major tranquilizers, sedative Benzodiazepines – minor tranquilizers Alcohol – know the risks, health and legal

Alcohol More than 86 billion dollars are spent annually on alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is involved in 60% of ALL crimes. Alcohol is involved in over 70% of sexually related crimes. Is it worth the cost?

Opiates Has depressive and hallucinogenic qualities. Agonist for endorphins. Derived from poppy plant. Morphine, heroin, methadone and codeine. All these drugs cross the placental barrier….teratogens. rd=teratogens rd=teratogens

Narcotics ( Opiates) Suppress the sense of pain and slow down the action of neurons in the nervous system. All narcotics are from the opium plant. Duplicates the action of endorphins so well its slows or stops the nervous system productions of natural pain relief. Opium – pain-relieving and euphoria-inducing properties. Morphine – new form, used to treat severe pain Heroin – new derivative of morphine without side effects

Hallucinogenics Causes brain to alter its interpretation of sensations, so that the senses cross over each other, (colors have sounds and smells) Hallucinations Most made in labs, not found in nature, except psilocybin(mushroom), marijuana (cannabis), mescaline (peyote cactus). LSD – synthesized from a fungus PCP – distorted sensations, can lead to violence or suicide, also considered a stimulant MDMA – Ecstasy, can lead to heat stroke or dehydration, also considered a stimulant

Hallucinogens Psychedelics Causes changes in perceptions of reality LSD, peyote, psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana. Reverse tolerance or synergistic effect