Altered States of Consciousness Introductory Psychology 40S C. McMurray Excerpts from Myers 8e (Worth Publishers)

Forms of Consciousness Consciousness is an awareness of ourselves and our environment. Altered State of Consciousness (altered state of mind) is a temporary change in one’s normal mental state without being considered unconscious.

Biological Rhythms Biological rhythms are controlled by internal “biological clocks.” 1. Annual cycles: On an annual cycle, geese migrate, grizzly bears hibernate, and humans experience seasonal variations in appetite, sleep, and mood. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder people experience during dark winter months.

Biological Rhythms 2. 28-day cycles: The female menstrual cycle averages 28 days.

Biological Rhythms 3. 24-hour cycles: Humans experience 24-hour cycles of varying alertness (sleep), body temperature, and growth hormone secretion. (Circadian rhythms) 4. 90-minute cycles: We go through various stages of sleep in 90-minute cycles.

Rhythm of Sleep Circadian Rhythms occur on a 24-hour cycle and include sleep and wakefulness, which are disrupted during transcontinental flights. Illustration © Cynthia Turner 2003 Light triggers the suprachiasmatic nucleus to decrease (morning) melatonin from the pineal gland and increase (evening) it at night fall.

Sleep and Dreams OBJECTIVE 14| Define psychoactive drug.

We spend one-third of our lives sleeping. Why do we sleep? We spend one-third of our lives sleeping. If an individual remains awake for several days, they deteriorate in terms of immune function, concentration, and accidents. OBJECTIVE 5| Explain why sleep patterns and duration vary from person to person. Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./ Corbis

Sleep Stages Measuring sleep: About every 90 minutes, we pass through a cycle of five distinct sleep stages. OBJECTIVE 4| List the stages of sleep cycle, and explain how they differ. Hank Morgan/ Rainbow

Brain Waves 1. Alpha Waves Pattern of brain activity in someone who is in a relaxed state 2. Beta Waves Pattern associated with active, busy, or anxious thinking and active concentration. 3. Delta Waves Pattern of brain activity observed in stage 3 and stage 4 sleep; slow waves. Deep sleep.

90-Minute Cycles During Sleep With each 90-minute cycle, stage 4 sleep decreases and the duration of REM sleep increases. http://dreamstop.com/sleep-cycle-everything-know/

Awake & Alert During strong mental engagement, the brain exhibits low amplitude and fast, irregular beta waves (15-30 cps). An awake person involved in a conversation shows beta activity. Beta Waves

Sleep Stages 1-2 Stage 1 Sleep: Time of drowsiness or transition from being awake to falling asleep. Brain waves and muscle activity begin to slow down. Image may appear. May experience sudden muscle jerks, and a falling sensation. Stage 2 Sleep: Light sleep. Brain waves become slower, with occasional bursts of rapid waves called sleep spindles. Heart rate slows and body temperature decreases.

Sleep Stages 1-2

Sleep Stages 3-4 Stage 3 Sleep: Transition into deep sleep DEEP SLEEP. Delta Waves. Breathing slows, body temperature drops even lower. No eye movement. Very difficult to be awakened during deep sleep. People who are awakened during these stages of sleep may feel groggy or disoriented when the wake up. Bed wetting, sleep talking, sleepwalking and night terrors may happen during this stage. Restorative or healing sleep. This is the time when the body does most of its’ repair work and regeneration.

Sleep Stages 3-4

REM Sleep After reaching the deepest sleep stage (4), the sleep cycle starts moving backward towards stage 1. Active period of sleep marked by intense brain activity. Beta Waves. Breathing becomes irregular, eyes move rapidly in various directions. Limb muscles become temporarily paralyzed. Heart rate increases. Vivid dreams occur.

The Right Mix of Sleep Teenagers need about 9.5 hours of sleep. But just as important as the quantity of sleep is getting the right mix of REM and DEEP SLEEP. Deep Sleep (Stage 4) is a restorative or healing sleep. This is the time when the body does most of its’ repair work and regeneration. REM Sleep is important for processes such as learning, memory, mood and the ability to concentrate.

Did You Know? Sleep helps regulate the hormones that affect and control your appetite. Studies have shown that when your body is deprived of sleep, the normal hormone balances are interrupted and your appetite increases. Unfortunately this increase in appetite leads to a craving for food high in calories, fats and carbohydrates!

Sleep Paralysis What is sleep paralysis

Dreams Watch: Why Do We Dream (Vsauce)

Sleep Deprivation Fatigue Impaired concentration. Emotional irritability. Depressed immune system. Greater vulnerability. OBJECTIVE 6| Discuss several risks associated with sleep deprivation.

Sleep Theories Sleep Protects: Sleeping in the darkness when predators loomed about kept our ancestors out of harm’s way. Sleep Recuperates: Sleep helps restore and repair brain tissue. Sleep Helps Remembering: Sleep restores and rebuilds our fading memories. Sleep and Growth: During sleep, the pituitary gland releases growth hormone. Older people release less of this hormone and sleep less. OBJECTIVE 7| Identify four theories of why we sleep.

Sleep Disorders: Somnambulism: Sleepwalking. Nightmares: Frightening dreams that wake a sleeper from REM. Night terrors: Sudden arousal from sleep with intense fear accompanied by physiological reactions (e.g., rapid heart rate, perspiration) that occur during deep sleep (stage 4 sleep.) OBJECTIVE 8| Identify major sleep disorders.

Sleep Disorders: Narcolepsy: Overpowering urge to fall asleep that may occur while talking or standing up. Sleep apnea: Failure to breathe when asleep. Insomnia: Failure to fall asleep or stay asleep.

Narcoleptic Dog http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=X0h2nleWTwI&NR=1&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Drugs and Consciousness OBJECTIVE 14| Define psychoactive drug.

Psychoactive Drug A chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood (effects consciousness) Psychoactive drugs are divided into 3 groups: 1. Depressants 2. Stimulants 3. Hallucinogens

Your Brain on Drugs Your Brain on Alcohol Your Brain on Marijuana Your Brain on Cocaine

Depressants Depressants are drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions. They include: Alcohol Barbiturates Opiates OBJECTIVE 17| Explain how depressants affect nervous system activity and behavior, and summarize the findings on alcohol use and abuse.

Alcohol Alcohol affects motor skills, judgment, and memory…and increases aggressiveness while reducing self awareness.

Barbiturates 2. Barbiturates: Drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment. Nembutal, Seconal, and Amytal are some examples.

Depressants 3. Opiates: Opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin) depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety. They are highly addictive. http://opioids.com/timeline

Stimulants Stimulants are drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions. Caffeine Nicotine Cocaine Ecstasy Amphetamines Methamphetamines OBJECTIVE 18| Identify the major stimulants, and explain how they affect neural activity and behavior.

Caffeine & Nicotine Caffeine and nicotine increase heart and breathing rates and other autonomic functions to provide energy.

Amphetamines Amphetamines stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes, with devastating effects. National Pictures/ Topham/ The Image Works

Ecstasy Ecstasy or Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a stimulant and mild hallucinogen. It produces a euphoric high and can damage serotonin-producing neurons, which results in a permanent deflation of mood and impairment of memory. Greg Smith/ AP Photos

Cocaine Cocaine induces immediate euphoria followed by a crash. Crack, a form of cocaine, can be smoked. Other forms of cocaine can be sniffed or injected. http://www.ohsinc.com

Hallucinogens Hallucinogens are psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that disrupts normal mental functiong and produces distored perceptions OBJECTIVE 19| Describe the physiological and psychological effects of hallucinogens and summarize the effects of LSD and marijuana. Ronald K. Siegel

Hallucinogens LSD: (lysergic acid diethylamide) powerful hallucinogenic drug (ergot fungus) that is also known as acid. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol): is the major active ingredient in marijuana (hemp plant) that triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations. Hemp Plant

Influences on Drug Use The use of drugs is based on biological, psychological, and social-cultural influences.

The debate: To Criminalize or Decriminalize Allowing the recreational use of marijuana has greater impact on the health and social aspects (brain development, a “gateway” drug, or potential gang involvement) than any possible benefits. Criminalization inhibits the “normalization of drug abuse” Decriminalize By having greater regulation (similar to that of alcohol) on marijuana, decriminalization would allow (a) youth and adults to be pushed away from criminal activity and (b) decrease convictions of possession so as to access a higher socio-economic spectrum, reducing further progression of abuse and consequently crime.

Effects on the young brain How does cannabis impact the brain? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsJzCdFlpyQ Marijuana works by inhibiting neuroreceptors and neurotransmitters from synaptic activity – stops the release, exchange and passing of information The adolescent brain is developing 3 distinct and important processes in the brain: Learning and working memory Motivation Mood and emotions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvszaF4vcNY Effects on the brain