States of Consciousness Chapter 7

Consciousness Conscious processing - awareness of self & your surroundings - what you pay attention to - newer tasks & slower - altered states (daydreaming, sleeping, hypnosis, meditation, drug use…) Unconscious processing - outside awareness (sub) - automatic - routine tasks & faster

Biological Rhythms - controlled by internal “biological clocks” Annual Cycles birds & animals migrate and hibernate & humans experience seasonal variations in appetite, sleep & mood (SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder) 28-day Cycle – female menstrual cycle 24-hour Cycle (Circadian Rhythm) humans experience varying alertness, body temperature & growth hormone secretion 90-minute Cycle – stages of sleep

Circadian Rhythm – daily cycle or biological clock Light triggers the Suprachiasmatic nucleus (in hypothalamus) to decrease melatonin from the Pineal gland in the morning & increase it in the evening. Jet lag disrupts this rhythm.

Why Do We Spend 1/3 Our Lives Sleeping? Protection, Energy Conservation, Healing, Growth, Information Processing…

Stages of Sleep (90 minute cycle / ~4-5 each night) Awake (beta waves) & Relaxed (alpha waves) Stage 1 - lasts about 10 minutes - falling asleep (theta waves = irregular – also exhibited during daydreams) - slowed breathing & heartbeat - easily awakened - hypnagogic sensations (floating, hallucinations, twitching, etc.)

Stages of Sleep Stage 2 lasts about 20 minutes sleep spindles (sigma waves = bursts of rapid brain activity) you can still be awakened sleep talking & snoring are possible * spend the largest amount of time here

Stages of Sleep Stage 3 - lasts about 20-30 minutes (becomes shorter as the night goes on) - delta waves (long & slow) appear - slower breathing & heart rate - sleep walking is possible at the end

Stages of Sleep Stage 4 - lasts about 30 minutes (becomes shorter as the night goes on) - delta waves (long & slow) - hard to awaken but still react to stimuli ▪ move around in bed but don’t fall out ▪ wake to certain noises - night terrors, periods of intense fear with physiological reaction & often no recollection, are possible 2-3 hours in (mostly children - scream is possible & often the hallmark)

* go back through the Non-REM stages in reverse and then…. REM Sleep (Rapid Eye Movement) - lasts about 10 minutes (becomes longer as the night goes on) - also known as paradoxical sleep (externally calm, but internally aroused – deepest sleep, but brain waves are those of awake) - beta waves (rapid, irregular heartbeat and breathing, sexual arousal…) - remember dreams if awakened - REM sleep decreases with age

Deep sleepers get to or spend more time in Stage 4 Deep sleepers get to or spend more time in Stage 4. Light sleepers may not go all the way to Stage 4 and spend more time in Stages 1 or 2 (hereditary?).

Dreams - spend about 2 hours a night dreaming - lots of theories on why (unconscious wishes, problem solving, information processing, cognitive development, physiological function – stimulation helps creates neural pathways…) - 1st REM dream usually connects to daily events & the rest usually connect to first - 8 out of 10 dreams have a negative theme ▪ falling, chases, attacks, rejection & nudity - manifest content (storyline/narrative) v. latent content (symbolic/hidden? meaning) - lucid dreams (aware that you are dreaming)

We don’t remember our dreams, we re-create them! Quick Note… Sleep scientists recently suggested that there isn’t much difference between Stages 3 & 4. You may find contemporary discussions or sleep charts referencing 3 stages & REM. Some people dream in the early stages. Most movement occurs in earlier stages, but we remember it later & tend to associate it with our dreams. We don’t remember our dreams, we re-create them!

http://www. spiritscienceandmetaphysics http://www.spiritscienceandmetaphysics.com/how-long-to-nap-for-the-biggest-brain-benefits/

Sleep Disorders Insomnia – recurring problems in falling or staying asleep • relax, avoid caffeine, exercise regularly & have a regular sleep schedule Narcolepsy – uncontrollable sleep attacks • 1/2000 – lapse into REM for 5 minutes or so • due to lack of neurotransmitter Hypocretin (“numbness – seizure”) Sleep Apnea – temporary cessations of breathing during sleep & repeated awakenings • 1/20 – mostly overweight men (“with no breath”) • decreased blood flow awakens sleeper (400 times or more)

Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) 1000’s of experiments and NO scientific evidence!

Hypnosis - A social interaction in which one person suggests to another that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur (Anton Mesmer). Can… Won’t… Cause people to be relaxed, have a narrowed focus of attention, and be highly engaged in fantasies Work equally effectively for everyone (best for those who are have active imaginations, etc.) Produce anesthesia (for pain) and treat a range of psychological and medical problems Force people to do things against their will (they are suggestions) Cause hallucinations and distortions in sensory perception Make people act in ways that would normally be beyond their physical or mental abilities Reduce inhibitions Reliably increase the accuracy of memories Cause changes in behavior after the hypnosis has ended Allow people to actually re-experience past events or lives

Hypnosis is a special state of dissociated (divided) consciousness Hypnotic subjects may simply be imaginative actors playing a social role.

Psychoactive Drugs - alter perception & mood Agonists (mimic) & Antagonists (block) Researchers usually classify drugs into anywhere from four to six categories: Stimulants Depressants Hallucinogens Narcotics Inhalants Cannabis http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/drugs/mouse.html

Stimulants Drugs that stimulate the nervous system Drug Type Examples Effects Negative effects Stimulants Nicotine, caffeine, cocaine, amphetamines, crystal meth, Ecstasy Increased alertness and energy, excitation, euphoria, confidence Anxiety, restlessness, irritability, sleeplessness, paranoia, increased aggressiveness, feelings of panic Increase the release & decrease the removal of norepinephrine & dopamine at synapse causing increased activity at the receptor. They also reduce the activity of GABA.

Depressants Also called sedatives; drugs that slow down the central nervous system Drug Type Examples Effects Negative effects Depressants Alcohol, Valium, Xanax, barbiturates Euphoria, relaxation, less anxiety Impaired coordination, depression, lethargy, drowsiness, mood swings Increase the availability of GABA which reduces the activity of many neural circuits.

Hallucinogens Drugs that cause sensory and perceptual distortions Drug Type Examples Effects Negative effects Hallucinogens LSD, PCP, Special K (Ketamine), mushrooms (mescaline & psilocybin), Ecstasy Euphoria, changed perception, hallucinations, insightful moments Nausea, paranoia, anxiety, feelings of panic, mood swings, impaired judgment, jumbled thoughts

Narcotics Also called opiates (depressants); drugs that can relieve pain Drug Type Examples Effects Negative effects Narcotics Morphine, heroin, opium, codeine, hydrocodone Euphoria, relaxation, less anxiety, less sensitivity to pain Lethargy, drowsiness, nausea, impaired coordination, constipation Agonist for endorphins. Highly addictive because they stimulate Glutamate receptors and physically change the neuron – has to acquire more to function properly.

Inhalants Drugs that are breathed into the lungs Drug Type Examples Effects Negative effects Inhalants cleaning solutions, nail polish removers, gasoline, room fresheners, glue, and ether Euphoria, changed perception Impaired brain functioning

Cannabis Drugs derived from the cannabis plant; have features of more than one of the other drugs types Drug Type Examples Effects Negative effects Cannabis (Mild Hallucinogen) Marijuana, hashish Euphoria, relaxation, increased awareness, changed perception Sluggishness, anxiety, impaired memory

Drug-related terms Tolerance/Neuroadaptation Addiction - with repeated exposure to a drug its effect lessens - thus it takes greater quantities to get the desired effect Addiction - a craving for a chemical substance, despite its adverse consequences (physical & psychological)

Drug-related terms Withdrawal Dependence - upon stopping use of a drug (after addiction), users may experience the undesirable effects of withdrawal Dependence - absence of a drug may lead to a feeling of physical pain, intense cravings (physical dependence) and negative emotions (psychological dependence)