States of Consciousness

What is consciousness?

Fact or Falsehood? T F 1. Consciousness has an unlimited capacity. T F 2. Most university students are “evening” persons whose

performance improves throughout the day. T F 3. People who sleep seven to eight hours a night tend to

outlive those who are chronically sleep-deprived. T F 4. The most common dreams are those with sexual imagery. T F 5. The majority of the characters in men’s dreams are female. T F 6. Most psychologists believe that dreams provide a key to

understanding our inner conflicts. T F 7. Under hypnosis, people can be induced to perform feats

they would otherwise find impossible. T F 8. Under hypnosis, people can be induced to perform acts they

would otherwise find immoral. T F 9. Those given morphine to control pain often become

addicted to the drug. T F 10. In large amounts, alcohol is a depressant; in small

amounts, it is a stimulant.

1. F (p. 272) 6. F (pp. 287–288)2. T (p. 275) 7. F (p. 291)3. T (p. 281) 8. F (p. 292)4. F (p. 286) 9. F (p. 297)5. F (p. 286) 10. F (p. 298)

Our level of awareness of ourselves and our environment

We are conscious to the degree we are aware of what is going on inside and outside ourselves.

Much of consciousness is outside our awareness◦ Beginner driver◦ Advanced driver

Consciousness

We are not conscious or unconscious! There are different levels and different

states of consciousness. More sophisticated brain imaging tools and

an increased emphasis on cognitive psychology = more study

Consciousness is Not an on/off switch!

1. Conscious – What are you focusing on right now?

2. Nonconscious – Heartbeat, respiration, digestion, etc

3. Preconscious – you are not currently thinking about it, but you could be

◦ Your favorite toy as a child◦ Your first day of school

Levels of Consciousness

Cont’d 4. Subconscious level – Information that we

are not consciously aware of but we know must exist due to behavior.

◦ Priming, mere exposure(we prefer stimuli we have been exposed to over novel stimuli ) and blindsight

5. Unconscious – Some events are unacceptable to our conscious mind are are repressed into the unconscious mind. DEBATEABLE!

Which level of consciousness does it fit? Explain

SLEEP

While we are asleep, we are less aware of ourselves and our environment than when we are awake.

Other states of consciousness are drug-induced states, hypnosis,etc

Conscious level!!!

Life has rhythmic tides. They includeA. Annual cycles – geese migrate, bears

hibernate and humans experience seasonal variations in appetite, sleep and mood.(seasonal affective disorder)

B. 28 day menstrual cycles – check out mood score on p. 274

C. 24 hour cycles – varying alertness, body temp and growth hormone secretion

D. 90 minute cycles – sleep stages

Biological Rhythms: Distinguish 4 types and give an example of each

Circadian Rhythm◦ Our bodies synchronize with the 24-hour cycle

of the day◦ Sharpest thinking, memory most accurate

At our circadian peak◦ Most college students are owls◦ Most older adults are larks

◦ http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=2AE63A7D-2DC7-408C-9A8D-4DC34A4B57E8&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

Rhythm of Sleep: our 24 hour biological clock and biological clock

Drink caffeine late in the day Adjusting sleep schedule

◦ Pull an all-nighter◦ Stay up late on weekends and sleep until noon or

later! Transcontinental Flights

How to mess up your circadian clock

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4181992n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

Why do we sleep? 60 minutes part 1

Stage 1 sleep onset› Brain produces alpha waves› Drowsy but awake› Might experience hallucinations (falling)› We don’t know we are in sleep until we are out

of it! Stage 2

› EEG shows sleep spindles (short bursts of rapid brain waves

› Relax more deeply and are clealry asleep› Sleeptalking can happen (garbled speech)

Sleep StagesList the stages of the sleep cycle and how they differ

Stage 3◦ Delta waves (large, slow waves)◦ Last about 30 min, you are hard to awaken, but

still conscious: Roll around without falling out of bed Don’t crush infant sleeping with you, unless drunk

◦ Sleep through loud noises Stage 4

◦ Delta waves◦ 30 minutes long◦ Bedwetting, sleepwalking occur

Very difficult to awaken someone Will be disoriented and groggy Important in replenishing body’s chemical

supplies (hormones) Increased exercise increases time we spend

in stages 3 & 4

Delta Sleep

After Delta sleep we go back through stages 3, 2, 1.

In stage 1, brain produces intense activity: Eyes dart back and forth, muscles twitch = REM

Sometimes called paradoxical sleep◦ Brain waves appear awake!

REM Sleep

Dreams usually occur Deprivation of REM interferes with memory More stress during day = more REM sleep

that night

Purpose of REM - ???

We cycle through these approx 90 minute stage 4-7 times each night

Closer to morning, more time in stage 1,2, and REM

Babies sleep more (18 hours) and have more

Functions of Sleep: Discovery Educationhttp://

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Insomnia- most common disorder◦ Persistent getting to sleep or staying asleep◦ Cure: reduce caffeine, exercise, maintain

consistent sleep pattern Narcolepsy

◦ Periods of intense sleepiness, can fall asleep at unpredictable times

◦ Treatment – medication and changing sleep patterns (naps)

Sleep Disorders

Sleep Apnea◦ Serious problem, may cause death◦ Person stops breathing, wakes slightly, gasps for

air, goes back to sleep◦ Robs person of deep sleep = poor attention and

poor memory◦ Usually overweight men◦ Treatment: respiration machine provides air

Night Terrors and Sleep walking◦ Mostly in children◦ Don’t remember episode◦ Occur during stage 4 sleep◦ Grow out of them

Lack of concentration, depression Hunger and obesity Fatal accidents Irritability, mistakes Slowed reaction times (20% of traffic

accidents) Suppresses immune system Feelings of boredom

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Am I Sleep Deprived? Respond to each of the following items by circling “T” for true or

“F” for false. T F 1. I need an alarm clock in order to wake up at the appropriate

time. T F 2. It’s a struggle for me to get out of bed in the morning. T F 3. Weekday mornings I hit the snooze button several times to

get more sleep. T F 4. I feel tired, irritable, and stressed-out during the week. T F 5. I have trouble concentrating and remembering. T F 6. I feel slow with critical thinking, problem solving, and being

creative. T F 7. I often fall asleep watching TV. T F 8 I often fall asleep in boring meetings or lectures or in warm

rooms. T F 9. I often fall asleep after heavy meals or after a low dose of

alcohol. T F 10. I often fall asleep while relaxing after dinner. T F 11. I often fall asleep within five minutes of getting into bed. T F 12. I often feel drowsy while driving. T F 13. I often sleep extra hours on weekend mornings. T F 14. I often need a nap to get through the day. T F 15. I have dark circles around my eyes.