Consciousness Consciousness Ch. 6

A) Consciousness: Awareness of one’s self, what is going on in or outside itself. (May be in past or present.) (A Construct) 1) Subconscious – when our brain/body acts without us consciously “aware” of it. Ex.1 Teacher comments on student behavior are vague, but subtly directed at you (and you begin to sense it) Ex. 2: ?(Your example) ** Youtube: Secrets of your subconscious mind 2) Unconscious – thoughts or acts about which we cannot explain. Ex. 1 Acts of jealousy in children; or knowledge of trivia w/out understanding or remembering how you know it.

B) Sleep – four stages *Beta Waves – awake (see diag.) 1) Alpha – small and irregular waves; 10 minutes. 2) Sleep spindles appear. 3) Beginning Delta. Drifting into deeper sleep. 4) Delta. Deep sleep, restoration takes place.

REM – rapid eye movement. Characteristic during vivid, longer dreams. Surreal memories. Also a restful period…even paralysis exists. REM – rapid eye movement. Characteristic during vivid, longer dreams. Surreal memories. Also a restful period…even paralysis exists. NREM – 75% of our sleep during this stage. NREM – 75% of our sleep during this stage. Sleep needs – Babies – 12 hrs. Teens – 8-9 hrs. Adult/Middle – 7-8 hrs. Seniors – 6-7 hrs.

C) Dreaming - why do we dream? 1) To process info picked up during the day, - happens most during sleep. 2) To address unresolved issues – stress may actually cause more REM sleep. 3) To “flush” out random events: Perhaps the reason for weirdness of dreams. To refresh. 4) Questions: Can we control dreams? Ever been chased? What if we die in dream?Ever fallen? What if we swim?Are they warnings? Do dreams actually come true?

D) Sleep Issues 1) Needs – See previous Less than 5 hrs over time results in shakes, double vision, hallucinations. A growing epidemic in the U.S. Why? 2) Problems – a) Deprivation – lack of sleep due to external forces. Examples: baby,

b) Nightmares – fairly common; may be due to less REM. (REM rebound) c) Night Terrors – found more in children. Vivid experiences. During NREM. Shocks the system. d) Insomnia – lack of REM; drug/alcohol connection. e) Narcolepsy – instant REM, genetic and rare. Dangerous. “Duece Bigelow”’ f) Sleep Apnea. Growing problem in the U.S. Breathing stops. Obesity or high blood pressure; more with age and men.

g) Hypnosis….a different level of consciousness. Does it really work? Purposes of – to uncover repressed experiences and eventually resolve them. Demo: h) Meditation – also helps achieve a different type of consciousness. Vehicles of: Yoga? Prayer? Music? Demonstration: