PSYCHOLOGY Chapter 4 STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS Power Point

PSYCHOLOGY Chapter 4 STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS Power. Point Image Slideshow

WHAT IS CONSCIOUSNESS? Consciousness – awareness of internal and external stimuli such as feelings of hunger and pain or detection of light. Wakefulness – high levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior. States of consciousness: Daydreaming Intoxication Meditation Hypnosis Sleep is a state marked by relatively low levels of physical activity and reduced sensory awareness that is distinctly different from wakefulness or rest during wakefulness.

BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS A biological rhythm is an internal cycle of biological activity including: - Fluctuation of body temperature. - An individuals menstrual cycle. - Levels of alertness. Circadian rhythm – biological rhythm that occurs over approximately 24 hours. - The sleep-wake cycle, one of our main circadian rhythms is linked to our environments natural light-dark cycle. What controls our biological rhythms? The hypothalamus is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, the tendency to maintain a balance, or optimal level, within a biological system.

CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS Figure 4. 2 This chart illustrates the circadian change in body temperature over 28 hours in a group of eight young men. Body temperature rises throughout the waking day, peaking in the afternoon, and falls during sleep with the lowest point occurring during the very early morning hours.

MELATONIN AND SLEEP REGULATION Our sleep—wake cycle is also regulated by other factors such as the hormone melatonin. Melatonin release is stimulated by darkness, making us sleepy, and inhibited by daylight. Melatonin is released by the pineal gland. Sleep regulation – the brain’s control of switching between sleep and wakefulness as well as coordinating this cycle with the outside world. Some things that may mess up our circadian rhythms: Jet lag Insomnia Rotating shift work. (Credit: How sleep works - Luke Mastin)

DISRUPTIONS OF NORMAL SLEEP Certain circumstances can throw off our circadian rhythms. Jet lag – Symptoms resulting from the mismatch between our internal circadian cycles and our environment. - Fatigue, sluggishness, irritability and insomnia. Rotating shift work – A work schedule that changes from early to late on a daily/weekly basis. - Becomes difficult for a normal circadian rhythm to be maintained. - Can result in persistent feelings of exhaustion and agitation, sleeping problems and can lead to signs of depression and anxiety. Bright light can be used to realign our biological clocks with the external environment. Figure 4. 4 Devices like this are designed to provide exposure to bright light to help people maintain a regular circadian cycle. They can be helpful for people working night shifts or for people affected by seasonal variations in light.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION Sleep debt – result of insufficient sleep on a chronic basis. Sleep rebound – a sleep-deprived individual will tend to take a shorter time to fall asleep during subsequent opportunities for sleep. Symptoms of sleep deprivation: slurred speech, inability to name objects, trembling, inattention, irritability World Record: Randy Gardner, 264 hours without sleep (11 days) official record, recovered with 14 hours of sleep randy to tell the truth Microsleep video

SLEEP NEEDS AT DIFFERENT AGES

WHAT IS SLEEP? Sleep is a state marked by relatively low physical activity and a reduced sense of awareness. Sleep-wake cycles seem to be controlled by multiple brain areas including the thalamus and hypothalamus (slow-wave sleep) and the pons (REM sleep).

The average person needs about 7 -8 hours of sleep per night.

Two kinds of sleep: REM (rapid eye movement) where most dreaming takes place Non-REM ranges from lighter to deeper sleep in stages.

Hynagogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis may occur Sleep walking during this phase, night terrors

Rapid eye movement (REM): After deepest sleep, we shift into REM sleep in which eyes move rapidly under the eyelids and our EEG looks like we are more awake than asleep. During this time, 90% of people if awakened report that they are dreaming. Dreams during REM have a more “dreamlike” quality than those of NREM Imagery and emotion brain centers become more active than in NREM dreams. Sleep paralysis occurs when the body’s voluntary muscles are paralyzed during REM sleep so you cannot act out your dreams.

REM rebound is when sleep deprived people who do not spend enough time in REM sleep will dream much more the next night and spend more time in REM sleep in infancy differs from adult REM because babies spend nearly 50 percent of their sleep in REM and adults 20 percent. Babies also move around more than adults during REM. Much of the baby’s brain growth and development takes place during REM sleep. Video: baby in REM Dog in REM

Sigmund Freud believed dream analysis was a way to discover hidden desires and conflicts that people needed to confront to become happy and healthy individuals. Manifest-actual dream itself (surface content) Latent-true meaning hidden and expressed in symbols that Freud thought he could interpret

DREAMS Lucid dreams – certain aspects of wakefulness are maintained during a dreaming state. A person becomes aware that they are dreaming. May even be able to direct their own dreams. Video on lucid dreams

INSOMNIA Defined by difficulty falling or staying asleep - for at least 3 nights a week for at least one month’s time. The most common sleep disorder. Man be associated with symptoms of depression. Contributing factors include: - Age - Drug use - Exercise - Mental status - Bedtime routines Treatment: - Stress management techniques. - Changes in problematic behaviors that could contribute to insomnia. - Cognitive-behavioral therapy which focuses on cognitive processes and problem behaviors.

PARASOMNIA Parasomnias involve unwanted motor behavior/experiences throughout the sleep cycle. They include: Sleep walking: Usually occurs during slow-wave sleep. Like 3 rd and 4 th stage of deep sleep. REM sleep behavior disorder: - Occurs when the muscle paralysis associated with REM sleep does not occur. - Includes high levels of physical activity during REM sleep. .

More common in small children. Panic attack like state while sound asleep, occurs in deep stages of sleep. Usually non-REM sleep. Night terrors Occurs during REM stage of sleep. Nightmares

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) occurs when an infant stops breathing during sleep and dies. Most common in babies younger than 12 months and more boys than girls effected. Rules that improve odds: Put baby to sleep on back No soft items in cribs pillows No caps on head No smoking in home

Restless leg syndrome: uncomfortable sensations in the legs during periods of inactivity or when trying to fall asleep. Makes it difficult to fall or stay asleep. May be treated with drugs.

NARCOLEPSY Involves an irresistible urge to fall asleep during waking hours. Often triggered by states of heightened arousal or stress. Persons goes straight to REM sleep and experiences: Cataplexy – loss of muscle tone while awake or in some cases complete paralysis of the voluntary muscles. (Credit: Valley Sleep Center)

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS Substance use disorder is a compulsive pattern of drug use despite negative consequences (DSM-5 definition). - Involves physical and psychological dependence. Physiological dependence - involves changes in normal bodily functions and withdrawal upon cessation of use. Psychological dependence – emotional need for the drug. Tolerance – occurs when a person requires more and more of a drug to achieve effects previously experienced at lower doses; linked to physiological dependence. Withdrawal – negative symptoms experienced when drug use is discontinued. (Credit: DSM 5)

Three categories of psychoactive drugs Stimulants (uppers) Depressants (downers) Hallucinogens (alter sensory perceptions)

Major tranquilizers like Barbiturates or sleeping pills Minor tranquilizers are benzodiazapines like Xanax, Valium Alcohol Narcotics (pain pills) like morphine, heroin, opium

Major and minor tranquilizers Major tranquilizers are barbiturates or sleeping pills. They produce sleepiness, breathing and heart can stop with overdoses, very addictive Minor tranquilizers like Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and other benzodiazepines used to lower anxiety and reduce stress. Very addictive and takers develop tolerance. Rohypnol is a benzodiazepine that has been called the “date rape” drug because people are unaware of their actions, produces memory loss. Depressants

Alcohol Most commonly used and abused depressant. Binge drinking—drinking four or five drinks within a limited amount of time (sign of alcohol problem) Signs of alcohol abuse: binge drinking Frequent drunkenness Drinking in morning Drinking alone Drinking to recover from drinking Being sensitive about how much you drink Blackouts or memory loss while drinking Passing out from drinking Liver disease from drinking causes thousands of death a year Alcohol reduces inhibitions Alcohol related to depression and anxiety disorders Involved in about one fourth of fatal traffic crashes Fetal alcohol syndrome in babies born to mothers who drink during pregnancy Heart disease Huge percent of suicides and homicides involve alcohol use

Narcotics or Opiods— originally derived from opium poppy plant Type of depressant that suppress the sensation of pain Slows down action of nervous system Opium—highly addictive, natural pain killer from which we got morphine. Morphine-opium based drug which is very addictive, used to control severe pain, but carefully controlled and used for short times Heroin—very addictive, horrible withdrawal symptoms, no longer used legally Depressants

STIMULANTS Stimulants – Increase overall levels of neural activity. Associated with reward and craving, therefore these drugs can be highly addictive. Include: - Cocaine - Amphetamine - Cathinones (i. e. , bath salts) - MDMA Side effects can include nausea, elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, feelings of anxiety, hallucinations and paranoia. Crack rocks like these are smoked to achieve a high. Smoking a drug allows it to enter the brain more rapidly, which can often enhance the user’s experience. Figure 4. 18 (credit: modification of work by U. S. Department of Justice)

Amphetamines Stimulants made in laboratories rather than found in nature. Methamphetamine (crystal meth” is an example. Sympathetic nervous system is activated and people have energy, stay awake, appetite is depressed. Used as “diet pill” and “no doze”. People need more and more to get this effect over time. Can lead to delusions or psychosis, high blood pressure, heart problems. Stimulants

Cocaine: It is a natural drug found in coca plant leaves. Produces euphoria (well-being, happiness), energy, pleasure, deadens pain and suppresses appetite. Found in original formula of Coca-Cola and replaced by caffeine (small dose of cocaine in a coke). Very addictive, may cause convulsions, heart attack, and death. Used during pregnancy causes babies to be delayed, lower intelligence. Withdrawal includes depression, mood swings, paranoia. Stimulants

NICOTINE AND CAFFEINE Caffeine and nicotine are also stimulants. Caffeine: - Increases levels of alertness and arousal. Nicotine: - Highly addictive. - Plays a role in arousal and reward mechanisms. (Credit: Wikipedia)

For example, colors might have sounds, look different, food taste different, time passes differently under their effects Two types of hallucinogens: Those made in laboratories and those from natural sources

Manufactured hallucinogens: LSD –Comes from a fungus that grows on a rye grain. One of the most potent of all hallucinogens and it only takes a small drop to achieve a high. People feel like their consciousness is expanded, colors seem more intense, sounds more beautiful, and so on. May make poor decisions and changes their ability to perceive reality. PCP—veterinary tranquilizer acts as hallucinogen, painkiller, distorts sensations, unpleasant effects like suicide or violent behavior, injuring self because they feel no pain MDMA (Ecstasy)—variation of an amphetamine that causes hallucinations as well. Designer drug sold legally for many years. Euphoria, energy, emotional, dehydration and raised body temperature.

Nonmanufactured (natural) hallucinogens: Marijuana: comes from leaves and flowers of the hemp plant called Cannabis sativa. The active ingredient is THC, produces feelings of well-being, mild intoxication, and mild sensory distortions or hallucinations. Hallucinations are generally mild. At higher doses may lead to paranoia. It is not physically addictive but can foster psychological dependence. Cannot really overdose. Driving or operating dangerous equipment while smoking is a danger, increased risk for psychological disorders later in life in adolescents who are regular and heavy users. Has some medicinal uses.

OTHER STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS: HYPNOSIS Hypnosis is an extreme focus on the self that involves suggested changes of behavior and experience. Must be very relaxed and open to suggestion. - Clinicians may use relaxation and suggestion in an attempt to alter the thoughts and perceptions of a patient. - Has been used to draw out information believed to be buried in someone’s memory. - Unlike portrayals in the media, individuals undergoing hypnosis are in control of their own behaviors. - People vary in their ability to be hypnotized. - Uses include pain management, treatment of depression and anxiety, quitting smoking and weight loss. Figure 4. 23 Popular portrayals of hypnosis have led to some widelyheld misconceptions.

Anton Mesmer was a physician who practiced in Austria and France in the late 1700’s. He would use “magnetic séances. ” He believed he could put magnetic forces back in balance in sick patients. When looked at closely, he seemed to be what we would call today ‘hypnotizing’ them, but it was called Mesmerism back in his day.

OTHER STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS: MEDITATION Meditation is the act of focusing on a single target such as breath or a repeated sound to increase awareness of the moment. Meditation involves relaxed, yet focused, awareness. Shows promise in stress management, sleep quality, pain management and treatment of mood anxiety disorder.