States of Consciousness

Levels of Consciousness Levels of Consciousness We know that various levels exists beyond the conscious level. Mere-exposure effect Mere-exposure effect Priming Priming Blind sight Blind sight

Levels of Consciousness Conscious Level Conscious Level Nonconscious Level Nonconscious Level Preconscious Level Preconscious Level Subconscious Level Subconscious Level Unconscious Level Unconscious Level

Consciousness and Information Processing Conscious processing Conscious processing  Sequential, relatively slow and limited capacity Unconscious processing: Unconscious processing:  fast processing occurs simultaneously on parallel tracks (not sequential) Example? Example?  Meet someone: unconscious, instant reaction to race, gender, appearance- then become aware of our response

Biological Rhythms Bodily (and mental) fluctuations over time Bodily (and mental) fluctuations over time Provide an example for each:  Annual Cycles  Animal hibernation / SAD (humans)  Twenty-eight day cycles  Women’s menstrual cycle  Twenty Four hour cycles  Alertness, sleep, body temperature, growth hormone  Ninety Minute cycles  Sleep stages

Sleep Sleep is a state of consciousness. Sleep is a state of consciousness. We are less aware of our surroundings. We are less aware of our surroundings. Circadian Rhythm Circadian Rhythm

Circadian Rhythm Light affects Circadian Rhythm, by… Light affects Circadian Rhythm, by…  Activating retinal proteins, which…  Activates brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus in hypothalamus, which… o Activates Pineal Gland, which increases, decreases melatonin (sleep inducing hormone) The point is… The point is…  Light strongly influences our circadian rhythm, which governs our sleep patterns What else, besides light can alter our circadian rhythm? What else, besides light can alter our circadian rhythm?

Pineal Gland

Sleep Cycle Use an EEG machine to measure stages of sleep. Use an EEG machine to measure stages of sleep. When you are at the onset of sleep you experience alpha waves. When you are at the onset of sleep you experience alpha waves. Produces mild hallucinations, like a feeling of falling. (Jerk reaction!) Produces mild hallucinations, like a feeling of falling. (Jerk reaction!) Click dude for alpha Waves.

Stage 1 Kind of awake and kind of asleep. (“Sleep onset”) Kind of awake and kind of asleep. (“Sleep onset”) Only lasts a few minutes, and you usually only experience it once a night. Only lasts a few minutes, and you usually only experience it once a night. Alpha Waves: high frequency, low amplitude. Alpha Waves: high frequency, low amplitude. “hallucinations”- (dream- like- falling or rising) “hallucinations”- (dream- like- falling or rising)

Stage 2 More Alpha Waves that (get slower frequency, higher amplitude) More Alpha Waves that (get slower frequency, higher amplitude) Sleep spindles: short bursts of rapid brain waves. Sleep spindles: short bursts of rapid brain waves. 50% of your sleep! Revisit multiple times… 50% of your sleep! Revisit multiple times…

Stages 3 and 4 Delta Waves: (slower wave = deeper sleep) Delta Waves: (slower wave = deeper sleep) Deep sleep (groggy, disoriented if awakened). Deep sleep (groggy, disoriented if awakened). Releases child’s growth hormones, restores immune system. Releases child’s growth hormones, restores immune system. Bed wetting, sleepwalking Bed wetting, sleepwalking Exercise increases stage 3 and 4! Exercise increases stage 3 and 4! Visit less as night progresses…. Visit less as night progresses…. Click boys to see deep sleep. From stage 4, your brain begins to speed up and you go to stage 3, then 2….then ……

REM Sleep “Rapid Eye Movement” “Rapid Eye Movement” paradoxical sleep- internally aroused, externally calm… paradoxical sleep- internally aroused, externally calm…  Heart rate, breathing, REM, brain waves increase / external paralysis Dream state. (95% of those awakened remember dream) Dream state. (95% of those awakened remember dream) Genital arousal (both genders) Genital arousal (both genders) REM Rebound REM Rebound 20-25% of night’s sleep! 20-25% of night’s sleep!

Sleep Cycle 90 minute cycle 90 minute cycle From 1, 2, 3, 4, 3,2, REM… From 1, 2, 3, 4, 3,2, REM… As night progresses, four gets shorter, REM gets longer… As night progresses, four gets shorter, REM gets longer…

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia Persistent problems falling asleep Persistent problems falling asleep Effects 10% of the population Effects 10% of the population Primary versus Secondary Insomnia Primary versus Secondary Insomnia Treatments: Behavioral changes, medication Treatments: Behavioral changes, medication

Narcolepsy Suffer from sleeplessness and may fall asleep at unpredictable or inappropriate times. Suffer from sleeplessness and may fall asleep at unpredictable or inappropriate times. Directly into REM sleep Directly into REM sleep Less than.001 % of population. Less than.001 % of population. The most dangerous! The most dangerous! See Skeeter the narcoleptic dog videos/3/skeeter,-the- narcoleptic-dog.aspxhttp:// videos/3/skeeter,-the- narcoleptic-dog.aspx !

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

Night Terrors Wake up screaming / physical movement Wake up screaming / physical movement Early in sleep. Early in sleep. Most common in children (boys) between ages 2-8. Most common in children (boys) between ages 2-8. Usually stage 4 sleep Usually stage 4 sleep

Somnambulism Sleep Walking Sleep Walking Most often occurs during the first few hours of sleeping and in stage 4 (deep sleep). 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. If you have had night terrors, you are more likely to sleep walk when older. Most common in children- rare after 40 Most common in children- rare after 40

Dreams

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

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

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

Hypnosis

Hypnosis How do we define hypnosis? How do we define hypnosis?  Social interaction in which one person (hypnotist) suggests to another (subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts etc. will spontaneously occur.

Hypnosis Altered state of consciousness? Altered state of consciousness? Posthypnotic suggestion Posthypnotic suggestion Posthypnotic amnesia Posthypnotic amnesia

Hypnotic Theories Role Theory Hypnosis is NOT an altered state of consciousness. Hypnosis is NOT an altered state of consciousness. Different people have various state of hypnotic suggestibility. Different people have various state of hypnotic suggestibility. A social phenomenon where people want to believe. (social influence theory) A social phenomenon where people want to believe. (social influence theory) Work better on people with richer fantasy lives. Work better on people with richer fantasy lives. State Theory Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness. Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness. Dramatic health benefits Dramatic health benefits It works for pain best. It works for pain best.

Dissociation Theory Theory by Ernest Hilgard. Theory by Ernest Hilgard. We voluntarily divide our consciousness up. We voluntarily divide our consciousness up. Stimulus of pain vs. perception of, or emotional suffering of pain (PET Scans..) Stimulus of pain vs. perception of, or emotional suffering of pain (PET Scans..) Ice Water Experiment. Ice Water Experiment.

Research has shown that… Ability to experience hypnosis does not indicate gullibility or weakness Ability to experience hypnosis does not indicate gullibility or weakness Hypnosis does not increase accuracy of memory Hypnosis does not increase accuracy of memory Spontaneous posthypnotic amnesia is relatively rare Spontaneous posthypnotic amnesia is relatively rare Does not foster a literal reexperiencing of childhood events Does not foster a literal reexperiencing of childhood events Hypnotic subjects retain their ability control behavior, maintain awareness of surroundings Hypnotic subjects retain their ability control behavior, maintain awareness of surroundings Hypnosis if far more effective for acute pain than chronic pain Hypnosis if far more effective for acute pain than chronic pain

Drugs Are we a drug dependent society?

Dependency and Addiction True or false: True or false: 1. Medical drugs, (example- pain killers) are powerfully addictive. 2. Addictions can only be overcome through treatment. How do we define physical dependence? How do we define physical dependence? How would you characterize psychological dependence? How would you characterize psychological dependence?

Drugs Our brain is protected by a layer of capillaries called the blood-brain barrier. Our brain is protected by a layer of capillaries called the blood-brain barrier. The drugs that are small enough to pass through are called psychoactive drugs. The drugs that are small enough to pass through are called psychoactive drugs. How do we define psychoactive drugs? How do we define psychoactive drugs?

Drugs are either…. Agonists (mimic, excite) Agonists (mimic, excite) Antagonists (inhibit,block) Antagonists (inhibit,block) Reuptake inhibitors Reuptake inhibitors If a drug is used often, a tolerance is created for the drug ( neuroadaptation: brain adapts chemistry to offset drug’s effect) Thus you need more of the drug to feel the same effect. If you stop using a drug you can develop withdrawal symptoms.

A Quick Review… Psychoactive drugs operate at the brain’s synapses… (Briefly (generally) explain the process of neurotransmission. (Briefly (generally) explain the process of neurotransmission. Neurotransmitters: Neurotransmitters:  Dopamine  Serotonin  Norepinephrine  Endorphins

Depressants Explain how depressants affect nervous system activity and behavior. Explain how depressants affect nervous system activity and behavior. What types of drugs are classified as depressants? What types of drugs are classified as depressants?

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

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

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

Stimulants Identify the major stimulants and explain how they affect neural activity and behavior. Identify the major stimulants and explain how they affect neural activity and behavior.

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

Hallucinogens Describe the psychological and physiological affects of hallucinogens and summarize the effects of LSD and marijuana. Describe the psychological and physiological affects of hallucinogens and summarize the effects of LSD and marijuana.

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

What factors promote drug use? Biological: Research studies indicate that genetics are influential in drug dependency (brain pleasure pathway- dopamine reward circuit) Biological: Research studies indicate that genetics are influential in drug dependency (brain pleasure pathway- dopamine reward circuit) psychological: life as meaningless, directionless (significant stress, failure, depression) psychological: life as meaningless, directionless (significant stress, failure, depression) Social / cultural: cultural norms, social pressures Social / cultural: cultural norms, social pressures