PSYCHOLOGY SLEEP Altered States of Consciousness Consciousness Information

PSYCHOLOGY SLEEP Altered States of Consciousness

Consciousness & Information Processing The unconscious mind processes information simultaneously on multiple tracks, while the conscious mind processes information sequentially. Conscious mind Unconscious mind 2

Sleep & Dreams Sleep – the irresistible tempter to whom we inevitably succumb. Mysteries about sleep and dreams have just started unraveling in sleep laboratories around the world. 3

Sleep & Dreams l l l Disc Jockey – Peter Tripp Sleep is a state of altered consciousness Consciousness – a state of awareness, including a person’s feelings, sensations, ideas and perceptions Consciousness ranges from alertness to nonalertness Sleep has been difficult to study until recently EEG – electroencephalograph – records electrical activity in the brain

Why do we sleep? l l l Sleep is characterized by unresponsiveness to the environment and usually limited physical mobility. Some people believe sleep is used to “recharge their batteries. ” Others believe sleep is a primitive hibernation to conserve energy. Some believe we slept at night to stay out of harm’s way. Some researchers believe we sleep to clear our minds and dream.

Sleep Theories 1. Sleep Protects: Sleeping in the darkness when predators loomed about kept our ancestors out of harm’s way. 2. Sleep Recuperates: Sleep helps restore and repair brain tissue. 3. Sleep Helps Remembering: Sleep restores and rebuilds our fading memories. 4. Sleep and Growth: During sleep, the pituitary gland releases growth hormone. Older people release less of this hormone and sleep less. 7

Sleep Stages Measuring sleep: About every 90 minutes, we pass through a cycle of five distinct sleep stages. 8 Hank Morgan/ Rainbow

Stages of Sleep l As you sleep several things happen: l Body temperature decreases l Pulse rate drops l Eyes close l Body may twitch and eyes may roll l Brief visual images flash across your mind l EEG shows alpha waves which are associated with absence of concentrated thought & relaxation.

Sleep Stages 1 -2 During early, light sleep (stages 1 -2) the brain enters a high-amplitude, slow, regular wave form called theta waves (5 -8 cps). A person who is daydreaming shows theta activity. 10 Theta Waves

Early Stages of Sleep l Stage 1 l Pulse slows more and muscles relax l Breathing becomes uneven and brain waves grow irregular. l Lasts up to 10 minutes l If awakened you would report that you were just drifting

Early Stages of Sleep l Stage II l Eyes roll slowly from side to side l Lasts about 30 minutes l Stage III l Large amplitude delta waves begin to sweep your brain every second.

Sleep Stages 3 -4 During deepest sleep (stages 3 -4), brain activity slows down. There are large-amplitude, slow delta waves (1. 5 -4 cps). 13

Later Stages of Sleep l Stage IV is the deepest stage of all. l Hard to wake and will be disoriented if awakened l Talking, sleepwalking & bedwetting occur during this stage with no memory

REM Sleep l Rapid Eye Movement (REM)- active sleep Pulse & breathing become irregular l Adrenal & sexual hormone levels rise l Face & fingers twitch while large muscles are paralyzed l Brain waves similar to that of an awake person l Lasts 15 -45 minutes l Entire sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes l Stage IV sleep decreases with each cycle while REM sleep increases until you wake up l

Stage 5: REM Sleep After reaching the deepest sleep stage (4), the sleep cycle starts moving backward towards stage 1. Although still asleep, the brain engages in lowamplitude, fast and regular beta waves (15 -40 cps) much like awake-aroused state. 16 A person during this sleep exhibits Rapid Eye Movements (REM) and reports vivid dreams.

Brain Waves During Sleep

Frequency of Sleep Stages

90 -Minute Cycles During Sleep With each 90 -minute cycle, stage 4 sleep decreases and the duration of REM sleep increases. 19

How Much Sleep? l Amount needed varies considerably l Newborns sleep up to 16 hours while 70 years and older may sleep only 5 hours l Circadian rhythm – biological clock that is genetically programmed to regulate physiological responses during the day l Missing sleep disrupts this rhythm (jet lag)

Sleep Disorders l Insomnia l Sleep Apnea l Narcolepsy l Nightmares & Night Terrors l Sleepwalking & Sleep Talking

Why do we sleep? We spend one-third of our lives sleeping. 23 Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc. / Corbis If an individual remains awake for several days, they deteriorate in terms of immune function, concentration, and accidents.

Sleep Deprivation 1. Fatigue and subsequent death. 2. Impaired concentration. 3. Emotional irritability. 4. Depressed immune system. 5. Greater vulnerability. 24

Insomnia l Insomnia – a prolonged and usually abnormal inability to obtain adequate sleep l Do not feel rested the next day l Insomnia has many causes including anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug use

Accidents Frequency of accidents increase with loss of sleep 26

Sleep Apnea l l l Sleep Apnea – a sleep disorder in which a person has trouble breathing while sleeping Identified by snoring that lasts 10 -15 seconds then ends suddenly with a movement of the body During this time the person is actually choking which triggers breathing reflexes Affects 1% of population, especially older and obese persons http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=6 Qcm. K 24 ZNy. Q

Sleep Labs

Narcolepsy – a condition characterized by suddenly falling asleep or feeling very sleepy during the day l Feel like you are having dreamlike hallucinations and/or temporary paralysis l Sleep attacks occur accompanied by brief periods of REM sleep. l Victims have trouble with work, relationships, leisure and are prone to accidents. l l http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=w. N 1_y. S 6_5 T 4

Nightmares & Night Terrors l l l Nightmares occur during the dream phase of REM sleep Person usually wakes with a vivid movie-like memory of the dream. Night terrors occur during Stage IV sleep and can last 5 -20 minutes. May involve sweating, screaming, confusion and a rapid heart rate. May wake suddenly and usually have no memory of night terrors

Sleepwalking l Sleepwalking – walking or carrying out behaviors while sleeping. l Usually occurs among children who outgrow it. l Typically have no memory of event. l Has been associated with stress, fatigue and the use of sedatives l Usually harmless unless a fall occurs l It is not dangerous to wake sleepwalkers

Sleep Talking l Common sleep disruption l Most people talk in their sleep and do not remember doing so l Can occur during various stages and can be one word or several words. l Can possibly engage them in conversation

Dreams l l l Dreams – mental activity that takes place during sleep Many dreams are not remembered. Sleep researchers wake people during the night to record their dreams. Early dreams are brief and vague while later dreams are more vivid and dramatic. The last dream is usually the longest and the one people remember. People deprived of REM sleep will increase their amount of time in REM sleep making it appear that dreaming is necessary.

Dreams l 600 hours of dreams per year l 1500 dreams per year l 100, 000 dreams in your lifetime l 8 -10 dreams are negative l 1 -10 male dreams are sexual in nature l 1 -30 female dreams are sexual in nature l 65% of male dreams contain men l 50% of female dreams contain men

Content of Dreams l Most dreams collected by researchers are common and dull. l Most dreams incorporate everyday activities. l Dreams usually have a large % of negative or unpleasant emotions. l Dreams correspond to a realistic time scale and do not occur in a split second.

What do we Dream? 1. 2. 3. 4. Negative Emotional Content: 8 out of 10 dreams have negative emotional content. Failure Dreams: People commonly dream about failure, being attacked, pursued, rejected, or struck with misfortune. Sexual Dreams: Contrary to our thinking, sexual dreams are sparse. Sexual dreams in men are 1 in 10; and in women 1 in 30. Dreams of Gender: Women dream of men and women equally; men dream more about men than women. 36

Why do we dream? 1. 2. 37 Wish Fulfillment: Sigmund Freud suggested that dreams provide a psychic safety valve to discharge unacceptable feelings. The dream’s manifest (apparent) content may also have symbolic meanings (latent content) that signify our unacceptable feelings. Information Processing: Dreams may help sift, sort, and fix a day’s experiences in our memories.

Why do we dream? 3. 38 Physiological Function: Dreams provide the sleeping brain with periodic stimulation to develop and preserve neural pathways. Neural networks of newborns are quickly developing; therefore, they need more sleep.

Why do we dream? 4. 5. Activation-Synthesis Theory: Suggests that the brain engages in a lot of random neural activity. Dreams make sense of this activity. Cognitive Development: Some researchers argue that we dream as a part of brain maturation and cognitive development. All dream researchers believe we need REM sleep. When deprived of REM sleep and then allowed to sleep, we show increased REM sleep called REM Rebound. 39

Dream Interpretation l Many believe dreams contain hidden meanings including Freud. l Some scientists feel dreaming is just brain activity with little meaning. l Others believe dreams are meeting with spirits, a way of address problems, or removing unpleasant thoughts.

Dream Theory

Daydreaming l l l Involves low level of awareness and involves fantasizing but directed thinking while we are awake. Daydream when we are bored or in situations that require little attention. Reminds us of or prepares us for future events. Improve creativity and generates thought process. Some psychologists believe daydreaming helps us control our emotions.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis 44 http: //iddiokrysto. blog. excite. it A social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur. Hypnos: Greek god of sleep

Hypnosis l Victor Rausch l Hypnosis – a state of consciousness resulting from a narrowed focus of attention and characterized by heightened suggestibility l May recall forgotten incidents l Hypnosis does not put a person to sleep. l People become highly receptive and responsive to internal and external stimuli.

Hypnosis l Helps to relax and focus on one tiny aspect of reality while ignoring others. l Can be convinced to do things that one would not normally do l Psychologists try to solve problems or learn more about how the mind works. l Mutual trust is important for hypnosis to be successful.

Hypnosis l l l Barber feels that if people try hard they can do what they would if hypnotized. Hypnotism reveals that people often have potential abilities they do not use. Used by athletes Posthypnotic suggestion – a suggestion made during hypnosis that influences the participant’s behavior afterward. Used to reduce pain, quit smoking & lose weight.

Aspects of Hypnosis 1. Posthypnotic Suggestion: Suggestion carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized. 2. Posthypnotic Amnesia: Supposed inability to recall what one experienced during hypnosis. 48

Hypnotic Feats Strength, stamina, and perceptual and memory abilities similarly affect those who are hypnotized and those who are not hypnotized. 49

Facts and Falsehood Those who practice hypnosis agree that its power resides in the subject’s openness to suggestion. Can anyone experience hypnosis? Yes, to some extent. Can hypnosis enhance recall of forgotten events? No. 50

Facts and Falsehood Can hypnosis force people to act against their will? No. Can hypnosis be therapeutic? Yes. Self-suggestion can heal too. Can hypnosis alleviate pain? Yes. Lamaze can do that too. 51

Meditation l Meditation – the focusing of attention to clear one’s mind and produce relaxation l Various types of meditation have been used for thousands of years. l Researchers generally agree that meditation provides benefits through relaxation.

Interesting Sleep Notes l 1989 Michael Doucette – safest teen driver l Sleep 25 years of your life l Who gets more sleep? Men or Women l 20% of U. S. auto accidents related to sleep l Yawning – increases alertness

Interesting Sleep Notes l Can you learn during sleep? l Up to 25 years old men spend ½ their time sleeping in an aroused state l 1942 – 7. 6 hours of sleep l 2001 – 6. 7 hours of sleep l Invention of light

Interesting Sleep Notes l Bilingual people will dream in which language? l If you fall in your dream will you die? l Forget what happens about 5 minutes before you fall to sleep.