Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Chapter 5 States of Consciousness This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images Any rental, lease or lending of the program. ISBN:

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 How is Consciousness Related to Other Mental Processes? Consciousness can take many forms, while other mental processes occur simultaneously outside our awareness

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What Consciousness Does For Us Restricts our attention Combines sensation with learning and memory Allows us to create a mental model of the world that we can manipulate

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Levels of Consciousness Conscious Preconscious Unconscious Nonconscious

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Levels of Consciousness Conscious – Brain process of which we are aware Nonconscious – Brain process that does not involve conscious processing (e.g. heart rate, breathing, control of internal organs)

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Unconscious – Many levels of processing that occur without awareness Levels of Consciousness Preconscious – Information that is not currently in consciousness, but can be brought into consciousness if attention is called to it

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What Cycles Occur in Everyday Consciousness? Consciousness changes in cycles that correspond to our biological rhythms and the patterns of stimulation in our environment

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What Cycles Occur in Everyday Consciousness? Daydreaming – A common variation of consciousness in which attention shifts to memories, expectations, desires, or fantasies and away from the immediate situation

Controlled and Automatic Processes Controlled Processes - activities that require full awareness, alertness, and concentration Automatic Processes - activities require little awareness, take minimal attention, and do not interfere with other activities Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Sleep and Dreaming Circadian rhythms – Psychological patterns that repeat approximately every 24 hours The sleep cycle involves: REM sleep Non-REM (NREM) sleep REM-sleep deprivation leads to REM rebound

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Sleep Cycle

REM Sleep Rapid Eye Movement Often called paradoxical sleep. Brain is very active. Dreams usually occur in REM. Body is essentially paralyzed. REM Rebound

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Function of Sleep Possible functions of sleep include: To conserve energy To restore the body (neurotransmitters, neuron sensitivity) To build “neural nets” and flush out useless information from the brain

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Need for Sleep Over the years, the need for REM sleep decreases considerably, while the need for NREM sleep diminishes less sharply

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Sleep Debt vs. The Circadian Clock Sleep debt – Deficiency caused by not getting the amount of sleep that one requires for optimal functioning

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Why We Dream: A Cross-Cultural Perspective Folk theories Scientific approach Dreams as meaningful events Dreams as random brain activity

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Dreams as Meaningful Events Freud believed dreams served the following two functions: To guard sleep To serve as sources of wish fulfillment Dream content Varies by culture, gender, and age Frequently connects with recent experience May help us form memories

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Dreams as Random Brain Activity Activation-synthesis theory – Theory that dreams begin with random electrical activation coming from brain stem; dreams are brain’s attempt to make sense of this random activity

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Sleep Disorders Insomnia – Involves insufficient sleep, the inability to fall asleep quickly, frequent arousals, or early awakenings Sleep apnea – Respiratory disorder in which person intermittently stops breathing while asleep

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Cataplexy – Sudden loss of muscle control that occurs before narcoleptic sleep attack; waking form of sleep paralysis Sleep Disorders Narcolepsy – Involves sudden REM sleep attacks accompanied by cataplexy

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Sleep Disorders Night terrors – The screaming of a child in deep sleep, who, once awakened, has no memory of what mental events might have caused the fear

Somnambulism Sleep Walking 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.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What Other Forms Can Consciousness Take? An altered state of consciousness occurs when some aspect of normal consciousness is modified by mental, behavioral, or chemical means

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What Other Forms Can Consciousness Take? Hypnosis Meditation Psychoactive drug states

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Hypnosis Hypnosis – Induced state of altered awareness, characterized by heightened suggestibility and deep relaxation Hypnotizability – Degree to which an individual is responsive to hypnotic suggestions

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Hypnosis As an Altered State Experts disagree about whether hypnosis involves A distinct state of consciousness Heightened motivation Social processes such as role playing A dissociate state (Hilgard’s “hidden observer” view)

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Practical Uses for Hypnosis Hypnosis can have practical uses for Researchers Psychological treatment Medical and dental treatment Hypnotic analgesia – Diminished sensitivity to pain while under hypnosis

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Meditation Meditation – Form of consciousness change induced by focusing on a repetitive behavior, assuming certain body positions and minimizing external stimulation

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Hallucinogens StimulantsDepressants Opiates Psychoactive Drug States Psychoactive drugs – Chemicals that affect mental processes and behavior by their effects on the nervous system

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Alter perceptions of the external environment and inner awareness (also called psychedelics) Mescaline LSD PCP Cannabis Hallucinogens

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Highly addictive; produce a sense of well-being and have strong pain- relieving properties Morphine Codeine Heroin Methadone Opiates

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Slow down mental and physical activity by inhibiting transmission of nerve impulses in the central nervous system Barbiturates Benzodiazepines (e.g. Valium) Alcohol Depressants

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Arouse the central nervous system, speeding up mental and physical responses Cocaine Amphetamines Methamphetamine MDMA (ecstasy) Caffeine Nicotine Stimulants

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 End of Chapter 5