Chapter Four

Module 4.1

States of Consciousness

• Consciousness: a stream of thoughts; our awareness of ourselves and our environments

• Focused awareness

• Drifting consciousness

– Daydreaming

• Divided consciousness

– Automatic pilot

States of Unconsciousness

• States in which we are relatively unaware of our external surroundings

• Examples

– Head trauma

– General anesthesia

– Coma

• Altered states of consciousness

– Daydreaming, meditation, hypnosis, drugs

Module 4.2

Sleeping and Dreaming

Circadian Rhythms and Sleep

• Difficulties with circadian rhythm

– Jet lag

– Shift work

SLEEP: Why do we sleep?

SLEEP:

– periodic, natural, reversible loss of consciousness

• Repair and restoration theory

• Evolutionary Theory
a) Energy conservation version
b) Predatory avoidance version

MEASURING SLEEP

Brain Wave Patterns (Figure 4.1)

Stages of Sleep

• Stages 1 to 4

– Stage 1: small irregular brain waves, light sleep

– Stage 2: sleep spindles

– Stages 3 & 4: delta or slow-wave sleep, deep sleep

• REM sleep

– Rapid eye movements occur

– Full dreams occur

– Paradoxical sleep

Sleep time for humans as a function of age

Dreams and Dreaming

• Why do we dream?

– Consolidate memories and learning

– Problem solving

– Activation-synthesis hypothesis

– Wish fulfillment (Sigmund Freud)

• Manifest and latent content

• Symbolic nature of dreams

Sleep Deprivation

• Impact of sleep deprivation

– Slowed reaction times

– Impaired concentration, memory, problem solving

– Difficulty learning new information

– Impaired academic performance

– Accidents

– Weakened immune system

Sleep Disorders

• Insomnia

• Hypersomnia

• Narcolepsy: “sleep attacks”

• Sleep apnea

• Nightmare disorder

• Sleep terror disorder

• Sleepwalking disorder

• Sleep talking

• Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (Myoclonic Jerks)

Module 4.3

Altering Consciousness Through Meditation and Hypnosis

Meditation

• Focused attention inducing a relaxed, contemplative state

– May focus on single object or idea

– Mantra: repeating phrase or sound

– Practice varies between cultures

• Varied goals

– Relax body and mind

– Expand consciousness, awareness, peacefulness

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.

• Altered state of consciousness with:

– Focused attention

– Deep relaxation

– Suggestibility

• Varied techniques, such as:

– Focus on hypnotist’s voice

– Focus on object

– Suggestions

Hypnosis

• Hypnotic suggestion

– Age regression

– Analgesia

– Distortions of reality (positive and negative hallucinations)

– Posthypnotic amnesia

– Posthypnotic suggestion

Theories of Hypnosis

• Trance state characterized by suggestibility

• Role-playing model

• Neodissociation theory (Hilgard)

– Dissociated consciousness:

• 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.

• Cold pressor test.

Competing views of hypnosis

Hypnosis and Personality

• Characteristics of highly hypnotizable people

– Well-developed fantasy life

– Vivid sense of imagination

– Forgetfulness

– Positive attitude toward hypnosis

Module 4.4

Altering Consciousness Through Drugs

Psychoactive Drugs

• Act on brain to affect emotional or mental states

• Examples

– Heroin, cocaine, marijuana

– Alcohol, nicotine, caffeine

Concepts of Drug Use

• Psychoactive Drug

– a chemical substance that alters perceptions and alters 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

Classes of Psychoactive Drugs

• Depressants

– drugs that reduce neural activity

– slow body function

• alcohol, barbiturates, opiates

• Stimulants

– drugs that excite neural activity

– speed up body function

• caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines

• Hallucinogens

– psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

• LSD

Depressants

• Alcohol: disinhibiting intoxicant

– Most widely used and abused depressant

– Disturbs balance and motor skills, slurred speech, impairs judgment, concentration, and attention

– Accounts for 100,000 deaths per year in US

– Alcoholism

– Binge drinking

Depressants

• Barbiturates

– Calming or sedating effects

– Drowsiness, slurred speech, impairment

– Examples: Amobarbital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital

• Tranquilizers

– Treat anxiety, insomnia

– Reduce arousal, induce calm feelings

– Examples: Valium, Xanax, Halcion

Depressants

• Opioids

– Narcotics: addictive, pain-relieving, sleep-inducing

– Produce euphoric “rush,” dampen awareness

– Examples

• Derivatives of poppy: morphine, heroin, codeine

• Synthetics: Demerol, Percodan, Darvon

– Legitimate medical uses

– Popular illicit street drugs

Stimulants

• Heighten activity of CNS

• Types

– Amphetamines

– Cocaine

– MDMA (Ecstasy)

– Nicotine

– Caffeine

Hallucinogens

• Alter perceptions, distortions, hallucinations

• Types

– LSD

– Mescaline, psilocybin, and PCP

– Marijuana

Drug Abuse

• Social and cultural factors

• Genetic factors

• Neurotransmitters, biochemistry, endorphins

• Psychological factors

• Cognitive factors

Drug abuse across cultures

Drug Treatment

• Most effective treatment: use a wide variety of approaches

– Detoxification

– Follow-up services, counseling

– Therapeutic drugs

– Self-help programs

Module 4.5

Application: Getting Your Z’s

Insomnia

• Common sleep problem

• Difficulty getting enough sleep

• May reflect underlying psychological or physiological disorder

• Often reflects unhealthy sleep habits

Healthy Sleep Habits

• Regular sleep schedule

• Don’t try to force sleep

• Regular bedtime routine

• Proper cues for sleeping

• Avoid tossing and turning

• Avoid daytime naps

• Don’t take problems to bed

• Use mental imagery

• Regular exercise

• Limit caffeine

• Rational “self-talk”