1. 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

2. Altered States of Consciousness
a mental state other than ordinary waking consciousness:
physical activity
Young children love to alter their consciousness
Is this a natural phenomena?
meditation and spirituality
a group of techniques designed to focus attention and produce an heightened state of awareness
psychoactive drug use
Many different types of psychoactive substances can alter your awareness

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

4. Altered States: Dreaming
Percentages:
REM sleep: %
NREM sleep: %
Theories:
Freudian
Activation Synthesis

5. Altered States: 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
EEG: Electroencephalogram
EMG: Electromyogram
EOG: Electrooculogram
EKG: Electrocardiogram
Respiration

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

7. 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:
rapid eye movements
variable heart rate and respiration
muscle atonia
penile erection/vaginal secretions

8. The Sleep Cycle in Young Adults
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

9. Multiple Sleep Latency Test
(MSLT)
Measures Sleep Deprivation

10. EEG SWA Increases After Sleep Deprivation

11. Most Mammals Show Similar Sleep Characteristics
Unihemispheric Sleep in Marine Mammals
One hemisphere asleep one awake

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

13. The SCN and Circadian Rhythms

14. Two Process Model of Sleep