Levels of Consciousness

Subconscious - Consciousness just below the level of

awareness. It contains thoughts and ideas just out of our

awareness.

Unconscious - A deeper level of awareness is the

unconscious. It contains thoughts and desires about which

we have no true or direct knowledge.

Consciousness - An organism’s or individual’s

awareness of, or possibility of knowing what is happening

inside or outside itself

Waking Consciousness

Levels of information Processing

Parallel processing– subconscious information

processing occurs simultaneously on many

parallel tracks.

Serial processing– conscious processing takes

place in sequence

Waking Consciousness

Fantasy-prone personalities

someone who imagines and recalls

experiences with lifelike vividness and who

spends considerable time fantasizing

Biological Clocks

Biological clocks are

internal units that

control parts of the

body and which are

regulated by nature.

They operate on free-

running cycles (under

their own control).

Through entrainment, some cycles can be modified

to fit a different rhythm (sleep-wake cycle).

The human body has a natural rhythm or

cycle of sleep and wakefulness of 25 hours.

Contrast this to the light-dark cycle of 24

hours.

The human circadian rhythm is

based on an entrained 24-hour

cycle. Most people’s low points

(temperature, blood pressure, and

weakness ) generally fall between

3 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Circadian Rhythms

Premenstrual Syndrome

Premenstrual Menstrual Intermenstrual

Menstrual phase

Actual Recalled mood

3

2

1

Negative mood

score

Recalled mood is

worse than

earlier reported

Sleep and Dreams

REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep

recurring sleep stage

vivid dreams

“paradoxical sleep”

muscles are generally

relaxed, but other

body systems are

active

Sleep and Dreams

Sleep

periodic, natural,

reversible loss of

consciousness

Sleep and Dreams

REM SLEEP NREM SLEEP

1. Rapid eye movement 1. Non-rapid eye movement

2. Increases in length as

night’s sleep progresses.

2.Decreases in length as night’s

sleep progresses.

3. Vivid dreams 3. Vague, partial images and stories

4. Nightmares 4. Incubus attacks (night terrors)

5. Paralyzed body 5. Sleepwalking & talking in sleep

6. Essential part of sleep 6. Less essential part of sleep

Brain Waves and Sleep Stages

Beta Waves Wide awake waves

Alpha Waves slow waves of a relaxed,

awake brain

Delta Waves large, slow waves of deep

sleep

Hallucinations false sensory experiences

Sleep Spindles Begin during stage 2 sleep

and increase through the cycle

The Nature of Sleep and Dreams

Stages in a Typical Night’s Sleep

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

4

3

2

1

Sleep

stages

Awake

Hours of sleep

REM

Stages in a Typical Night’s Sleep

Hours of sleep

Minutes

of

Stage 4

and

REM

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0

10

15

20

25

5

Decreasing

Stage 4

Increasing

REM

Stages of Sleep

Upon reaching stage 4 and after about 80 to 100 minutes of total sleep time, sleep lightens, returns through stages 3 and 2

REM sleep emerges, characterized by EEG patterns that resemble beta waves of alert wakefulness

muscles most relaxed

rapid eye movements occur

dreams occur

Four or five sleep cycles occur in a typical night’s sleep; less time is spent in slow-wave, more is spent in REM

Functions of Sleep

Restoration theory —body wears out during

the day and sleep is necessary to put it back

in shape

Adaptive theory— sleep emerged in evolution

to preserve energy and protect during the

time of day when there is little value and

considerable danger

Sleep Deprivation

Effects of Sleep Loss

fatigue

impaired concentration

depressed immune system

greater vulnerability to accidents

Sleep Deprivation

Has little effect on

performance of tasks

requiring physical

skill or intellectual

judgment

Hurts performance on simple, boring tasks

more than challenging ones

Sleep Deprivation

2,400

2,700

2,600

2,500

2,800

Spring time change

(hour sleep loss)

3,600

4,200

4000

3,800

Fall time change

(hour sleep gained)

Less sleep,

more accidents

More sleep,

fewer accidents

Monday before time change Monday after time change

Accident

frequency

Individual Differences

in Sleep Drive

Some individuals need more and some

less than the typical 8 hours per night

Nonsomniacs—sleep far less than most,

but do not feel tired during the day

Insomniacs—has a normal desire for

sleep, but is unable to and feels tired

during the day

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia

persistent problems in falling or staying

asleep

Narcolepsy

uncontrollable sleep attacks

Sleep Apnea

temporary cessation of breathing

momentary reawakenings

Sleep Disorders

REM sleep disorder— sleeper acts out his or her

dreams

Night terrors— sudden arousal from sleep and

intense fear accompanied by physiological reactions

(e.g., rapid heart rate, perspiration) that occur

during slow-wave sleep

Nightmares– a vivid dream depicting frightening

disturbing, anxiety-provoking events.

Sleep Disorders Nightmares Night Terrors

1. Occurs during REM sleep,

usually during the second half of

the night.

1. Occurs during NREM sleep,

usually during the first hour of the

night.

2. Mild physiological changes 2. Drastic bodily changes:

breathing & heart rate rise

dramatically.

3. Associated with vivid images 3. Associated with panic

4. Most likely to occur during REM

rebound.

4. Most likely to occur in children

Practical Issues in Sleep

Many people walk and talk in

their sleep. It is normal. It is

not dangerous to awaken a

sleepwalker, as long as the

person feels safe and secure.

Walking and

Talking

Sleepwalking (somnambulism)

About 25% of all children have at least one episode of

sleepwalking. It typically occurs during the first three

hours of sleep.

The Psychology of Dreams

Usually dreams contain everyday occurrences

such as interactions with family, friends, school

teachers, and so on. They also contain ideas about

fears and inadequacies.

Everyone dreams...

Usually contain imagined conquests

Take place outdoors more than indoors

May be recurrent

Usually involve running or jumping

Usually involve strong emotions

Contain visual, auditory, and even taste sensations. (About

50% of our dreams are in color. No one knows why.)

Dream Content

Dreams: Freud

Sigmund Freud--The Interpretation of Dreams (1900)

wish fulfillment

discharge otherwise unacceptable feelings

Manifest Content

remembered story line

Latent Content

underlying meaning

Manifest Content

Monsters On Bikes

I have this recurring dream of being chased by a gang of monsters on bikes. I know the neighborhood that I am in because I used to live there. I am on foot trying to get away and hiding in places that I know are safe. But they keep finding me. I also know it is Halloween, because I am in costume and so is everyone else. I am screaming for help, but the people around me, and the people whose doorbells I am ringing keep telling me that there is no one after me. They ask me if I want some candy to calm myself down. Then they start taking guns and shooting at me, but they miss. Finally, I can't run anymore, and they catch up to me, and grab me by my nose when I wake up. Thank you! Jessica October 1, 2000

Latent Content

Hi Jessica, Chase dreams are quite common and often reflect a situation that you are afraid in confronting. Being chased by a gang of monsters sounds quite frightening. You indicated that in your dream it was Halloween. These monsters were probably really people dressed in their own mask and costumes. The scenario of your dream and being that it is Halloween, furthers my belief that you are truly afraid in directly confronting a particular situation. Disguises and costumes protect and shield your real self. Behind a mask, you adapt a new persona and and feel freer in releasing your inhibitions. The costume/mask provides some sort of barrier against your vulnerabilities. It protects you from being hurt. Another significant aspect of your dream is that the people you turn to for help turns against you. Does this parallel a situation in your waking life where you felt betrayed or that your trust was undermined? Next time you have another chase dream, turn around and confront the chasers. You may be surprised to find that what you are running from is not all that frightening. In doing so, you will even find that your recurring chase dreams will occur less often. Best Regards, Steve

Dreams

As Information Processing

helps facilitate memories

REM Rebound

REM sleep increases following REM

sleep deprivation

Sleep Across the

Lifespan

The Purpose of Dreaming

One hypothesis

about dreaming is

that it is a time for

the brain to

replenish chemicals

used up during the

day and to process

information.

A second hypothesis says that

dreams are used to work out

problems experienced throughout

the day.

A third hypothesis about dreaming

suggests that it gives the brain an

opportunity to sift through and

reorganize events

of the day. It creates a dream to

organize the events. We dream to

make sense of the random

situations.

E=MC2

No one can be hypnotized to do

something they wouldn’t do anyway.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a state of relaxation. Attention is

focused on certain objects, acts, or feelings.

Anton Mesmer believed power came from magnetism.

Hypnotic results really come from the power of

suggestion to focus or block.

Trances are periods of deep relaxation.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis

a social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur

Posthypnotic Amnesia

supposed inability to recall what one experienced during hypnosis

induced by the hypnotist’s suggestion

Hypnosis

Unhypnotized

persons can

also do this

Hypnosis

Orne & Evans (1965)

control group instructed to “pretend”

unhypnotized subjects performed the same acts

as the hypnotized ones

Posthypnotic Suggestion

suggestion to be carried out after the subject is

no longer hypnotized

used by some clinicians to control undesired

symptoms and behaviors

Hypnosis

Dissociation

a split in consciousness

allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur

simultaneously with others

Hidden Observer

Hilgard’s term describing a hypnotized

subject’s awareness of experiences, such as

pain, that go unreported during hypnosis

Facts and Falsehoods

1. Can hypnosis work for anyone?

2. Can hypnosis enhance recall of forgotten

events? Age regression – relive an earlier experience

3. Can hypnosis force people to act against

their will?

4. Can hypnosis be therapeutic?

5. Can hypnosis alleviate pain?

Explaining Hypnosis

Drugs and

Consciousness

Psychoactive Drug

a chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood

Physical Dependence

physiological need for a drug

marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms

Psychological Dependence

a psychological need to use a drug

for example, to relieve negative emotions

Dependence and

Addiction

Tolerance

diminishing effect with

regular use

Withdrawal

discomfort and

distress that follow

discontinued use

Small Large

Drug dose

Little

effect

Big

effect

Drug

effect

Response to

first exposure

After repeated

exposure, more

drug is needed

to produce

same effect

Psychoactive Drugs

Depressants

drugs that reduce neural activity

slow body functions

alcohol, barbiturates, opiates

Stimulants

drugs that excite neural activity

speed up body functions

caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, cocaine

Psychoactive Drugs

Hallucinogens

psychedelic (mind-manifesting)

drugs that distort perceptions and

evoke sensory images in the

absence of sensory input

LSD

Psychoactive Drugs

Alcohol– in large or small doses it is a

depressant. Small doses may indeed, enliven

a drinker, but they do so by slowing brain

activity that controls judgment and inhibitions.

It contributes to the greatest number of

deaths.

Psychoactive Drugs

Barbiturates

drugs that depress the activity of

the central nervous system,

reducing anxiety but impairing

memory and judgement

Psychoactive Drugs

Opiates opium and its derivatives

(morphine and heroin)

opiates depress neural activity,

temporarily lessening pain and

anxiety

Psychoactive Drugs

Amphetamines

drugs that stimulate neural

activity, causing speeded-up

body functions and associated

energy and mood changes

Cocaine Euphoria and

Crash

Psychoactive Drugs

Ecstasy (MDMA) synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen

both short-term and long-term health risks

LSD lysergic acid diethylamide

a powerful hallucinogenic drug

also known as acid

THC the major active ingredient in marijuana

triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations

Trends in Drug Use

1975 ‘77 ‘79 ‘81 ‘83 ‘85 ‘87 ‘89 ‘91 ‘93 ‘95 ‘97 ‘99

Year

80%

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

High school

seniors

reporting

drug use Alcohol

Marijuana/

hashish

Cocaine

Perceived Marijuana Risk

‘75 ‘77 ‘79 ‘81 ‘83 ‘85 ‘87 ‘89 ‘91 ‘93 ‘95 ‘97 ‘99

Year

100%

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Percent

of

twelfth

graders

Perceived “great risk of

harm” in marijuana use

Used marijuana

Psychoactive Drugs

Near-Death Experiences

Near-Death

Experience

an altered state of

consciousness reported

after a close brush with

death

often similar to drug-

induced hallucinations

Near-Death Experiences

Dualism

the presumption that mind and body are two distinct entities that interact

Monism

the presumption that mind and body are different aspects of the same thing