Chapter 4: States Of Consciousness

Question 1

Stream of consciousness

Answer 1

Term used by William James to describe the mind as a conscious flow of changing sensations images, thoughts, and feelings

Question 2

Consciousness

Answer 2

An individuals awareness of external events and internal sensations under a condition of arousal, including awareness of the self and thoughts about one’s experiences

Question 3

Reticular activation system

Answer 3

A network of structures including the brain stem, medulla, and thalamus that determine arousal, one aspect of consciousness

Question 4

Theory of mind

Answer 4

Individuals understanding that they and others think, feel, perceive, and have private experiences

Question 5

Autism spectrum disorder

Answer 5

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction across a variety of settings as well as restrictive repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities

Question 6

Higher-level consciousness

Answer 6

Involves controlled processing, in which individuals actively focus their efforts on attaining a goal; the most alert state of consciousness. (Ex. Math problem, or playing sports)

Question 7

Lower-level consciousness

Answer 7

Includes automatic processing that requires little attention, as well as daydreaming (ex. Typing, staring at the sky)

Question 8

Altered states of consciousness

Answer 8

Can be produced by drugs, trauma, fatigue, possibly hypnosis, and sensory deprivation. (Ex. Taking psychedelics or drinking alcohol; hypnosis for weight loss or quitting smoking)

Question 9

Subconscious awareness

Answer 9

Can occur when people are awake, as well as when they are sleeping or daydream. (Ex. Sleeping and daydreaming)

Question 10

No awareness

Answer 10

Frued’s belief that some unconscious thoughts are too laden with anxiety and other negative emotions for consciousness to admit them. (Ex. Having unconscious thoughts, being knocked out)

Question 11

Controlled processes

Answer 11

The most alert state of human consciousness, during which humans actively focus their efforts towards achieving a goal

Question 12

Automatic processes

Answer 12

States of consciousness that require little attention and do not interfere with other ongoing activities

Question 13

Unconscious thoughts

Answer 13

According to Freud, a reservoir of unacceptable wishes, feelings, and thoughts that are beyond conscious awareness

Question 14

Sleep

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Biological rhythms

Answer 15

Periodic physiologic fluctuation in the body such as the rise and fall of hormones and accelerated/decelerated cycles of brain activity, that can influence behavior

Question 16

Circadian rhythms

Answer 16

Daily behavioral or physiological cycles that involve the sleep/wake cycle, body temperature, blood pressure, and blood sugar level

Question 17

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

Answer 17

A small brain structure that uses input from the retina to synchronize its own rhythm with the daily cycle of light and dark; the body’s way of monitoring change from day to night

Question 18

Stage W (wake)

Answer 18

Contains two types of brain waves. Beta waves which are high frequency patterns that reflect concentration and alertness. And alpha waves which are lower frequency patterns associated with being relaxed or drowsy

Question 19

Stage N1 (non-REM1) sleep

Answer 19

First stage of sleep. Muscle jerks can occur. Light sleep lasting around 10 minutes. Includes theta waves (Low frequency, low amplitude)

Question 20

Stage N2 (non-REM 2) sleep

Answer 20

Slightly deeper sleep than N1, but still light sleep. Muscle activity releases and person is no longer consciously aware of the enviroment. This stage is characterized by “sleep spindles” (brief high frequency waves). Sleep spindles are important for memory consolidation and play a role in communication between the hippocampus and neocortex. This stage lasts up to 20 minutes

Question 21

Stage N3 (non-REM 3) sleep

Answer 21

Stage N3 is characterized by delta waves, the slowest and highest amplitude brain waves during sleep. This is the time when our brain waves are least similarly to our brain waves when we are awake. This is when we sleep deeply and are hard to wake up. This is where bedwetting, sleep walking, and sleep talking occur. People are often confused and disoriented if awakened during this stage.

Question 22

Stage R (REM) sleep

Answer 22

A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movement. This is where most vivid dreams occur. Lasts about 10 minutes in first sleep cycle, and up to an hour in the last. Brain waves are most similar to waking brain waves in this stage

Question 23

Insomnia

Answer 23

The inability to sleep. This can involve having trouble falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night, and waking up too early without being able to fall back asleep.

Question 24

Narcolepsy

Answer 24

Involves the sudden and overpowering urge to sleep. The urge is so strong that people may fall asleep while talking, standing, or driving. When people with narcolepsy fall asleep they immediately enter REM sleep. Narcolepsy may involve issues with the amygdala and hippocampus

Question 25

Sleep apnea

Answer 25

A sleep disorder in which individuals stop breathing because the windpipe fails to open or because the brain processes involved in respiration fail to work properly. People with sleep apnea awaken multiple times throughout the night to breathe properly, but are often unaware of these awakenings

Question 26

Manifest content

Answer 26

According to Freud, the surface content of the dream, containing the dreams symbols that disguise the dreams true meaning

Question 27

Latent content

Answer 27

According to Freud, a dream’s hidden content; its unconscious and true meaning.

Question 28

Cognitive theory of dreaming

Answer 28

Theory proposing that one can understand dreaming by applying the same cognitive concepts used in studying the waking mind

Question 29

Activation-synthesis theory

Answer 29

Theory that dreaming occurs when the cerebral cortex synthesizes neural signals generated from activity in the lower part of the brain and that dreams result from the brain’s attempts to find logic in random brain activity that occurs during sleep

Question 30

Psychoactive drugs

Answer 30

Drugs that act on the nervous system to alter consciousness, modify perception, and change moods

Question 31

Tolerance

Answer 31

The need to take increasing amounts of the drug to get the same effect

Question 32

Physical dependence

Answer 32

The physiological need for a drug that causes unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as physical pain and a craving for the drug when it is discontinued

Question 33

Psychological dependence

Answer 33

The strong desire to repeat the use of a drug for emotional reasons, such as a feeling of well-being and a reduction of stress

Question 34

Addiction

Answer 34

A physical or psychological dependence, or both, on a drug

Question 35

Substance use disorder

Answer 35

A psychological disorder in which a person’s use of psychoactive drugs (such as alcohol or opiates) affects their health, ability to work, and engage in social relationships

Question 36

Depressants

Answer 36

Psychoactive drug that slows down mental and physical activity

Question 37

Alcoholism

Answer 37

Disorder that involved long-term, repeated, uncontrolled, compulsive, and excessive, use of alcoholic beverages and that impairs the drinkers health and social relationships

Question 38

Opioids

Answer 38

A class of drugs that act on the brain’s endorphin receptors. These include opium and its natural derivatives (sometimes called opiates) as well as chemical that do not occur naturally but that have been created to mimic the activity of opium. These drugs (also called narcotics) depress activity in the central nervous system and eliminate pain

Question 39

Stimulants

Answer 39

Psychoactive drugs including caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine that increase central nervous system activity

Question 40

Hallucinogens

Answer 40

Psychoactive drugs that modify a person’s perceptual experiences and produce visual images that are not real

Question 41

Hypnosis

Answer 41

An altered state of consciousness or a psychological state of altered attention and expectation in which the individual is unusually receptive to suggestions

Question 42

Meditation

Answer 42

The attainment of a peaceful state of mind in which thoughts are not occupied by worry; the meditator is mindfully present to their thoughts and feelings but is not consumed by them