Chapter 4: State of Consciousness

Question 1

What part of the brain is involved in the awareness of external events and internal sensations?

Answer 1

The cerebral cortex- associated areas and frontal lobes

Question 2

What is Metacognition?

Answer 2

Thinking about your thoughts

Question 3

What is the Theory of Mind?

Answer 3

Individuals’ understanding that they and other think feel, perceive, and have private experiences.

Question 4

Describe higher level consciousness.

Answer 4

Involves controlled processing, in which individuals actively focus their efforts on attaining a goal; the most alert state of consciousness

Question 5

What are a few examples of higher level consciousness

Answer 5

• Doing a math or science problem
• Preparing for a debate
• Taking an at bat in a baseball game

Question 6

Describe lower level consciousness

Answer 6

Includes automatic processing that requires little attention, as well as daydreaming

Question 7

What are a few examples of lower level consciousness

Answer 7

• Punching in a number on a cell phone
• Typing on a keyboard when one is an expert
• Gazing at a sunset

Question 8

Describe altered states of consciousness

Answer 8

Can be produced by drugs, trauma, fatigue, possibly hypnosis, and sensory deprivation.

Question 9

What are a few examples of altered states of consciousness

Answer 9

• Feeling the effects of having taken alcohol or psychedelic drugs
• Undergoing hynsis to quit smoking or lose weight

Question 10

Describe subconscious awareness

Answer 10

Can occur when people are awake, as well as when they are sleeping and dreaming

Question 11

What are a few examples of subconscious awareness

Answer 11

Sleeping and dreaming

Question 12

Describe no awareness

Answer 12

Freud’s belief that some unconscious thoughts are too laden with anxiety and other negative emotions for consciousness to admit them

Question 13

What are a few examples of no awareness

Answer 13

• Having unconscious thoughts

- Being knocked out by a blow or anesthetized

Question 14

What is sleep

Answer 14

A natural state of rest for the body and mind that involves the reversible loss of consciousness

Question 15

What are biological rhythms

Answer 15

Periodic physiological fluctuations in the body; biological clocks

Question 16

What is circadian rhythms

Answer 16

• Daily behavioral or physiological cycle

- Sleep/wake, body temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar

Question 17

What is superchiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

Answer 17

Small brain structure using retinal input to synchronize its rhythm with daily light/dark cycle

Question 18

What is desynchronizing the biological clock? How?

Answer 18

Can get thrown off regular schedules by air travel, changing work shifts, insomnia

Question 19

What are some tips to reset the biological clock?

Answer 19

Expose yourself to bright light, or eat melatonin when it is time to sleep

Question 20

Why do we sleep?

Answer 20

• Evolutionary perspective - for protection
• To conserve energy
• Restoration
• Brain plasticity

Question 21

What is the effect of sleep deprivation

Answer 21

Lack of sleep is stressful

• Trouble paying attention to tasks and solving problems
• Decreased brain activity
• Can influence moral judgement

Question 22

Stages of sleep correspond to massive __ changes that occur throughout the __

Answer 22

Electrophysiological, brain

Question 23

The fast, irregular, and low amplitude electrical activity of wakefulness is replaced by ___

Answer 23

The slow regular, high amplitude waves of deep sleep

Question 24

Wakefulness stages: Describe Beta waves

Answer 24

• Reflect concentration and awareness
• Highest in frequency, lowest in amplitude
• More desynchronous or inconsistent

Question 25

Wakefulness stages: Describe Alpha waves

Answer 25

- Relaxed but still awake - Brain waves slowed down, increased in amplitude - More synchronous

Question 26

Describe Sleep Stage N1 (non-REM1)

Answer 26

- Drowsy sleep - Myoclonic jerks, or sudden muscle movements - EEG characterized by slow, high amplitude theta waves

Question 27

Describe Sleep Stage 2 (non-REM2)

Answer 27

- Decreased muscle activity - No conscious awareness of environment - Theta waves interspersed with sleep spindles

Question 28

Describe Sleep Stage N3 (non-REM3)

Answer 28

Characterized by delta waves - slowest and highest- amplitude brain waves - Referred to as delta sleep, the deepest sleep - Bedwetting, sleep walking, and sleep talking

Question 29

Describe REM sleep

Answer 29

- Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep - Active stage during which dreaming occurs - Fast wave activity, similar to relaxed wakefulness - Likely plays a role in memory

Question 30

One sleep cycle consists of

Answer 30

- Five stages of sleep - 90 to 100 minutes - Recurs several times a night

Question 31

What are some sleep disorders

Answer 31

- Insomnia - Sleepwalking, sleep talking, and sleep eating - Nightmare and night terror - Narcolepsy - Sleep apnea

Question 32

What is nightmares and night terrors

Answer 32

Sudden arousal from sleep, intense fear

Question 33

What is narcolepsy

Answer 33

Sudden, overpowering urge to sleep

Question 34

What is sleep apnea

Answer 34

Individuals stop breathing and awaken to breathe better

Question 35

What does Freud believe dreams are

Answer 35

Dreams symbolize unconscious wishes

Question 36

What does Cognitive theory believe dreams are

Answer 36

- Dreams as subconscious cognitive processing | - Lack of attention to role of brain structures and activity in dreaming

Question 37

What does Activation-synthesis theory

Answer 37

Dreams as result of synthesis of neutral signals

Question 38

How does psychoactive drugs act on the nervous system to?

Answer 38

- Alter consciousness - Modify perceptions - Change moods

Question 39

What is tolerance of psychoactive drugs

Answer 39

Increasing amounts for the same effect

Question 40

What is physical dependence of psychoactive drugs

Answer 40

Need/withdrawal

Question 41

What is psychological dependence

Answer 41

Strong desire