Chapter 5, Consciousness

Question 1

What is consciousness

Answer 1

Moment to moment awareness of ourselves and environment

Question 2

Problem of other minds

Answer 2

Fundamental difficulty we have in perceiving the consciousness of others

Question 3

Ways to try to define inner states?

Answer 3

Self-reports - direct but not verifiable
Physiological - objective but can’t indicate subjective
Behavioral- need to infer state of mind

Question 4

Rouge test

Answer 4

Seeing if someone can recognize themself in a mirror

Question 5

Timing of Concuous Will

Answer 5

Libet’s experiment, individuals moving fingure while watching a dot move to make when the action was consciously willed

Question 6

3 levels of psychodynamic view

Answer 6

Conscious- Mental events we are currently aware of (reading this text)
Preconscious- outside current awareness, easily recalled (dinner last night)
Unconscious- Mot brought to awareness usually (trauma)

Question 7

Controlled vs Automatic Processing

Answer 7

Controlled - Takes effort, new or difficult tasks (learning to read)

Automatic- Autopilot, little effort (reading when you know how to read)

Question 8

Unconscious things that influence emotions

Answer 8

Events we’re unaware of (classical conditioning)

Moods can be affected by positive or negative words

Question 9

Modular mind

Answer 9

Mind consists of separate info processing modules that work together
-sensation, perception, memory, problem solving, emotion

Question 10

24 biological clock

Answer 10

Circadian Rhythm

Question 11

90 minute sleep cycle

Answer 11

“BRAC”

Question 12

What changes during the circadian rhythm

Answer 12

Body temperature
Arousal/energy
Mental sharpness

Question 13

Circadian rhythm regulated by…

Answer 13

Suprachiasmic nuclei (SCN)

Question 14

SCN stands for…

Answer 14

Suprachiasmic nuclei

Question 15

SCN during day and during night

Answer 15

Day- Inhibits melatonin secretion, raises body temperature and alertness

Night- Allows melatonin

Question 16

Disruptions to circadian rhythm

Answer 16

Jet lag, shift work (night shift), daylight savings, Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD)

Question 17

About BRAC cycle

Answer 17

Sleep cycle
Cycle through about every 90 min

Question 18

Stages of sleep: Awake

Answer 18

Beta waves (15-30)

Question 19

Stages of sleep: Relaxed and drowsy

Answer 19

Alpha waves (8-12 cps)

Question 20

Stages of sleep: Stage 1

Answer 20

Light sleep
Lasts a few minutes
Theta waves (3.5-7.5 cps)

Question 21

Stages of sleep: Stage 2

Answer 21

Sleep spindles (burst of Braun activity, 1-2 sec) and K-complexs

Question 22

Stages of sleep: Stage 3

Answer 22

(0.5-2 cps)

Question 23

Stages of sleep: Stage 4

Answer 23

Delta waves are dominant

Question 24

Sleep stages 3 and 4 are called

Answer 24

“Slow-wave sleep”

Question 25

Sleep patterns

Answer 25

Stage 1 down to stage 4, then climb back up but REM instead of stage one, repeat but don't dip down as far, REM gets longer as the night progresses

Question 26

REM brain activity

Answer 26

Regulated by brainstem Limbic system activity increases Areas near visual cortex active Motor cortex active but signals blocked. Decreased prefrontal activity

Question 27

Sleep - Restoration Model and evidence

Answer 27

Sleep recharges us from mental and physical fatigue Sleep about 10min longer after exercise. Adenosine (cell waste) may decrease alertness

Question 28

Sleep - Evolutionary/circadian model

Answer 28

Sleep is adaptive, increases survival Mechanism for conserving energy

Question 29

Sleep disorder- Insomnia

Answer 29

Trouble falling/staying asleep Most common sleep disorder Causes are biological, psychological, environmental. Treatment includes stimuli control

Question 30

Sleep disorder- Pseudoinsomniacs

Answer 30

People complain about insomnia bur actually sleep normally

Question 31

Sleep disorder- Narcolepsy

Answer 31

Daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks Genetic?

Question 32

Sleep disorder- REM-Sleep Behavior Disorder

Answer 32

No sleep paralysis, "act out" dreams.

Question 33

Sleep disorder- Sleep Apnea

Answer 33

Breathing stops and starts while sleeping. Usually caused by obstruction of upper airway

Question 34

Sleep disorder- Sleepwalking

Answer 34

Happens usually stage 3 or 4 Causes include stress, alcohol, hereditary, stress, meds Psychotherapy and drugs can help treat

Question 35

3 theories of why we dream

Answer 35

Activation-Synthesis Theory - Brain tries to interpret (Synthesis) random brain activity (Activation) Problem-Solving model- Helps us find solution to our problems Cognitive-process dream theories - Dreams are just thoughts and come from the same part of the brain

Question 36

Four basic properties of consciousness

Answer 36

Intentionality (brain focuses on not too much at a time) Unity (lots of info made into one consciousness) Selectivity Transience (the tendency to change)

Question 37

Minimal consciousness

Answer 37

Low sensory awareness. Mind can input sensation and can output behavior Rolling over in sleep when uncomfortable

Question 38

Full consciousness

Answer 38

Know and can report menta state

Question 39

Self consciousness

Answer 39

Someone's attention can be put on the self as an object (often when embarrassed)

Question 40

Cognitive unconscious

Answer 40

All three mental processes that lead to a person's thoughts and choices but aren't experienced by the person

Question 41

Dual-process theories

Answer 41

Mind has two systems. One for fast/unconscious processing (top down processing) And one for effortful processing (bottom up processing)