Altered states of consciousness General psychology 20

Sleep and dreams Sleep is a state of altered consciousness characterized by certain patterns of brain activity Very difficult to study Two different types of sleep patterns: quiet sleep and active sleep

Stages of quiet sleep As you begin to fall asleep your body temperature declines, pulse rate drops, breathing is slow and uneven, your body may twitch and your eyes may roll

Stages of quiet sleep STAGE I SLEEP Pulse continues to slow and muscles relax Breathing becomes uneven, brain waves grow irregular Lasts for about 10 minutes

Stages of quiet sleep STAGE II SLEEP Brain waves shift from low amplitude, high frequency to high amplitude, low frequency Lasts for about 30 minutes

Stages of quiet sleep STAGE III SLEEP Large amplitude delta waves every second or so STAGE IV SLEEP Deepest sleep of all – difficult to wake someone u Large regular delta waves Important to your physical and psychological well-being Muscles are more relaxed but your eyes begin to move rapidly Enter into a more active type of sleep called REM sleep

REM SLEEP Rapid Eye Movement is considered “active sleep” as your brain emits activity similar to that of a fully awake person Pulse rate and breathing become irregular Levels of adrenal and sexual hormones rise – as if you were doing something very emotional or physically demanding Lasts for about 10 minutes then you go back to stage III

How much sleep do I need? Varies from individual to individual and depends on the stage of life they are in Newborns spend 16-18 hours a day sleeping Teenagers may spend 10-11 hours sleeping each night Adults average about 8 hours Seniors aged 65 and over may only need 5 hours

insomnia The inability to fall asleep or stay asleep as long as desired Can be caused by many things: alcohol, drugs, caffeine, hormones, heart disease, shift work, jet lag and exercise

discussion What is the last dream you remember having? Share it with your neighbor (if it’s appropriate) Why do you think we dream? Do you think our dreams mean anything?

Dreams Dreams are mental activity that takes place during sleep Dreams increase in length and intensity throughout the night Often involve negative or unpleasant emotions Happen in real-time – are not sped up or slowed down

Function of dreams Some theorists believe that dreams are the brain’s way of “unlearning” or removing certain unneeded memories Francis Crick believes the brain would not be as refined as it is if dreams did not serve this function

Dream interpretation Dream interpretations have been dated back to 5000 BC Freud argued that dreams are important to our emotional well-being Dreams contain clues to thoughts and desires that the dreamer is afraid to acknowledge or express Nathaniel Kleitman – argued that dreaming served no purpose whatsoever and that dreaming was a result of over-stimulated brain cells Which theory do you believe? Why?

hypnosis A form of altered consciousness in which people become highly suggestible and do not use their critical thinking skills Can be made conscious of things they are usually unaware of and unaware of things they usually notice Subjects are NOT asleep – they are highly receptive and responsive to certain internal and external stimuli A subject must cooperate in order to by hypnotized, he/she is not under the hypnotists “power” A subject cannot be induced to do things they would not do when “awake” – unless they want to

hypnosis Post-hypnotic suggestion – when a hypnotist suggests things for their subjects to remember when the trance is over Is helpful in changing unwanted behaviors like smoking or over-eating Hypnosis reveals that people often have potential abilities they do not use

hallucinations Perceptions that have no direct external cause Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting or feeling things that do not exist Caused by hypnosis, meditation, certain drugs, withdrawal from certain drugs, psychological breakdown and sleep deprivation

Sensory deprivation Involves subjects lying all day in a comfortable bed, only allowed to get up for meals and to use the bathroom Had visors which kept them from seeing anything but dim light, all external sounds were drowned out by the hum of an air-conditioner, wore thick cotton gloves so they couldn’t feel anything – any sensory stimuli was very limited This state was called “sensory deprivation” Some subjects experienced hallucinations Most subjects experienced irritability, restlessness and were very emotional Can be used to help people relax

Psychoactive drugs Drugs which interact with the central nervous system to alter a person’s mood, perception, and behavior Can you think of any such drugs?

marijuana Active ingredient is tetra-hydrocannabinol (THC) Users claim ordinary experiences are more intense, feel elated, ordinary events take on extra-ordinary significance Can also heighten negative or unpleasant experiences like anxiety and depression

hallucinogens Main effect is to produce hallucinations Demonstrate the ways in which the mind has the potential to function Made from plants but recently have been made from complex chemical compounds

hallucinogens LSD – Lysergic Acid Diethylamide Very potent, synthetic substance Moods are intense and change rapidly Hallucinations in which common objects become unrecognizable are common

hallucinogens ALCOHOL Most widely used and abused substance in North America Immediate effect of loosening inhibitions Can have a temporary pleasant effect – however, if user frequently consumes a lot of alcohol the ability to function diminishes and can have long term health effects

biofeedback Involves learning to control you internal physiological processes with the help of feedback from these physiological states Subjects can be taught to control brain waves, heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, sweat-gland activity Relies on machines to provide feedback about subtle moment to moment changes Can be used to cure stress-related conditions

meditation Focusing attention on an image or thought with the goal of clearing one’s mind and producing an inner-peace Studies show change in physiological state – move into a state of deep relaxation Can also lead to a change in behavior Four elements required to reach deep meditation – a quiet environment, comfortable position, a “mental device” (a word repeated over and over), a passive attitude