1. Consciousness
Review Session 11

2. Consciousness- History
Dualism
Mind and body are two distinct entities that interact
Brain and mind are two different things
Thought and matter
This gives us free will
Monism
the presumption that mind and body are different aspects of the same thing 2

3. Levels of Consciousness
Mere Exposure Effect- we prefer stimuli that we have seen before over novel stimuli
Priming- participants respond more quickly/accurately to questions that they have seen before, even if they do not remember seeing them
Blind Sight- people who report being blind can accurately describe the path of a moving object or accurately grasp objects they cannot see

4. Levels of Consciousness
Conscious- information you are currently aware of
Nonconscious- body processes controlled by our mind we are not usually aware of
Preconscious- information you are not currently thinking about but could be
Subconscious- information we are not consciously aware of but know must exist due to behavior
Unconscious- psychoanalytic term; events and feelings that are unacceptable

5. Sleep When we sleep we are less aware of ourselves and our environment
Not the same as being unconscious

6. Sleep Cycle
Part of our circadian rhythm- the pattern that our metabolic and thought processes follow (about 25 hours)
Sleep Onset- the period where we are falling asleep; stage between wakefulness and sleep
Brain produces alpha waves when we are drowsy but awake
Might experience mild hallucinations

7. Stages of Sleep Stage 1: Muscles relax Irregular brain waves
“Just drifting”
Theta waves- high frequency low, amplitude
10 min.
Stage 2:
Theta waves continue
Sleep Spindles begin- short bursts of rapid brain activity
Eyes roll from side to side
30 min

8. Stages of Sleep Stage 3 Stage 4
Large amplitude brain waves every second or so- Delta waves
Slower the wave, deeper the sleep
Delta sleep is very important in replenishing chemical supplies and fortifying the immune system
Stage 4
Deepest of all
Also includes Delta waves
Talking out loud, sleep walking- no trace on memory
Most important
People who sleep only a few hours descend rapidly into stages 3 and 4
Exercise increases time spent in stages 3 and 4

9. Stages of Sleep REM Sleep/Paradoxical
After a period of time in delta sleep, our brain waves speed up and we go back through stages 3 and 2, but enter REM instead of stage 1
Eyes move rapidly, Twitching, irregular breathing
Brain waves similar to an actively awake person
Dreaming
Each REM cycle lasts from minutes and gets longer with each cycle until you eventually wake up
REM sleep deprivation interferes with memory
REM rebound occurs

10. Brain Waves and Sleep Stages
Alpha Waves
slow waves of a relaxed, awake brain
Delta Waves
large, slow waves of deep sleep 10

11. Typical Nightly Sleep Stages1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Sleep
stages
Awake
Hours of sleep
REM 11

12. Typical Nightly Sleep Stages
Hours of sleep
Minutes of
Stage 4 and
REM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 15 20 25
Decreasing
Stage 4
Increasing 12

13. Sleep Deprivation Effects of Sleep Loss fatigue impaired concentration
immune suppression
irritability
slowed performance
accidents
planes
autos and trucks 13

14. Sleep Disorders Insomnia Narcolepsy Sleep Apnea
Persistent problems in falling or staying asleep
Affects up to 10% of the population
Narcolepsy
Uncontrollable sleep attacks, suddenly fall into REM sleep
Much rarer
Sleep Apnea
cessation of breathing
often associated with snoring
repeatedly awakes sufferer 14

15. Night Terrors and Nightmares1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Sleep
stages
Awake
Hours of sleep
REM
Night Terrors
occur within 2 or 3 hours of falling asleep, usually during Stage 4
high arousal- appearance of being terrified
Nightmares
occur towards morning
during REM sleep 15

16. Dreams- Freud Sigmund Freud Manifest Content Latent Content
The Interpretation of Dreams (1900)
wish fulfillment- we act out our unconscious desires
discharge otherwise unacceptable feelings in the form of symbols
Manifest Content
remembered story line
Latent Content
underlying, uncensored meaning 16

17. Other Dream Theories Activation Synthesis Theory
Dreams are nothing more than the brain’s interpretations of what is happening physiologically during REM sleep
Dreams have no more meaning than any other physiological reflex
Information-Processing Theory
Stress during the day increases the number and intensity of dreams, dream content often relates to daily concerns
They brain is dealing with daily stress and info during REM
Purpose is to integrate information processed into our memories

18. Hypnosis
One person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts or behaviors will spontaneously occur
a relaxed state
Posthypnotic Amnesia
supposed inability to recall what one experienced during hypnosis
Posthypnotic Suggestion
A suggestion that a hypnotized person will behave in a certain way after brought out of hypnosis 18

19. Theories of Hypnosis Role Theory
Not an alternate state of conscious at all, some people are more easily hypnotized
A social phenomenon
Follow the suggestions b/c that is what is suggested
Hypnotic Suggestibility
related to subject’s openness to suggestion
ability to focus attention inwardly
ability to become imaginatively absorbed
These people also have richer fantasy lives, follow directions well, and can focus intensely 19

20. Theories of Hypnosis Dissociation Theory Dissociation Hidden Observer
a split in consciousness
allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others
Hidden Observer
Hilgard’s term describing a hypnotized subject’s awareness of experiences, such as pain, that go unreported during hypnosis

21. How Drugs Change Consciousness
The molecules that make up psychoactive drugs are small enough to pass through the blood-brain barrier
Agonists- work by mimicking neurotransmitters
Antagonists- work by blocking neurotransmitters from using the receptor sites on neurons
All gradually alter the natural level of neurotransmitters in the brain

22. How Drugs Change Consciousness
Tolerance- a physiological change that produces a need for more of the same drug in order to achieve the same effect, will eventually cause…
Withdrawal symptoms- vary from person to person
Dependence can be physiological, psychological, or both

23. Psychoactive Drugs Depressants drugs that reduce neural activity
slow body function
result in euphoria
alcohol, barbiturates, opiates, anxiolytics (Valium)
Stimulants
drugs that excite neural activity
speed up body function
caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines 23

24. Psychoactive Drugs Hallucinogens Barbiturates
psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input
May remain in the body for weeks, if is ingested again new amount is added to lingering amount- reverse tolerance
LSD, marijuana, mushrooms
Barbiturates
drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment 24

25. Psychoactive Drugs Opiates Amphetamines
opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin)
opiates depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety
Agonists for endorphins, powerful painkillers and mood enhancers
Amphetamines
drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes 25

26. Psychoactive Drugs LSD THC lysergic acid diethylamide
a powerful hallucinogenic drug
also known as acid
THC
the major active ingredient in marijuana
triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations 26

27. Psychoactive Drugs Drug Type Pleasurable Effects Adverse Effects
Alcohol Depressant Initial high followed by Depression, memory loss, organ
relaxation and disinhibition damage, impaired reactions
Heroin Depressant Rush of euphoria, relief from Depressed physiology,
pain agonizing withdrawal
Caffeine Stimulant Increased alertness and Anxiety, restlessness, and
wakefulness insomnia in high doses;
uncomfortable withdrawal
Metham- Stimulant Euphoria, alertness, energy Irritability, insomnia,
phetamine hypertension, seizures
Cocaine Stimulant Rush of euphoria, confidence, Cardiovascular stress,
energy suspiciousness, depressive crash
Nicotine Stimulant Arousal and relaxation, sense Heart disease, cancer (from tars)
of well-being
Marijuana Mild Enhanced sensation, pain relief Lowered sex hormones, disrupted
hallucinogen distortion of time, relaxation memory, lung damage from smoke 27

28. Review Questions 1) Agonists are psychoactive drugs that
Produce tolerance to the drug without the associated withdrawal symptoms
Mimic and produce the same effect of certain neurotransmitters
Mimic neurotransmitters and block their receptor sites
Enhance the effects of certain opiates like heroin
Make recovery from physical addiction more difficult

29. 2) Which of the following is the best analogy for how psychologists view consciousness?
The on/off switch of a computer
A circuit breaker that controls the power to a house
A fuse that allows electricity to pass through until a short circuit occurs
A dimmer switch for a light fixture
The ignition switch of a car

30. 3) During a normal night’s sleep, how many times do we pass through the different stages of sleep?2
2-3
4-7
8-11
11-15

31. 4) Which of the following is evidence supporting the role theory of hypnosis?
People with rich fantasy lives are more hypnotizable
People will not behave under hypnosis in ways they would not without hypnosis
Hilgard’s experiment demonstrated the presence of a hidden observer
Our heart and respiration rates may differ while under hypnosis
Some therapists successfully use hypnosis in therapy

32. 5) Which neurotransmitter is affected by opiates?
Serotonin
Endorphins
Dopamine
GABA
Acetylcholine