1. PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION Sixth Edition by Karen Huffman
PowerPoint  Lecture Notes Presentation
Chapter 5
States of Consciousness
Paul J. Wellman
Texas A&M University
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

2. Lecture Overview Issues in Consciousness Sleep and Dreams
Drugs that Influence Consciousness
Alternate States of Consciousness
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

3. Consciousness
Consciousness refers to a general state of being aware and responsive to stimuli within the internal and external environments
Levels of awareness:
TOP: Controlled processes that require attention (and interfere with other functions)
MIDDLE: Automatic processes requiring minimal attention (such as riding your bike)
LOWEST: Minimal or no awareness of the environment
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

4. Circadian Rhythms Many of our behaviors display rhythmic variation
Daily rest-activity cycle is about 90 minutes
Circadian rhythms (“about a day”)
One cycle lasts about 24 hours (e.g. sleep-waking cycle)
Light is an external cue that can set the circadian rhythm
Some circadian rhythms are endogenous (do not require light) suggesting the existence of an internal (biological) clock
Monthly rhythms
Menstrual cycle
Seasonal rhythms
Aggression, sexual activity in male deer
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

5. Sleep Sleep is a behavior AND an altered state of consciousness
Sleep is associated with an urge to lie down for several hours in a quiet environment
Few movements occur during sleep (other than eye movements)
The nature of consciousness is changed during sleep
We experience some dreaming during sleep
We may recall very little of the mental activity that occurred during sleep
We spend about a third of our lives in sleep
A basic issue is to understand the function of sleep
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

6. Myths of Sleep
Everyone needs 8 hrs of sleep per night to maintain good health
Learning of complicated subjects such as calculus can be done during sleep
Some people never dream
Dreams last only a few seconds
Genital arousal during sleep reflects dream content
It is unrelated to sexual content
May be a useful index of physical versus psychological causes of impotence in males
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

7. EEG Changes During Sleep
Electrophysiological instruments can be used in the sleep laboratory to assess the physiological changes that occur during an episode of sleep
Summated brain wave activity (EEG)
Wakefulness: beta activity (13-30 Hz) is present in the EEG record (desynchrony: low amplitude, high frequency waveforms)
Eyes closed: alpha activity (8-12 Hz) appears in the EEG record (synchrony: high amplitude, low frequency waveforms)
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

8. Sleep Stages During a Night
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

9. Functions of Sleep REM Sleep: Non-REM sleep
Consolidation of new memories
Role in learning
Absent in lower mammals
Non-REM sleep
People deprived of all sleep show greater time spent in non-REM sleep the next night
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

10. Effects of Sleep Deprivation
Reduced immunity
Mood alteration
Reduced concentration and motivation
Increased irritability
Lapses in attention
Reduced motor skills
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

11. Theories of Sleep Repair/Restoration Evolutionary/Circadian
Sleep allows for recuperation from physical, emotional, and intellectual fatigue
Evolutionary/Circadian
Sleep is part of a circadian cycle
Sleep evolved to conserve energy and protect our ancestors from predators
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

12. Sleep Duration in Mammals
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

13. Theories of Dreaming
Psychoanalytic: Dreams represent disguised symbols of repressed desires and anxieties
Biological: Dreams represent random activation of brain cells during sleep
Cognitive: Dreams help to sift and sort the events of the day
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

14. Sleep Disorders
Insomnia refers to a difficulty in getting to sleep or remaining asleep and has many causes
Situational: related to anxiety (exam jitters)
Drug-induced: Use of sleeping pills can result in insomnia
Sleep apnea: person stops breathing and is awakened when blood levels of carbon dioxide stimulate breathing
Narcolepsy: Sleep appears at odd times
Sleep attack: urge to sleep during the day
Cataplexy: REM paralysis occurs, person is still conscious
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

15. Drugs Drugs are chemicals that have biological effects within the body
Psychoactive drugs are chemicals that change conscious awareness or perception
Depressants slow down the nervous system
Stimulants speed up the nervous system
Narcotics relieve pain
Hallucinogens alter sensory perception
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

16. Drug Use and Abuse
Drug abuse: Drug use that causes emotional or physical harm to the user
Addiction results from repeated drug use
Tolerance: more drug is required
Drug abstinence leads to withdrawal symptoms
Drug dependence can be
Physical: withdrawal reactions are noted when drug use is terminated
Psychological: is associated with a craving for the drug
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

17. Factors that Lead to Drug Abuse
Positive associations: the drug is portrayed in a positive fashion in the media
Biological factors: the drug induces a pleasurable state (usually related to dopamine activity in the brain)
Prevention of withdrawal: person continues to take the drug to avoid withdrawal effects
Conditioning of drug craving: cues associated with drug use can elicit craving for the drug
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

18. How Drugs Work © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

19. Drug Action on Neurons © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

20. Drug Types Depressants: Alcohol, barbiturates
Stimulants: Caffeine, amphetamine
Cocaine, nicotine
Opiates Heroin, morphine
Hallucinogens LSD, mescaline, marijuana
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

21. Hypnosis Hypnosis is an altered state of heightened suggestibility
The hypnotic state is characterized by
Narrow and focused attention
Imagination and hallucinations
Passive receptive attitude
Reduced reaction to pain
Heightened suggestibility
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

22. Myths of Hypnosis People can be hypnotized against their will
People will do immoral things while hypnotized
Hypnosis improves memory recall
Hypnotized persons have special strength
Hypnosis involves a form of role playing
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

23. Altered States
Meditation refers to a set of techniques that promote a heightened sense of awareness
Can involve body movements and posture, focusing of attention on a focal point, or control of breathing
Meditation can induce relaxation, lower blood pressure, and can be associated with a sense of euphoria
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E

24. Copyright
Copyright 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission of the copyright owner.
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E