Unit 4 | States of Consciousness

• William James


  • American philosopher and psychologist
  • Laid groundwork for modern theories on consciousness, perception, memory, and emotion.
• Ernest Hilgard


  • American psychologist
  • Explained hypnosis results in dissociation of conscious awareness
  • Hypnosis research involving pain control
• Circadian Rhythm


  The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms, that occur on a 24 hour cycle.

  EX: Temperature + Wakefulness
• REM Sleep


  Rapid Eye Movement Sleep

  • A recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur
  • Also called paradoxical sleep; muscles are relaxed, other body systems are active.
• Insomnia


  Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.
• Narcolepsy


  A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks.

  • The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, even at inopportune times.
• Sleep Apnea


  A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep, and repeated momentary awakenings.
• Night Terrors


  A sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified.

  • Not nightmares, Night Terrors occur during NREM-3 Sleep
  • Occurs within 2 or 3 hours of falling asleep
  • Seldom Remembered.
• Dream


  A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind.
• Manifest Content


  According to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream (as distinct from its latent, or hidden, content.)
• Latent Content


  According to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream (as distinct from its manifest content)
• REM Rebound


  The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation

  • Created by repeated awakening during REM sleep
• Depressants


  Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

  EX: Alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates.
• Alcohol


  A psychoactive substance that can impair function, leading to changes in behavior and cognitive abilities.

  • Depressant
  • Affects CNS
• Tolerance


  A diminished response to drugs.

  • Less of an effect
  • Needing more to get an effect
• Addiction


  Compulsive craving of drugs or certain behaviors, despite known adverse consequences.

  EX: Gambling
• Withdrawal


  The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior.
• Hallucinogens


  Psychedelic ("mind-manifesting") drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

  EX: LSD
• Stimulants


  Drugs that excite neural activity, and speed up body functions.

  EX: Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, ecstasy
• Psychoactive Drugs


  A chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods.
• Melatonin


  A hormone known to regulate sleep and wake cycles.

  • Released by the pineal gland
• Electroencephalograph (EEG)


  An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface.

  • Waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
• Ultradian Rhythm


  Recurrent periods or cycles repeated throughout a 24-hour circadian rhythm

  • More than once a day
• What stage of sleep is most commonly associated with dreaming?

  REM sleep
• What occurs at the end of each sleep cycle?

  REM sleep