Unit 5: States of Consciousness

Module 18: SleepUnit 5:States of ConsciousnessKey Ideas:Levels of consciousnessSleep and dreamingSleep disordersHypnosisMeditationPsychoactive drugs depressants, narcotics, stimulants, hallucinogensStates of ConsciousnessConsciousness our awareness of ourselves and our environment.This includes: thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. (waking)Altered states of consciousness include sleep, dreaming, meditation, etc.Do not confuse with unconsciousness which is loss of responsiveness from disease, trauma, drugs, etc.

Levels of ConsciousnessPreconscious Outside of your normal awareness.You can recall information if needed (what you had for dinner)Nonconscious Not aware of at all.Blood flow, heartbeat, etc.Unconscious Unacceptable feelings, wishes, desires that you choose not to share.Toe fetish, dressing in drag, homoeroticism, intuition, etc.

The UnconsciousUnconscious aka subconscious.It operates with or without you being aware of whats influencing you, whether its current situation or from your past.

Sigmund Freud Father of PsychoanalysisThe UnconsciousDreamsPsychosexual Development (Oedipus Complex)States of ConsciousnessStates of Consciousness

Sleep and DreamsBiological rhythms controlled by biological clock are periodic physiological fluctuations.There are 4 types:Annual cycles28 day cycles24 hour cycles90 minute cyclesBiological RhythmsAnnual cycles things that are affected seasonally. Ex. We may sleep longer and eat more in the winter. Happier in summer.28 Day Cycles MonthlyEx. Female menstrual cycles = moods?24 Hour Cycles Bodily changes during the day.90 Minute Cycles Sleep stagesSleep and DreamsCircadian Rhythm cycles of change that recur approximately every 24 hours. Biological ClockEx. Sleep, wakefulness, body temp, etc.Light effects melatonin (sleep hormone) production.

Sleep and DreamsSleep Cycle About every 90 100 minutes we pass through a cycle of 5 distinct sleep stages.Sleep onset occurs when we begin to lie down. Alpha waves are produced and we enter a stage between wakefulness and sleep. Beta waves are awake brain waves.Our minds wander and we relax.Hypnagogic SleepHypnagogic Sleep - This is the very relaxed and drowsy state that you pass through before entering sleep.This is that feeling you get when you are watching a movie and your eyelids start to get heavy and you have trouble keeping your eyes open.

11Sleep Stages

Sleep and Dreams Stage 1Stage 1 Sleep quick sleep stage with gradual loss of responsiveness to outside, drifting thoughts, and images.Lasts about 5 10 minutes. We lose perception of time. We can experience hallucinations or a sensation of falling or floating.Sleep and Dreams Stage 2Stage 2 Sleep About 40 50% of your sleep time. Can be awakened without difficulty.Lasts about 20 minutes.Brain waves are characterized by sleep spindles.We can talk in our sleep in this stage.Sleep and Dreams Stage 3Stage 3 Sleep Beginning of deep sleep. Only lasts a few minutes.Delta Sleep begins (Stage 3 & 4)Delta brain waves are emitted.

Sleep and Dreams Stage 4Stage 4 Sleep deepest sleep stage.Lasts about 30 minutes. Slowed heart rate and respiration, lowered temperature and lowered blood flow to the brain. Growth hormone is secreted.The slower the brain wave, the deeper the sleep.Hard to awaken, become disoriented and groggy.

Sleep and Dreams Stage 4If you are awaken during this stage, you will be physically tired.Increasing amount of exercise will increase time in stage 3 & 4 leading to better health.Bedwetting and sleepwalking occurs in this stage.After stage 4, you return to stages 3 & 2, before entering stage 5.

Sleep and Dreams REM StageREM Stage REM sleepREM Rapid Eye Movement your eyes move rapidly back and forth behind closed lids.About 20 25% of your sleep time.Occurs 5 6 times during night.Hard to awaken.Dreams and nightmares occur.Sleep and Dreams REM StageBrain waves resemble beta waves of being awake.Body is very aroused, but all of your voluntary muscles are paralyzed.Also called paradoxical sleep because muscles are relaxed but your body is active, similar to being awake.

Sleep and Dreams REM StageREM sleep dreams are often emotional, story like, and hallucinatory.37% of people report that they rarely or never dreambut everyone dreams.When REM starts, snoring stops!REM Rebound An increased percentage of time spent in REM sleep when we are deprived of REM sleep during previous nights.

Brain Waves and Sleep StagesAlpha WavesRelaxedDelta WavesDeep sleepBeta WavesAwake, also found in REM sleep.

Stages in a Typical Nights Sleep012345674321SleepstagesAwakeHours of sleepREMWhy Do We Sleep?Not everyone needs 8 hours of sleep.We sleep less than we did 60 yrs ago.Sleep Debt the amount of sleep owed to your body for lack of sleep in previous nights.Without sleep, your body will not function normally.Sleep DeprivationSleep Deprivation impacts that body in a number of ways:1. It suppresses immune cells that fight off infections and cancer.2. It can alter your metabolism and hormonal functioning to mimic a much older person. obviously contributing to obesity, high blood pressure, and memory problems.3. It can make us irritable, slow our performance, and concentration.Sleep Deprivation

Sleep Deprivation World Record:Stayed up for 276 hours = 11 daysPlayed on the computer and read booksAte Vegan dietSaw pixies on day sixSlept normally afterwards, but showed large increase in REM sleep

26Sleep TheoriesWhy do we sleep?1. Protection kept our ancestors from venturing around at night.2. Recuperate Repairs and restores brain tissues.3. Remembering Builds and restores our memories.4. Growth During deep sleep, growth hormones are released.Sleep DisordersInsomnia: the inability to fall asleep and/or stay asleep.Treatments:Relax before bedtimeAvoid caffeineAvoid napsExercise regularlyDo not check clock

28Sleep DisordersNarcolepsy: sudden and uncontrollable lapse into sleep (usually REM and with paralysis).Rare, occurs in 1 in 2000 peopleSleep apnea: temporary pauses of breathing that awaken the sufferer repeatedly during the night.Most common in overweight men.Snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea.29Sleep DisordersNight terrors: in children, characterized by bloodcurdling screams and intense fear during stage 4 sleep.Not nightmares!No memory of it.Sleepwalking: usually in children during stage 4 sleep.Diminishes as we get older.Sleep disorders video

30NightmaresNightmares: frightening dreams that occur during REM sleep.Occur during REM sleep5% of population have themOn average of once per weekUsually happens when we miss REM sleep, dont get enough sleep, drink too much alcohol, eat spicy foods, or see something that is scary.Freud Dreams are the royal road to the unconsciousDreams

Clues to inner thoughts and forbidden impulses.He analyzed dreams to uncover patients unconscious desires. (Sex, Violence, Fears, etc.)32DreamsLucid dreaming: awareness that we are dreaming and an ability to control the dream.Daydreaming: state with focus on inner, private realities, which can generate creative ideas.

VIDEO: 11:39 The Mind Awake and Sleeping on learner.org33DreamsManifest content: according to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream.What you actually dreamed.Latent content: according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream.What your dream meant.34Why We Dream?1. Wish Fulfillment Dreams reveal our unconscious desires through manifest and latent content. (Freud)2. Information Processing dreams sift, sort, and fix the days experiences in our memories.3. Brain Stimulation dreams help develop/preserve neural pathways during by keeping it active during REM sleep.Why We Dream?4. Activation-Synthesis Theory REM sleep triggers neural activity which results in random visual memories.5. Cognitive Theory To develop the brain. Dreams represent the dreamers level of knowledge and understanding.Common Dream ThemesMost dreams about ordinary eventsInvolve our worries, fears, feelings, & arguments.Falling, being chased, flying, losing or finding something, finding yourself naked, teeth falling out are all common dream themes50% of us dream in color and 50% in black & white. Researchers dont know why.