Defining consciousness Two notions of consciousness n n

Defining consciousness: Two notions of consciousness n n 1. General state of arousal (sleep vs. wakefulness) 2. Attentional focus or current awareness (watching football game or listening to wife) ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Defining consciousness: Levels of Awareness Higher-Level Consciousness q controlled processing q actively focus efforts toward a goal q requires attention

Defining consciousness: Levels of Awareness Lower-Level Consciousness Automatic processes n require little attention/conscious effort n do not interfere with other ongoing activities Daydreaming n n n wandering thoughts fantasy, imagination, rumination potentially useful (reminding, solving)

Defining consciousness: Altered states Altered States of Consciousness drug states q fatigue, illness, trauma, deprivation q meditation, hypnosis q mental disorders q

Cognitive Studies of Consciousness: Generally deal with 2 nd notion n 1. Consciousness as attentional focus: Cocktail party effect (selective attention) 2. Automatic vs. Controlled processing (effects of practice on conscious awareness) 3. Implicit vs. Explicit memory q q Recall test vs. Perceptual Identification test Effects of priming ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Cognitive Studies of consciousness: Priming test n n n Word or non-word RT measure FORK = word; DXMZ = non-word SIGN – FORK DXMZ – FORK SPOON – FORK (sig reduction in rt) Unconscious priming? -- yes ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Cognitive studies of consciousness: Exclusion task in priming n n n Coconut…palm (tree or wrist? ) cons: only tree/uncon: either Hand…palm (tree or wrist? ) cons: only wrist/uncon: either Stem completion task: complete BUT_ _ _ (could be butter or butler). What happens when one is presented earlier either consciously or unconsciously? ) But can only be excluded consciously ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Cognitive studies of consciousness: Brain Damaged Subjects n n 1. Blindsight: loss of visual consciousness due to damage to primary visual cortex 2. Prosopagnosia: loss of face recognition due to damage to temporal lobe visual pathway. ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Sleep and Dreams: Stages of Sleep n NREM (Non-Rapid-Eye-Movement) Sleep: n Stage 1 (lightest sleep) n Stage 2 (deeper sleep) n Stages 3 and 4 (deepest sleep) n REM (Rapid-Eye-Movement) Sleep: n Light sleep (also called paradoxical sleep) ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Sleep and Dreams: Stages of Sleep (Continued) n NREM (non-REM) sleep: q includes Stages 1 through 4 q involves lower-frequency brain waves, decreased pulse and breathing, and occasional, simple dreams q serves a biological need (NREM needs met before REM needs) ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Sleep and Dreams: Stages of Sleep (Continued) n REM (Rapid-Eye-Movement) sleep: q also known as paradoxical sleep. q involves high-frequency brain waves, increased pulse and breathing, large muscle. q serves a biological need. q may play a role in learning and consolidating new memories. ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Sleep and Dreams: Stages of Sleep in a Typical Night ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Sleep and Dreams: Research n ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e) The EEG, EOG, and EMG are common tools for sleep research. What Happens When We Sleep

Sleep and Dreams: Stages of Sleep & Brain Waves ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Sleep and Dreams: Over the Life Span ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Sleep and Dreams: Average Daily Hours of Sleep for Different Mammals ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Why Do We Need Sleep? Adaptive Evolutionary Function q q safety energy conservation/ efficiency Restorative Function q body rejuvenation & growth Brain Plasticity q q enhances synaptic connections memory consolidation

Theories of Dreaming Historical and Religious Significance Freud’s Psychodynamic Approach n manifest and latent content Cognitive Theory n information processing and memory Activation-Synthesis Theory n brain makes “sense” out of random brain activity

Sleep Disorders n n n insomnia sleep walking, talking, and eating nightmares and night terrors narcolepsy sleep apnea

Sleep Disorders n n n Insomnia: persistent problems in falling asleep, staying asleep, or awakening too early Sleep Apnea: repeated interruption of breathing during sleep Narcolepsy: sudden and irresistible onsets of sleep during normal waking hours ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Sleep disorders n Nightmares: anxiety-arousing dreams occurring near the end of sleep, during REM sleep n Night Terrors: abrupt awakenings from NREM sleep accompanied by intense physiological arousal and feelings of panic ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Psychoactive Drugs n Psychoactive Drugs: chemicals that change conscious awareness, mood, or perception ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Psychoactive Drugs: Important Terms n Drug Abuse: drug taking that causes emotional or physical harm to the individual or others n Addiction: compulsion to use a specific drug or to engage in a certain activity ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Psychoactive Drugs: Important Terms n Psychological Dependence: desire or craving to achieve effects produced by drug n Physical Dependence: bodily processes have been so modified by repeated drug use that continued use is required to prevent withdrawal symptoms ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Psychoactive Drugs: Important Terms (Continued) n n Withdrawal: discomfort and distress experienced after stopping the use of addictive drugs Tolerance: decreased sensitivity to a drug brought about by its continuous use ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Reward Pathway for Psychoactive Drugs

Psychoactive Drugs: Four Categories 1. Depressants: act on the CNS to suppress bodily processes (e. g. , alcohol, valium) ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e) Alcohol & Neurotransmitters

Psychoactive Drugs: Depressants (Continued) ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Psychoactive Drugs: Stimulants 2. Stimulants: act on the CNS to increase bodily processes (e. g. , caffeine, nicotine, cocaine) ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Psychoactive Drugs: Opiates 3. Opiates: act as an analgesic or pain reliever (e. g. , morphine, heroin) ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Psychoactive Drugs: Hallucinogens 4. Hallucinogens: produce sensory or perceptual distortions called hallucinations (e. g. , LSD, marijuana) ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Applying Psychology to Everyday Life: Club Drug Alert! n Popular “Club Drugs”: q Date Rape Drug (Rohypnol) q MDMA (Ecstasy) q GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate) q Special K (Ketamine) q Crystal Meth (Methamphetamine) q LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Psychoactive Drugs: How They n. Work Step 1). Alter the production or synthesis of neurotransmitters. n Step 2). Change the storage or release of neurotransmitters. n Step 3). Alter the reception of neurotransmitters. n Step 4). Change the deactivation (block the reuptake or break-down) of excess neurotransmitters. ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

How Psychoactive Drugs Work (Step 3: Agonists vs. Antagonists) ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Healthier Ways to Alter Consciousness n Meditation: group of techniques designed to refocus attention, block out all distractions, and produce an ASC ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Healthier Ways to Alter Consciousness n Hypnosis: trancelike state of heightened suggestibility, deep relaxation, and intense focus ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Healthier Ways to Alter Consciousness n Hypnosis is used to treat chronic pain, severe burns, dentistry, childbirth, psychotherapy. ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Upper Paleolithic Cave Art: Indications of rituals to achieve ASC? ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Traditional ceremonies n Mandan Indiana sun-dance: altered state as pain endurance ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)

Ritual Use of Altered State Intoxicants n As far back as we can trace, humans have used consciousness altering rituals and intoxicants, but always together and always under supervision or regulation. The ritual regulated the drug use. ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007 Huffman: Psychology in Action (8 e)