Chapter 6

Question 1

Consciousness

Answer 1

The state of being aware of one’s surroundings and oneself.

Question 2

Stream of consciousness

Answer 2

A continuous flow of changing thoughts.

Question 3

Altered states of consciousness

Answer 3

Different states of consciousness such as being asleep, having a dream, hypnosis, meditation, anesthesia, and psychoactive drugs.

Question 4

States of consciousness

Answer 4

The level of awareness for our external surroundings and internal states.

Question 5

Contents of consciousness

Answer 5

Specific thoughts that we are aware of about our internal states or external surroundings.

Question 6

Inattentional blindness

Answer 6

Failure to notice things around us to which we are not paying attention.

Question 7

Thalamus

Answer 7

A part of the brain responsible for attention and awareness.

Question 8

Preconsciousness

Answer 8

The level of awareness in which information can become readily available to consciousness if necessary.

Question 9

Unconscious state

Answer 9

A state in which information is not easily accessible to conscious awareness.

Question 10

Implicit memory

Answer 10

Knowledge that we have stored in memory that we are not typically aware of or able to recall at will.

Question 11

Circadian rhythm

Answer 11

A 24-hour cycle that controls the sleep/wake cycle.

Question 12

Sleep cycle

Answer 12

A 90-100 minute cycle that goes through different stages of sleep, including REM sleep.

Question 13

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep

Answer 13

A stage of sleep associated with rapid eye movements, increased heart rate, and dreaming.

Question 14

Information Processing Theory of Dreaming

Answer 14

The theory that dreams involve processing information from the day.

Question 15

Activation-Synthesis Model of Dreaming

Answer 15

The theory that dreams reflect the brain’s efforts to make sense of neural activity during sleep.

Question 16

Insomnia

Answer 16

The most common sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up early.

Question 17

Sleep apnea

Answer 17

A sleep disorder characterized by repeatedly stopping breathing during the night.

Question 18

Narcolepsy

Answer 18

A sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden episodes of falling into REM sleep.

Question 19

Hypnosis

Answer 19

An altered state of consciousness with heightened suggestibility, deep relaxation, and intense focus.

Question 20

Meditation

Answer 20

A technique designed to turn one’s consciousness away from the outer world toward one’s inner cues and awareness.

Question 21

Opening-up approach

Answer 21

Clearing one’s mind in order to receive new experiences.

Question 22

Concentrative meditation

Answer 22

Actively concentrating on an object, word, or idea, called a mantra.

Question 23

Koan

Answer 23

A riddle, such as “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”

Question 24

Mindfulness meditation

Answer 24

Paying attention to one’s feelings, thoughts, and sensations. Being in the moment and being mindful, but not judgmental.

Question 25

Psychoactive drugs

Answer 25

Any substance that alters mood, perception, awareness, or thought.

Question 26

Addiction

Answer 26

Psychological or physical compulsion to take a drug, resulting from regular ingestion and leading to maladaptive patterns of behavior and changes in physical response.

Question 27

Depressants

Answer 27

Drugs that act on the central nervous system (CNS) to suppress bodily processes.

Question 28

Alcohol

Answer 28

Influences GABAergic neurons and slows down brain areas that control judgment, inhibition, behavior, speech, motor functioning, and emotional expression.

Question 29

Sedative-hypnotics (benzodiazepines)

Answer 29

Examples include Xanax, Ativan, and Valium. They influence neurons that produce GABA, producing relaxation, drowsiness, and relief from anxiety.

Question 30

Opioids

Answer 30

Drugs such as opium, heroin, morphine, codeine, and methadone. They activate opioid receptors in the brain, reducing pain, emotional tension, and producing pleasurable and calming feelings.

Question 31

Nicotine

Answer 31

Influences dopamine and acetylcholine neurons, increasing alertness and reducing stress.

Question 32

Caffeine

Answer 32

Works on adenosine neurons, producing a sensation of increased alertness when stimulated.

Question 33

Stimulants

Answer 33

Drugs that act on the CNS to increase bodily processes.

Question 34

Cocaine

Answer 34

Blocks neuronal re-uptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Increases energy, alertness, and produces euphoric feelings of well-being and confidence.

Question 35

Amphetamines

Answer 35

Increase the release of dopamine and norepinephrine. Increases energy, alertness, reduces appetite, and produces euphoric feelings.

Question 36

Hallucinogens

Answer 36

Drugs that produce sensory or perceptual distortions called hallucinations.

Question 37

LSD

Answer 37

Stimulates dopamine and serotonin receptors, dramatically strengthening visual perceptions along with profound psychological and physical changes.

Question 38

Cannabis (marijuana, THC)

Answer 38

Stimulates the release of endorphins and dopamine, producing a mixture of hallucinogenic, depressant, and stimulant effects.

Question 39

MDMA (Ecstasy)

Answer 39

Leads to an increase of serotonin, enhances sensory perceptions, increases energy and alertness, and produces feelings of empathy and emotional well-being.

Question 40

Reward-deficiency syndrome

Answer 40

People might abuse drugs because their reward center is not readily activated by usual life events.

Question 41

Adaptive Theory of Sleep

Answer 41

theory that organisms sleep for the purpose of self-preservation, to keep away from predators that are more active at night.

Question 42

Dissociation

Answer 42

A splitting of consciousness into two dimensions.

Question 43

Flashbacks

Answer 43

Recurrence of the sensory and emotional changes after the LSD has left the body.

Question 44

Hypnagogic State

Answer 44

A pre-sleep period often characterized by vivid sensory phenomena.

Question 45

Lucid Dreaming

Answer 45

Dreams in which sleepers fully recognize that they are dreaming, and occasionally actively guide the outcome of the dream.

Question 46

Non-REM Sleep (NREM)

Answer 46

Stages 1 through 4 of normal sleep pattern.

Question 47

Restorative Theory of Sleep

Answer 47

Theory that we sleep to allow the brain and body to restore certain depleted chemical resources and eliminate chemical wastes that have accumulated during the waking day.

Question 48

Reward Learning Pathway

Answer 48

Brain circuitry that is important for learning about rewarding stimuli.

Question 49

Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs

Answer 49

Class of drugs that produces feelings of relaxation and drowsiness.

Question 50

Sleep Spindles

Answer 50

Bursts of brain activity lasting a second or two; occur during Stage 2 sleep.

Question 51

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

Answer 51

A small group of neurons in the hypothalamus responsible for coordinating the many rhythms of the body.

Question 52

Tolerance

Answer 52

Mark of physical dependence on a drug, in which the person is required to take incrementally larger doses of the drug to achieve the same effect.

Question 53

Withdrawal Symptoms

Answer 53

Unpleasant and sometimes dangerous side effects of reducing intake of a drug after a person has become addicted.