Chapter 5: States of Consciousness. Consciousness  The awareness of sensations, thoughts, and feelings being experienced at a given moment –Waking consciousness.

Presentation on theme: "Chapter 5: States of Consciousness. Consciousness  The awareness of sensations, thoughts, and feelings being experienced at a given moment –Waking consciousness."— Presentation transcript:

1 Chapter 5: States of Consciousness

2 Consciousness  The awareness of sensations, thoughts, and feelings being experienced at a given moment –Waking consciousness –Altered states of consciousness  The awareness of sensations, thoughts, and feelings being experienced at a given moment –Waking consciousness –Altered states of consciousness

3 Stages of Sleep  Stage 1 –The stage of transition between wakefulness and sleep that is characterized by relatively rapid, low voltage brain waves  Stage 2 –Characterized by a slower, more regular wave pattern and momentary interruptions of sharply pointed spiky waves called sleep spindles  Stage 1 –The stage of transition between wakefulness and sleep that is characterized by relatively rapid, low voltage brain waves  Stage 2 –Characterized by a slower, more regular wave pattern and momentary interruptions of sharply pointed spiky waves called sleep spindles

4 Stages of Sleep  Stage 3 –Waves become slower, with higher peaks and lower valleys in the wave pattern  Stage 4 –Waves are even slower and more regular, and people are least responsive to outside stimulation  Stage 3 –Waves become slower, with higher peaks and lower valleys in the wave pattern  Stage 4 –Waves are even slower and more regular, and people are least responsive to outside stimulation

5 The Sleep Cycle

6 REM Sleep: The Paradox of Sleep  Sleep that occupies a little over 20% of adult’s sleeping time and is characterized by Rapid eye movement Increased and irregular heart rate Increase in blood pressure Increase in breathing rate Erections in males Usually accompanied by dreams Person’s body is typically “paralyzed”

7 REM Sleep: The Paradox of Sleep

8 The Function and Meaning of Dreaming  Unconscious wish fulfillment theory (Freud 1900) –Proposed that dreams represented unconscious wishes that dreamers desire to see fulfilled  Latent content refers to the “disguised” meaning of the dream  Manifest content refers to the actual story line of the dream  Unconscious wish fulfillment theory (Freud 1900) –Proposed that dreams represented unconscious wishes that dreamers desire to see fulfilled  Latent content refers to the “disguised” meaning of the dream  Manifest content refers to the actual story line of the dream

9 The Function and Meaning of Dreaming  Dreams-for-survival theory –Dreams permit information that is critical for our daily survival to be reconsidered and reprocessed during sleep  Dreams-for-survival theory –Dreams permit information that is critical for our daily survival to be reconsidered and reprocessed during sleep

10 The Function and Meaning of Dreaming  Activations-synthesis theory –The brain produces random electrical energy during REM sleep that stimulates memories lodged in various portions of the brain which are put together to make a logical story line  Activations-synthesis theory –The brain produces random electrical energy during REM sleep that stimulates memories lodged in various portions of the brain which are put together to make a logical story line

11 Sleep Disturbances  Insomnia  Sleep apnea  Sudden infant death syndrome  Narcolepsy  Sleepwalking  Insomnia  Sleep apnea  Sudden infant death syndrome  Narcolepsy  Sleepwalking

12 Therapy For Insomnia  Exercise during the day  Choose a regular bedtime  Don’t use your bed as an all purpose area  Avoid caffeine after lunch  Drink a glass of warm milk at bedtime  Avoid sleeping pills  Try not to sleep  Talk yourself into sleeping  Exercise during the day  Choose a regular bedtime  Don’t use your bed as an all purpose area  Avoid caffeine after lunch  Drink a glass of warm milk at bedtime  Avoid sleeping pills  Try not to sleep  Talk yourself into sleeping

13 Circadian Rhythms: Life Cycles  Biological processes that occur repeatedly on a 24-hour cycle –Seasonal affective disorder –Jet lag  Biological processes that occur repeatedly on a 24-hour cycle –Seasonal affective disorder –Jet lag

14 Hypnosis  Hypnosis –Originated by Franz Mesmer in the 18 th century, it is described as being in a trance- like state of heightened susceptibility to the suggestion of others  Applications –Control pain, reduce smoking, treating psychological disorders, assisting law enforcement, improving athletic performance  Hypnosis –Originated by Franz Mesmer in the 18 th century, it is described as being in a trance- like state of heightened susceptibility to the suggestion of others  Applications –Control pain, reduce smoking, treating psychological disorders, assisting law enforcement, improving athletic performance

15 Meditation  Meditation –A learned technique for refocusing attention that brings about an altered state of consciousness  Mantra –Repetition of a word, a sound, or a syllable  Meditation –A learned technique for refocusing attention that brings about an altered state of consciousness  Mantra –Repetition of a word, a sound, or a syllable

16 Drug Use: The Highs and Lows of Consciousness  Psychoactive drugs –Influences a person’s emotions, perceptions, and behavior  Addictive drugs –Produce a biological or psychological dependence in the user, and withdrawal from them leads to a craving for the drug that, in some cases, may be nearly irresistible –Biologically and psychological based  Psychoactive drugs –Influences a person’s emotions, perceptions, and behavior  Addictive drugs –Produce a biological or psychological dependence in the user, and withdrawal from them leads to a craving for the drug that, in some cases, may be nearly irresistible –Biologically and psychological based

17 Stimulants: Drug Highs  Affect the central nervous system by causing a rise in heart rate, blood pressure, and muscular tension –Caffeine –Nicotine –cocaine –Amphetamines  Methamphetamine– most dangerous street drug  Affect the central nervous system by causing a rise in heart rate, blood pressure, and muscular tension –Caffeine –Nicotine –cocaine –Amphetamines  Methamphetamine– most dangerous street drug

18 Stimulants: Drug Highs  How much caffeine do you consume?

19 Depressants: Drug Lows  Impede the nervous system by causing neurons to fire more slowly –Alcohol  Rohypnol  Binge drinking –Barbiturates  Nembutal  Seconal  Phenobarbital  Impede the nervous system by causing neurons to fire more slowly –Alcohol  Rohypnol  Binge drinking –Barbiturates  Nembutal  Seconal  Phenobarbital

20 Depressants: Drug Lows

21 Narcotics: Relieving Pain and Anxiety  Increase relaxation and relieve pain and anxiety  Heroin –Methadone treatment  Morphine  Increase relaxation and relieve pain and anxiety  Heroin –Methadone treatment  Morphine

22 Hallucinogens: Psychedelic Drugs  Drugs that are capable of producing hallucinations, or changes in the perceptual process –Marijuana –MDMA (Ecstasy) –LSD  Drugs that are capable of producing hallucinations, or changes in the perceptual process –Marijuana –MDMA (Ecstasy) –LSD