psych ch 5

Cards

consciousness: definition constantlhy moving stream of thoughts, feelings, emotions (william james); subjective awareness of internal and external stimuli
functions of consciousness monitoring mental events, control (allows us to formulate and reach goals), may have evolved to direct/control behavior in adaptive ways
4 components of consciousness-- awareness of external events, internal sensations or reactions, self as experiencing these events, thoughts about the experiences
consciousness personal awareness
controlled processes for activities that require almost undivided attention
automatic processes for activities that can be carried out at the same time as other activities
lowered awareness for activities with very low levels of awareness (like sleep or anesthetization)
attention process by which we focus our awareness; concept that we are only capable of focusing on a small amount of the stimuli around us at any one time
functions of attentional processes orienting function toward the environment, control of the content of consciousness (picking what we think about), maintaining alertness
day-dreams shifts of attention toward internal thoughts/imagined scenarios; college kids spend up to 0% of walk time in a daydream
Freud says that consciousness is formed of conscious, preconscious, and unconscious
conscious mental events that you're aware of
preconscious mental events that can be brought to awareness
unconscious mental events that are inaccessible to awareness; events are actively kept out of awareness
subliminal perception notion that brief exposure to sub-threshold stimuli c an influence awareness
circadian rhythms 24-hour biological cycles found in humans and other species; actually run 24.2 hours; controlled partially by light; suprachiasmatic nucleus in hypothalamus signals release of melatonin which also adjusts our clock
effects of circadian rhythms changes in blood pressure, urine production, hormonal secretions, alertness, STM, cognitive functioning, jet lag (easier to fly west than east)
brain structures that are the bases of sleep ascending reticular activating system; pons, medulla, thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system
neurotransmitters that are bases of sleep acetylcholine and serotonin; also norepinephrine, dopamine, and GABA
beta waves normal waking though,, alert problem solving
alpha waves deep relaxation, blank mind, meditation
theta waves light sleep
delta waves deep sleep
electroencephalograph brain electical activity
electromyography muscle activity
electrooculograph eye movements
behavioral characterstics of sleep minimal movement, sterotyped prone posture, require a high degree of stimulation to arouse organism
physiological characteristics of sleep brain wave activity (seen in EEG), paralysis of muscles (EMG), cardiovascular changes (alternating cycles of arousal)
sleep stage 1 brief, transitional (1-7 minutes)
sleep stage 2 sleep spindles; 10-25 minutes
sleep stages 3 & 4 slow-wave sleep (30 mins)
sleep stage 5 REM, EEG similar to awake, vivid dreaming; initally a few minutes, progressively longer as cycle through the stages
sleep deprivation alters immune function and can lead to early death; hallucinations and perceptual disorder; 3 to 4 days max
insomnia inability to achieve or maintain sleep; characterized by trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, persistent early morning awakening; 35% of adults report insomnia and 15% have it severe/frequent; causes are stress, depression, or sleeping pills
nightmares vivid fear-evoking dreams that occur during REM
night terrors episodess of intense panic that occur during delta (stage 4) sleep early in the night
sleep apnea awakening brought on by cessation of breathing during sleep
narcolepsy falling asleep durin the day
sleep walking somnambulism; first 2 hours of sleep while in sws. may last 15 seconds to 30 minutes
REM without atonia person doesn't become paralyzed during rem sleep and acts out their dreams
psychoanalytic view of dreaming dreams are a window into the unconscious and have hidden meaning
problem solving view of dreaming dreams are constructed from the daily issues of the dreamer
biological (activation synthesis) view of dreaming dreams are an attempt of the cortex to interpret random neural firing during sleep
meditation family of practices that train attention to heighten awareness and bring mental processes under greater voluntary control; marked by increase in alpha and theta waves but decrease in heart rate, skin conductance, respiration, and o2 use
hypnosis state of consciousness characterized by deep relaxation and suggestibility
narcotics (opiates) pain relieving
sedatives sleep inducing
stimulants increase CNS activity
hallucinogens distort sensory and perceptual experience
cannabis produce mild, relaxed euphoria
alcohol produces relaxed euphoria, decreases inhibitions
MDMA produces a warm, friendly euphoria
physical drug dependence when a person must continue to take a drug to avoid withdrawwal illness
psychological dependence when a person must continue to take a drug to satisfy intense mental and emotional cravings for the drug; more subtle side effects and possible with all recreational drugs
overdose CNS depressents like sedatives, narcotics, and alcohol carry greatest risk