consciousness unit 2 b

ConsciousnessUnit 2 B

Consciousness: ◦our awareness of ourselves and our

environment.

Cognitive neuroscience:◦studies the connections between brain

activity & mental processes

Objective 1: What do we mean by consciousness & how does selective attention direct our perception?

Focusing conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

What happens to our attention when on the phone?

Selective Attention

Cell phone use and car accidents◦ Slower to detect & respond to traffic signals (28%)

Selective Attention and Accidents

We can only process a tiny sliver of the immense amount of visual stimuli

constantly before us.

Who Dunnit?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubNF9QNEQLA

How many changes can you

detect? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo

Inattentional blindness◦failing to see visible objects when our

attention is directed elsewhere

Selective Attention

Selective Attention

Change blindness◦A failure to notice a difference in what is there now vs. what was there a moment ago.

Simon’s Labhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkrrVozZR2c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0W60BX_6wA

BG: Pay Attention 6 min

Objective 2: What is the circadian rhythm & what are

the stages of our sleep cycle?

#s1, 2, 10,18 – use number below where you checked time.

Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire

Objective 2Sleep stages…

◦Awake Alpha waves

Awake but relaxed◦Stage 1

Transition 1-7 minutes Light sleep Hypnagogic sensations Easy to awaken Aroused from stage 1 report they were awake

Sleep Stages

Stage 2◦ Onset of true sleep◦ Sleep spindles

High frequency bursts of brain activity

◦ Muscle tension, heart rate, respiration, temp start to decline

◦ Some delta wavesStage 3

◦ Continue to show more delta waves

Stage 4 Delta waves

◦ REM sleep

Stage 4◦ Delta sleep◦ High amplitude very low frequency (delta)◦ Deepest stage of sleep; most difficult to wake◦ Sleepwalking & talking present◦ Night terrors in children◦ If awaken, don’t remember

Biological Rhythms and SleepSleep Stages

Biological Rhythms and SleepSleep Stages

Biological Rhythms and SleepSleep Stages

Biological Rhythms and SleepSleep Stages

Biological Rhythms and SleepSleep Stages

Biological Rhythms and SleepSleep Stages

REM Dreams = 20% of sleep time Eyes move rapidly back & forth Paradoxical sleep

◦ Brain active body not Heart rate & blood pressure increase Lose muscle tension & movement

Biological Rhythms and SleepTypical Nights Sleep

Biological Rhythms and SleepTypical Nights Sleep

Biological Rhythms and SleepTypical Nights Sleep

Biological Rhythms and SleepTypical Nights Sleep

Biological Rhythms and SleepTypical Nights Sleep

Why Do We Sleep?Objective 3:

How do our sleep patterns differ?What 4 theories describe our need for sleep?

Genetic Forces◦ age related differences in avg. sleeping time depend

upon differences among individuals

Cultural Forces◦ Those in more modernized cultures sleep less

Circadian rhythm◦Internal biological clock

◦Body rhythms change temperature, alertness occurs on a 24 hr cycle age & experience can

alter your circadian rhythm

Biological Rhythms and SleepCircadian Rhythm

When light hits the retina, it signals the brain to stop

production ofLight Stops Melatonin =

awake

Four Sleep Theories

1. Sleep protects-evolutionary? Animals sleep patterns fit its

place in nature elephant vs bats

most need to graze/least ability to hide

2. Sleep helps us recover

- repair brain tissue

3. Sleep helps memory & creative thinking proof?

4. Sleep releases growth hormones Stage 4 – deep sleep As we age we spend less

time in deep sleep (stage 4)

Objective 4: How does sleep loss affect us & what are the major

sleep disorders?

Why Do We Sleep?The Effects of Sleep Loss

Why Do We Sleep?The Effects of Sleep Loss

Why Do We Sleep?The Effects of Sleep Loss

Why Do We Sleep?The Effects of Sleep Loss

◦Weight Gain (ghrelin)◦Stress (cortisol)

◦Insomnia◦Narcolepsyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0h2nleWTwI

◦Sleep apnea◦Night terrors◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdwYgGXQ5mo

Objective 4: How does sleep loss affect us & what are the major sleep

disorders?

Effects of Sleep Debt Sleep Disorders Weight Gain

◦ Gherlin

Stress◦ Cortisol

Irritable

Less Creative

Poor Judgement

Insomnia

Sleep Apnea◦ Stop breathing

Night Terrors◦ Stage 4

Narcolepsyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0h2nleWTwI

1 in 20

1 in 2000

1 in 10

Objective 5:What do we dream about & what are the five

theories of dreaming?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GGzc3x9WJU

Objective 5:What do we dream about & what are the five theories of

why we dream?

Manifest Content◦ Storyline

Daily life works way into dreams External stimuli works way into

dreams

Latent Content

“Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”

Activation Synthesis Theory

Objective 5… Theories of Dreaming To satisfy our own wishes

◦ Freud; psychic safety valve;◦ Manifest Content / Latent Content

To file away memories◦ Information processing◦ Fix the day’s experiences in our minds

To develop/preserve neural pathways◦ Babies = Lots of REM

To make sense of neural static◦ Limbic system active during REM (i.e. amygdala) while frontal

lobe less active To reflect cognitive development

◦ Brain maturation