States of Consciousness Chapter 7

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States of ConsciousnessChapter 7
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Consciousness

• State of awareness concerning yourself and your
  surroundings
• - conscious processing (what you pay attention
  to)
• - beta waves
• - altered states (daydreaming, sleeping,
  hypnosis,
• meditation, drug use)
• Sub or Unconscious
• - autonomic processing
• - delta waves

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Circadian Rhythm daily cycle or biological
clock
Why?
Energy Conservation, Healing, Information
Processing
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Stages of Sleep (90 minute cycle / 4-5 each
night)

• Awake (beta waves) Drowsy (alpha waves)
• Stage 1
• - lasts about 10 minutes
• - falling asleep (theta waves irregular)
• - slowed breathing heartbeat
• - easily awakened
• - hypnagogic sensations (floating,
• hallucinations, etc.)

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• Stage 2
• lasts about 20 minutes
• sleep spindles (sigma waves bursts of rapid
  brain activity)
• you can still be awakened
• sleep talking
• snoring are possible
• spend the largest
• amount of time here

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• Stage 3
• - lasts about 20-30 minutes (becomes
• shorter as the night goes on)
• - delta waves (long slow) appear
• - slower breathing heart rate
• - sleep walking is possible
• at the end

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• Stage 4
• - lasts about 30 minutes (becomes
• shorter as the night goes on)
• - delta waves (long slow)
• - hard to awaken but still can react to stimuli
• ? move around in bed but dont fall out
• ? wake to certain noises
• - night terrors, period of intense fear, are
• possible 2-3 hours in (mostly in children)

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go back through the stages in reverse and
then.

• REM Sleep (Rapid Eye Movement)
• - lasts about 10 minutes (becomes longer as
• the night goes on)
• - also known as paradoxical sleep (externally
  
• calm, but internally aroused)
• - beta waves (rapid, irregular
• heartbeat/breathing)
• - remember dreams if awakened
• - REM sleep decreases with age

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• Dreams

• - spend about 2 hours a night dreaming
• - 1st REM dream usually connects to daily
• events the rest usually connect to first
• - 8 out of 10 dreams have a negative theme
• ? falling, chases, attacks, rejection, naked
• - manifest content (storyline/narrative)
• latent content (symbolic/hidden? meaning)
• - lucid dreams (aware that you are dreaming)

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Quick Note

• Sleep scientists recently suggested that there
  isnt much difference between Stages 3 4. You
  may find that contemporary discussion or sleep
  charts may only include 3 stages and REM.

We dont remember our dreams, we re-create them!
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Sleep Disorders

• Insomnia recurring problems in falling or
  staying asleep
• relax, avoid caffeine, exercise
  regularly, have a regular sleep schedule
• Narcolepsy uncontrollable sleep attacks
• 1/2000 lapse into REM for 5 minutes or so
• due to lack of neurotransmitter Hypocretin
  (numbness seizure)
• Sleep Apnea temporary cessations of breathing
  during sleep repeated awakenings
• 1/20 mostly overweight men (with no
  breath)
• decreased blood flow awakens sleeper (400
  times or more)

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Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) 1000s of
experiments and NO scientific evidence!
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Hypnosis (an altered state of consciousness)
Can Wont
Cause people to be relaxed, have a narrowed focus of attention, and be highly engaged in fantasies Work equally effectively for everyone
Produce anesthesia and treat a range of psychological and medical problems Force people to do things against their will (they are suggestions)
Cause hallucinations and distortions in sensory perception Make people act in ways that would normally be beyond their physical or mental abilities
Reduce inhibitions Reliably increase the accuracy of memories
Cause changes in behavior after the hypnosis has ended Allow people to actually re-experience past events or lives
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Psychoactive Drugs- alter perceptionAgonists
(mimic) Antagonists (block)

• Researchers usually classify drugs into anywhere
  from four to six categories
• Stimulants
• Depressants
• Hallucinogens
• Narcotics
• Inhalants
• Cannabis

http//learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/d
rugs/mouse.html
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• Stimulants
• Drugs that stimulate the nervous system

Drug Type Examples Effects Negative effects
Stimulants Nicotine, caffeine, cocaine, amphetamines, crystal meth, Ecstasy Increased alertness and energy, excitation, euphoria, confidence Anxiety, restlessness, irritability, sleeplessness, paranoia, increased aggressiveness, feelings of panic
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• Depressants
• Also called sedatives drugs that slow down the
  central nervous system

Drug Type Examples Effects Negative effects
Depressants Alcohol, Valium, Xanax, barbiturates Euphoria, relaxation, less anxiety Impaired coordination, depression, lethargy, drowsiness, mood swings
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• Hallucinogens
• Drugs that cause sensory and perceptual
  distortions

Drug Type Examples Effects Negative effects
Hallucinogens LSD, mescaline, psilocybin Euphoria, changed perception, hallucinations, insightful moments Nausea, paranoia, anxiety, feelings of panic, mood swings, impaired judgment, jumbled thoughts
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• Narcotics
• Also called opiates (depressants) drugs that can
  relieve pain

Drug Type Examples Effects Negative effects
Narcotics Morphine, heroin, opium, codeine, hydrocodone Euphoria, relaxation, less anxiety, less sensitivity to pain Lethargy, drowsiness, nausea, impaired coordination, constipation
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• Inhalants
• Drugs that are breathed into the lungs

Drug Type Examples Effects Negative effects
Inhalants cleaning solutions, nail polish removers, gasoline, room fresheners, glue, and ether Euphoria, changed perception Impaired brain functioning
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• Cannabis
• Drugs derived from the cannabis plant have
  features of more than one of the other drugs types

Drug Type Examples Effects Negative effects
Cannabis (Mild Hallucinogen) Marijuana, hashish Euphoria, relaxation, increased awareness, changed perception Sluggishness, anxiety, impaired memory