Variations in ConsciousnessVariations in Consciousness

Chapter 5Chapter 5

On the Nature of ConsciousnessOn the Nature of Consciousness

consciousness-consciousness- the awareness of internal the awareness of internal and external stimuliand external stimuli

three levels of awarenessthree levels of awareness– Nonconscious (biological functions)Nonconscious (biological functions)– Preconscious (not current awareness)Preconscious (not current awareness)– Unconscious (below conscious thought)Unconscious (below conscious thought)

Consciousness and Brain ActivityConsciousness and Brain Activity

Consciousness arises from activity in Consciousness arises from activity in networks of neural pathwaysnetworks of neural pathways– Brain wave patterns are measured by EEG Brain wave patterns are measured by EEG

(electroencephalograph) (electroencephalograph) betabeta- normal waking thought, alert problem solving- normal waking thought, alert problem solving alphaalpha- deep relaxation, blank mind, meditation- deep relaxation, blank mind, meditation thetatheta- light sleep- light sleep deltadelta- deep sleep- deep sleep

Biological Rhythms and SleepBiological Rhythms and Sleep

circadian rhythms-circadian rhythms- the 24 hour biological the 24 hour biological cycles found in humans and other speciescycles found in humans and other species– regulate sleep, BP, hormonal secretion, urine regulate sleep, BP, hormonal secretion, urine

production, body tempproduction, body temp– persist even when external cues are eliminatedpersist even when external cues are eliminated

The Sleep and Waking CycleThe Sleep and Waking Cycle

Cycle REPEATS

about 4 times/night

Problems in the Night:Problems in the Night:Sleep DisordersSleep Disorders

Unit 4Unit 4

InsomniaInsomnia

chronic problems in getting adequate sleepchronic problems in getting adequate sleep– difficulty falling asleepdifficulty falling asleep– difficulty remaining asleepdifficulty remaining asleep– persistent early morning awakeningpersistent early morning awakening

Associated with…Associated with…– daytime fatigue, impaired concentration, daytime fatigue, impaired concentration,

depression, increased health problemsdepression, increased health problems

Sleep DisordersSleep Disorders

NarcolepsyNarcolepsy sudden and irresistible sudden and irresistible

onset of sleep during onset of sleep during normal waking periodsnormal waking periods

directly from directly from wakefulness to REMwakefulness to REM

Episodes lasts about Episodes lasts about 10 - 20 minutes10 - 20 minutes

Sleep ApneaSleep Apnea frequent, reflexive frequent, reflexive

gasping for air that gasping for air that awakens a person and awakens a person and disrupts sleepdisrupts sleep

breathing ceases for breathing ceases for minimum of 10 minimum of 10 secondsseconds

accompanied by accompanied by snoringsnoring

Sleep DisordersSleep Disorders

NightmaresNightmares anxiety arousing anxiety arousing

dreams leading to dreams leading to awakening from awakening from REM REM sleepsleep

Vivid dreams resulting Vivid dreams resulting in difficulty getting in difficulty getting back to sleepback to sleep

Emotional Emotional disturbances in disturbances in childrenchildren

Night terrorsNight terrors abrupt awakenings abrupt awakenings

from from NREM NREM accompanied by accompanied by intense autonomic intense autonomic arousal and feelings of arousal and feelings of panicpanic

Inconsolable, no Inconsolable, no recollection of incidentrecollection of incident

common in children common in children 3-8 years old3-8 years old

The World of DreamsThe World of Dreams

The Contents of DreamsThe Contents of Dreams

Familiar settings with cast of characters Familiar settings with cast of characters dominated by friends, familydominated by friends, family

Certain dreams more common than othersCertain dreams more common than others– misfortune, aggression, flying, falling, teeth, misfortune, aggression, flying, falling, teeth,

failing test, chasedfailing test, chased

Self centered around internal conflicts and Self centered around internal conflicts and resolutionsresolutions

Wish FulfillmentWish Fulfillment

Freud’s theoryFreud’s theory People fulfill ungratified needs from waking People fulfill ungratified needs from waking

hours through wishful thinking in dreamshours through wishful thinking in dreams– manifest contentmanifest content- the plot of a dream at a - the plot of a dream at a

surface levelsurface level– latent contentlatent content- hidden or disguised meaning of - hidden or disguised meaning of

the events in the plotthe events in the plot

Problem- Solving ViewProblem- Solving View

dreams provide opportunity to work through dreams provide opportunity to work through everyday problems and emotional issues in everyday problems and emotional issues in one’s lifeone’s life– connection exists between waking and sleeping connection exists between waking and sleeping

thoughtthought

Activation Synthesis ModelActivation Synthesis Model

dreams are by-product of bursts of activity dreams are by-product of bursts of activity stemming from subcortical areas in the brainstemming from subcortical areas in the brain

dreams are the dreams are the side effectsside effects of neural of neural activation that produces wide awake brain activation that produces wide awake brain waves during REM sleepwaves during REM sleep