CONSCIOUSNESS

Chapter 6

I. Defining Consciousness

Consciousness is a construct Can’t be seen or touched

II. Consciousness

Map to the self in relation to the worldLevels of consciousness:

Consciousness: information you’re currently aware of (environment/yourself)

Nonconscious: body process not aware of (heart) Preconscious: info you’re not currently thinking

about (but you could be, ex. Favorite toy as child) Subconscious: information not consciously aware

of, but know exists because of behavior Unconscious: pscyhoanalytic psychologists,

repressed feelings

III. Chronobiology and Unseen Forces

Night/dayMonthly (females)Annual

III. Chronobiology and Unseen Forces

Biological Clocks Free running cycles no outside influences, 25 hours (ex: temp, kidneys) Entrainment : Altering free-running cycle (ex: sleep/wake cycle)

Circadian Rhythms Entrained 24 hour (even though free running is 25) High/low points (temp/blood pressure: 3-4 am & 2pm)

III. Chronobiology and Unseen Forces

Fighting the Clock Work schedules When we sleep is important, not just # of hours

Giving Up Sleep Importance of sleep REM rebound: experiencing more and longer periods

of REM the next time they are able to sleep normally More stress = longer periods of REM

IV. The Nature of Sleep & Dreams

Make new cells, NTs restored, body hair grows fastest

Twilight state – relaxed state just before we fall asleep

Sleep Cycle

Circadian Rhythms Entrained 24 hour (even though free running is

25) High/low points (temp/blood pressure: 3-4 am &

2pm)Entering stage 1

Falling asleep = sleep onset (alpha waves)Stage 1 & 2 (theta waves)

Stage 2 – short bursts of rapid brain wavesStage 3 & 4 (delta waves)

Deepest sleep, replenish body’s chemical supplies, hormones, immune system

Exercise more = more delta sleep

Sleep cycle

REM Sleep (Rapid Eye Movement) Brain waves as active as if we were awake Lack of REM interferes with mmeory Spend more time in REM sleep when learning a new

skill

Brain Changes during sleep Brain waves: beta, alpha, delta Body is paralyzed

IV. The Nature of Sleep & Dreams

NREM sleep v. REM P. 165

REM NREM

•Rapid eye movement•Increases in length as night’s sleep progresses•Vivid Dreams•Nightmares•Paralyzed body•Essential Part of sleep

•Non-rapid eye movement•Decreases in length as night’s sleep progresses•Vague, partial images and stories•Incubus attacks (night terrors)•Sleepwalking and talking•Less essential part of sleep

V. The Purpose of Dreaming

Information-Processing Theory1. Reorganize information from day2. Work out problems, integrate information into our

memories

Activation Synthesis Theory3. Random Stimulation

Psychoanalysis Freud: dreams as a method to uncover repressed info in

the unconscious Manifest: literal content Latent content: unconscious meaning of the manifest

VI. Psychology of Dreams

Dream content Common themes Color/black and white – 50:50

Nightmares (REM) REM rebound

Incubus attacks Night terror Common in childhood

VII. Practical Issues in Sleep

Require less sleep as we get olderSocial Entrainment

When important, not just # of hours

Length of Sleep Most need 8 hours, but varies

Walking and Talking Occurs in stage 4 (NREM)

VII. Practical Issues in Sleep

Sleep disturbance1. Insomnia

Problem getting/staying asleep 10% of population sleeping pills (and others) prevent REM

2. Narcolepsy Periods of intense sleepiness, suddenly fall into

REM sleep .001% of population

3. Sleep Apnea Person stops breathing for short periods of time Lack of deep sleep, interference with attention and

memory

VIII. States of Consciousness

Hypnosis Power of suggestion Focus attention/block other things Special state – not sleep, trance, won’t do immoral

acts Uses: weight, smoking, drinking, pain

VIII. States of Consciousness

Meditation Relaxation Suggestion comes from within v. hypnosis suggestion

from hypnotist

IX. Psych in your life

Wandering in the World of Consciousness Try to use your dreams to be creative, solve problems,

learn something Try to dream, or to not dream about something Examine day dreams “Set” internal clock

Works Cited

http://www.sleep-problems.com/content/pictures/sleep_cycle.gif http://cdn.channel.aol.com/body/hv/101940 http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/images/music/2006/08/17/sleeping-commuter.jpg http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/00/1d/f3/53/sunrise-in-gulfshores.jpg http://lifelessonsproject.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/spk2557changing-seasons-

posters.jpg http://www.payvand.com/news/08/feb/birds-migration-Qeshm-Iran3.jpg http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.educator.com/technology/wp-

content/uploads/2008/10/sleep-deprived-student.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.educator.com/technology/circadian-clock-linked-to-remembering-what-you-learned/&usg=__exJq3gZOPOaexgErsWSy0KjRvyU=&h=300&w=450&sz=20&hl=en&start=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=hKHxsqBYS_yftM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcircadian%2Brhythms,%2Bsleep%2Bexperiments%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_enUS352US352%26tbs%3Disch:1

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2403/1528345670_89a97d1ca8.jpg http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://

susanhenschen.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/dreams.jpg&imgrefurl=http://susanhenschen.wordpress.com/2008/12/&usg=__48DwS76Dzmb49YaDCbZhZPCzye8=&h=319&w=480&sz=42&hl=en&start=5&itbs=1&tbnid=RlQu2RwFRcUwTM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=129&prev=/images%3Fq%3DDreams%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1

http://www.mind-and-body-yoga.com/image-files/hypnosis.jpg