States of Consciousness Consciousness an organism’s awareness of its own self and surroundings; exists along a continuum, ranging from high level awareness to unconsciousness

High Level of Awareness Controlled Processes focused Attention is required

Middle Level of Awareness Automatic Processes awareness but minimal attention Daydreaming low level of awareness and conscious effort; somewhere between active consciousness and dreaming while asleep

Minimal or No Awareness Unconscious Mind reservoir of unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and memories that are too painful or anxiety provoking to be admitted to consciousness Unconscious lowest level of awareness

Altered States of Consciousness a mental state other than ordinary waking consciousness, found during: physical activity meditation and spirituality psychoactive drug use hypnosis dreaming sleep

Physical Activity Young children love to alter their consciousness Is this a natural phenomena?

Meditation and Spirituality Meditation: a group of techniques designed to focus attention and produce an heightened state of awareness

Psychoactive Substances Many different types of psychoactive substances can alter your awareness depressants stimulants opiates hallucinogens

Hypnosis Is one or more of the following: narrowed, highly focused attention increased imagination passive, receptive attitude decreased pain heightened suggestibility

Dreaming and Dream Theories Percentages: REM sleep: 70-80% NREM sleep: 20-30% Theories: Freudian Activation Synthesis

Sleep The most widely studied Altered State of Consciousness We spend 1/3 of our lives asleep Sleep or Arousal States fall into three categories: –Waking –NREM sleep –REM sleep It is still unclear just why we sleep

Sleep Recording EEG EMG EOG EKG Respiration

Waking NREM Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 REM Delta or Slow Waves Arousal States

Arousal State Characteristics Waking: low voltage, high frequency EEG patterns very high EMG activity NREM Sleep: high voltage, low frequency mixed EEG patterns slowed heart rate and respiration reduced EMG activity REM Sleep: low voltage, high frequency EEG patterns rapid eye movements variable heart rate and respiration muscle atonia penile erection/vaginal secretions

more SWS at the beginning of the beginning of the night more REM at the end of the night cycle goes from NREM 1-4 then back out from NREM 4-1 The Sleep Cycle in Young Adults

All Mammals Show Similar Sleep Characteristics

One hemisphere asleep, one awake Unihemispheric Sleep in Marine Mammals

Sleep across the Lifespan

(MSLT) Measures Sleep Deprivation Multiple Sleep Latency Test

EEG SWA Increases After Sleep Deprivation

Rasterplot Entrainment Light/Dark Cycle Constant Conditions Zeitgeber: Light Pulse Tau: natural rhythm Circadian Rhythms

The SCN and Circadian Rhythms

Two Process Model of Sleep