Consciousness

Chapter 5

States of Mind

Conscious – Brain process of which we are aware

Nonconscious – Brain process that does not involve conscious processing (e.g. heart rate, breathing, control of internal organs)

Preconscious – Information that is not currently in consciousness, but can be brought into consciousness if attention is called to it

Unconscious – Many levels of processing that occur without awareness

Daydreaming – Mild form of consciousness alteration in which attention shifts to memories, expectations, desires, or fantasies, and away from the immediate situation

Sleep and Dreaming



Circadian rhythms

Jet lag

Rapid eye movements (REM)

Sleep paralysis




Non-REM (NREM) sleep

REM rebound

The Function of Sleep

• To conserve energy
• To restore body (neurotransmitters, neuron sensitivity)
• To flush out useless information from the brain

Sleep debt –Deficiency caused by not getting the amount of sleep that one requires for optimal functioning

Why We Dream

Freud believed dreams served the following two functions:

• To guard sleep
• To serve as sources of wish fulfillment
• Manifest and latent content

Dream content

• Varies by culture, gender, and age
• Frequently connects with recent experience
• May help us form memories
  

Activation-synthesis theory – Theory that dreams begin with random electrical activation coming from brain stem; dreams are brain’s attempt to make sense of this random activity

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia – Involves insufficient sleep, the inability to fall asleep quickly, frequent arousals, or early awakenings

Sleep apnea – Respiratory disorder in which person intermittently stops breathing while asleep

Narcolepsy – Involves sudden REM sleep attacks accompanied by cataplexy

Cataplexy – Sudden loss of muscle control that occurs before narcoleptic sleep attack; waking form of sleep paralysis

Night terrors – The screaming of a child in deep sleep, who, once awakened, has no memory of what mental events might have caused the fear

An altered state of consciousness occurs when some aspect of normal consciousness is modified by mental, behavioral, or chemical means.

• Hypnosis
• Meditation
• Psychoactive drug states

Hypnosis – Induced state of altered awareness, characterized by heightened suggestibility and deep relaxation

Hypnotic analgesia – Diminished sensitivity to pain while under hypnosis

Meditation – Form of consciousness change induced by focusing on a repetitive behavior, assuming certain body positions and minimizing external stimulation