Unit Consciousness Unit Introduction General intro to consciousness

Unit: Consciousness

Unit Introduction General intro to consciousness l Sleep disorders l Dreams l Freud l Dream analysis l Hypnosis l Drugs & alcohol l

Consciousness l Questions to get us thinking: l What does it mean to be a conscious human being? l In what ways do we, as humans, alter our consciousness?

Sleep l Insomnia l l The Machinist Relaxation

Dreams l What is a dream? l What do we dream? l Why?

Dream Analysis l On one side of an index card, write out one of your dreams l include details like colour, location, what you felt/saw/smelled etc. l Do not put your name on it l Put it in the dream basket at the front of the class

Dream Analysis Pick one card out of the basket (if it’s yours, put it back) l Based on the information on the one side of the card, please analyze the dream l Connect different aspects of the dream to meanings you see in them l

SLEEP & DREAMS

What is Sleep? l l Sleep is a state of altered consciousness with specific brain activity patterns Consciousness: a state of awareness, including a person’s feelings, sensations, ideas and perceptions

How Important is sleep? l Peter Tripp l l l Secrets of sleep-sleep deprivation experiment Vital to mental health Psychological symptoms (Tripp)

Sleep Deprivation l l l l aching muscles blurred vision depression color blindness drowsiness loss of concentration weak immune system dizziness dark circles of the eyes fainting confusion hallucinations symptoms of drunkenness l l l l tremors headaches hernia hyperactivity impatience irritability memory loss nausea psychosis slow reaction times slurred speech weight loss or gain constant yawning

Nights Without Sleep Symptoms 1 Discomfort. 2 Urge to sleep especially between 2 and 4 in the morning. 3 Cognitive tasks requiring concentration are seriously impaired, especially if they are repetitive or boring. 4 Periods of micro sleep are unavoidable and the volunteer becomes irritable and confused. The ‘hat phenomenon’ occurs. 5 Still irritable and confused and may also become delusional. 6 Person becomes depersonalised with a loss of self identity. This is referred to as ‘sleep deprivation psychosis. ’

We don’t really know l Sleep as restorative l Sleep as primitive hibernation l Sleep as an adaptive process l Sleep as tool for clearing the mind l Sleep to dream l

The Stages of Sleep l Stage 1: l l Pulse slows, muscles relax, breathing and brain waves are irregular If awakened you would say you were “just drifting” Muscles might twitch Lasts up to ten minutes l Stage 2 l l Eyes roll slowly from side to side Breathing and heart rate slow Slight decrease in body temperature Lasts approximately 30 minutes

The Stages of Sleep cont’d l Stage 3: l l A deeper level of sleep begins Spend a very short period of time in this stage l Stage 4: l l l Deepest level Rhythmic breathing, little muscle movement If awakened, may feel disoriented Talking, sleepwalking and bedwetting (not remembered) 75% of time spent in stages 1 -4

REM Sleep (stage 5) l l l l l Occurs in stage four Rapid Eye Movement Heart rate increases, breathing is rapid and shallow, muscles relax Adrenal and hormone levels rise (as if awake) Brain waves similar to those when awake “Active Sleep” Last 15 -45 minutes Cycle throughout the night Possibly serves in learning and memory functions

How much to sleep? Great variability l Infants l Old age l Circadian rhythm & teenagers l

Newborns (0 -2 months) Infants (3 -11 months) Toddlers (1 -3 years) Preschoolers (3 -5 years) School-age children (5 -10 years) Teens (10 -17 years) Adults 12 -18 hours 14 -15 hours 12 -14 hours 11 -13 hours 10 -11 hours 8. 5 -10 hours 6 -9 hours

Benefits of Napping q. Increases alertness q. Improves learning and working memory q. Prevents burnout and reverses information overload q. Heightens your senses and creativity q. Improves health q. Improves mood q. Saves money spent on coffee q. It’s awesome

How long should you nap? 10 – 20 minutes: This power nap is ideal for a boost in alertness and energy, experts say. This length usually limits you to the lighter stages of REM sleep, making it easier to hit the ground running after waking up. 30 minutes: Some studies show sleeping this long may cause sleep inertia, a hangover like groggy feeling that lasts for up to 30 minutes after waking up, before the nap’s restorative benefits become apparent. 60 minutes: This nap is bets for improvement in remembering facts, faces, and names. It includes slow-wave sleep, the deepest type. Downside is some grogginess upon waking up. 90 minutes: Full cycle of sleep, including all stages. This leads to improved emotional and procedural memory and creativity. A nap of 90 minutes typically avoids sleep inertia, making it easier to wake up.

Jet Lag Jet lag messes with your circadian rhythm l Circadian rhythm: your body functions on a 24 hour clock, that works with dark and light cycles l

Sleep Disorders

Sleep Disorders l Insomnia l Inability to get enough sleep to feel rested the next day l Persistent l Anxiety and depression l Substance induced

Sleep Disorders l Sleep Apnea: l Interruptions of breathing during the night l Blockage of airway; snoring; choking l Breathing is triggered again when oxygen levels in blood are too low l Usually among older people l Physical problem: enlarged tonsils, throat or ear infections, obesity

Sleep Disorders l Narcolepsy: l Suddenly falling asleep or feeling really sleepy during the day l Can occur anytime l Safety concerns

Sleep Disorders l Nightmares: l l Frightening dreams Occur during REM sleep Usually a “movie-like” dream Night Terrors: l l Occur during stage four Lasts between 5 -20 minutes Screaming, sweating, confusion, rapid heart rate Usually awake with no knowledge of night terrors

Sleep Disorders l Sleepwalking: l Partially asleep l No memory of activities l Associated with children (mostly) l Usually not dangerous l Sleep Talking: l Very common l May be a word, statement, conversation l You can engage them in conversation

Dreams l Content of Dreams: l Most dreams are commonplace and dull l We like to talk about the “sexy” and “violent” dreams l Often incorporate everyday activities in dreams l Large percentage of dream content is negative

Interpretation of Dreams Freud: repressed sexual & aggressive urges surface through dream content l First Nations Culture: signs from ancestors, spirits etc. . . l Problem Solving l Mental House Cleaning l No Significance whatsoever. . . l

Assignment l Dream Analysis l Summarize l Try a dream to analyze what it means: Freudian dream tools l Symbolism l Predominant feelings associated with dream l Reoccuring? l Be sure to explain all of your thinking and behind your interpretation l This will be kept in the greatest of confidence l