©john wiley & sons, inc. 2007 huffman: psychology in action (8e) two notions of consciousness...

©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)

Two notions of consciousness

1. General state of arousal (sleep vs. wakefulness)

2. Attentional focus or current awareness (watching football game or listening to wife)


Understanding Consciousness Alternate States of

Consciousness (ASCs): mental states, other than ordinary waking consciousness, found during sleep, dreaming, psychoactive drug use, hypnosis, etc.


Cognitive Studies of Consciousness: Generally deal

with 2nd notion 1. Consciousness as attentional focus: Cocktail party effect (selective attention)

2. Automatic vs. Controlled processing (effects of practice on conscious awareness)

3. Implicit vs. Explicit memory Recall test vs. Perceptual Identification test Effects of priming


Cognitive Studies of consciousness: Priming test

Word or non-word RT measure FORK = word; DXMZ = non-word SIGN – FORK DXMZ – FORK SPOON – FORK (sig reduction in rt) Unconscious priming? -- yes


Cognitive studies of consciousness: Exclusion task in

priming Coconut…palm (tree or wrist?) cons: only tree/uncon: either

Hand…palm (tree or wrist?) cons: only wrist/uncon: either

Stem completion task: complete BUT_ _ _ (could be butter or butler). What happens when one is presented earlier either consciously or unconsciously?) But can only be excluded consciously


Cognitive studies of consciousness: Brain Damaged

Subjects 1. Blindsight: loss of visual consciousness due to damage to primary visual cortex

2. Prosopagnosia: loss of face recognition due to damage to temporal lobe visual pathway.


Sleep and Dreams: Stages of Sleep NREM (Non-Rapid-Eye-Movement) Sleep:

Stage 1 (lightest sleep) Stage 2 (deeper sleep) Stages 3 and 4 (deepest sleep)

REM (Rapid-Eye-Movement) Sleep: Light sleep (also called paradoxical

sleep)


Sleep and Dreams: Stages of Sleep (Continued)

NREM (non-REM) sleep: includes Stages 1 through 4 involves lower-frequency brain waves,

decreased pulse and breathing,and occasional, simple dreams

serves a biological need (NREM needs met before REM needs)


Sleep and Dreams: Stages of Sleep (Continued)

REM (Rapid-Eye-Movement) sleep: also known as paradoxical sleep. involves high-frequency brain waves,

increased pulse and breathing, large muscle .

serves a biological need. may play a role in learning and

consolidating new memories.


Sleep and Dreams: Stages of Sleep in a Typical Night


Sleep and Dreams: Research

The EEG, EOG, and EMG are common tools for sleep research.

What Happens When We Sleep


Sleep and Dreams: Stages of Sleep & Brain Waves


Sleep and Dreams: Over the Life Span


Sleep and Dreams: Average Daily Hours of Sleep for Different Mammals


Sleep and Dreams: Why Do We Sleep?

Repair/Restoration Theory: sleep helps us recuperate from daily activities

Evolutionary/Circadian Theory: sleep evolved to conserve energy and as protection from predators

Cognitive Theory: dreams improve information processing


Sleep and Dreams: Why Do We Dream?

Psychoanalytic Theory: dreams are disguised symbols (manifest versus latent content) of repressed desires and anxieties

Biological Theory (activation-synthesis hypothesis): dreams are simple by-products of random stimulation of brain cells


Sleep and Dreams: Sleep DisordersTwo major categories:

1. Dyssomnias: problems in amount, timing, and quality of sleep

2. Parasomnias: abnormal disturbances during sleep


Sleep and Dreams: Three Forms of Dyssomnias

Insomnia: persistent problems in falling asleep, staying asleep, or awakening too early

Sleep Apnea: repeated interruption of breathing during sleep

Narcolepsy: sudden and irresistible onsets of sleep during normal waking hours


Sleep and Dreams: Narcolepsy in Dogs


Sleep and Dreams: Two Forms of Parasomnias

Nightmares: anxiety-arousing dreams occurring near the end of sleep, during REM sleep

Night Terrors: abrupt awakenings from NREM sleep accompanied by intense physiological arousal and feelings of panic


Psychoactive Drugs

Psychoactive Drugs: chemicals that change conscious awareness, mood, or perception


Psychoactive Drugs: Important Terms

Drug Abuse: drug taking that causes emotional or physical harm to the individual or others

Addiction: compulsion to use a specific drug or to engage in a certain activity


Psychoactive Drugs: Important Terms

Psychological Dependence: desire or craving to achieve effects produced by drug

Physical Dependence: bodily processes have been so modified by repeated drug use that continued use is required to prevent withdrawal symptoms


Psychoactive Drugs: Important Terms (Continued)

Withdrawal: discomfort and distress experienced after stopping the use of addictive drugs

Tolerance: decreased sensitivity to a drug brought about by its continuous use


Psychoactive Drugs: Four Categories

1. Depressants: act on the CNS to suppress bodily processes (e.g., alcohol, valium)

Alcohol & Neurotransmitters


Psychoactive Drugs: Depressants (Continued)


Psychoactive Drugs: Stimulants

2. Stimulants: act on the CNS to increase bodily processes (e.g., caffeine, nicotine, cocaine)


Psychoactive Drugs: Opiates

3. Opiates: act as an analgesic or pain reliever (e.g., morphine, heroin)


Psychoactive Drugs: Hallucinogens

4. Hallucinogens:

produce sensory or perceptual distortions called hallucinations (e.g., LSD, marijuana)


Applying Psychology to Everyday Life:Club Drug Alert! Popular “Club Drugs”:

Date Rape Drug (Rohypnol) MDMA (Ecstasy) GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate) Special K (Ketamine) Crystal Meth (Methamphetamine) LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)


Psychoactive Drugs: How They Work Step 1). Alter the production or synthesis of

neurotransmitters.

Step 2). Change the storage or release of neurotransmitters.

Step 3). Alter the reception of neurotransmitters.

Step 4). Change the deactivation (block the reuptake or break-down) of excess neurotransmitters.


How Psychoactive Drugs Work (Step 3: Agonists vs. Antagonists)


Healthier Ways to Alter Consciousness

Meditation: group of techniques designed to refocus attention, block out all distractions, and produce an ASC


Healthier Ways to Alter Consciousness Hypnosis:

trancelike state of heightened suggestibility, deep relaxation, and intense focus


Healthier Ways to Alter Consciousness

Hypnosis is used to treat chronic pain, severe burns, dentistry, childbirth, psychotherapy.


Upper Paleolithic Cave Art: Indications of rituals to achieve

ASC?


Traditional ceremonies Mandan Indiana sun-dance: altered state as

pain endurance


Ritual Use of Altered State Intoxicants

As far back as we can trace, humans have used consciousness altering rituals and intoxicants, but always together and always under supervision or regulation. The ritual regulated the drug use.

©john wiley & sons, inc. 2007 huffman: psychology in action (8e) two notions of consciousness...

Documents

e sleep

nrem sleep

movement sleep

sleep narcolepsy

sleep research

light sleep

sleep disorders

end of sleep