Consciousness Flashcards
(26 cards)
Define Consciousness
Our moment-to-moment awareness of ourselves in our environment
What are the characteristics of consciousness
Subjective
Dynamic
Sense of self
Selective attention
List and define the features of the Freudian Viewpoint to consciousness
*Conscious Mind: We are aware of thoughts and perceptions (eg. im in a lecture at uwa)
*Preconscious: Easily recalled mental events (eg. where were you born?)
Unconscious: Events that don’t get brought into conscious awareness (eg. how long did it take you to drink your coffee last saturday)
list and define the two types of processing in a Cognitive Viewpoint
Controlled Processing: Conscious and effortful attention needed to complete a task
Automatic Processing: No conscious awareness or effort needed to complete a task
How can we measure Consciousness?
Self-Report Measures: Questionnaires
Behavioural Measures: React to different stimuli in experiment
Physiological: Electrogastrophogy
What is a Global Workspace Theory in Consciousness
Conscious information is available across all brain regions for cognitive processing
What is Visual Agnosia?
The inability to visually recognise objects while interacting with them
What is blindsight?
Reported blindness in part of the visual field, but when tested will still respond to stimuli if enough information is being received
What is Hemispatial Neglect?
Occurs when there has been damage to one hemisphere, leading to a struggle in recognising one side of the visual field
What are Hallucinations?
Perceptions of something that is not present
Why is it hard to measure Consciousness?
Because consciousness can very between:
Comas
Vegetative State
Minimally Conscious State
Locked-in Syndrome
What is the Blood-Brain Barrier?
A lining of tightly packed cells that lets nutrients pass so neurons can function
How does the Blood-Brain Barrier correlate to drugs and consciousness?
Capillaries can carry drugs through this barrier, which can then lead to an inhibition in synaptic transmission
What are the two types of drugs and how do they influence neurotransmitters
Agonist: Increase activity in neurotransmitters
Antagonist: Inhibit action of neurotransmitters
How do Depressants influence consciousness?
*Decreases nervous system activity
*In moderate amounts it reduces anxiety and produces euphoria
What is Alcohol Myopia?
Short sighted thinking due to inability to pay attention to information
How is Alcohol a depressant? List other depressant types.
*Alcohol impairs reaction time, coordination and decision making as it’s content increases
*Barbiturates and Tranquillisers:
Sleeping tablets and Valium
How do Stimulants influence consciousness?
Stimulants arouse the neural system, increasing blood pressure, heart rate and overall alertness
e.g. Caffeine
List different types of powerful stimulants and their general effect
Amphetamines, Cocaine, Ecstasy: Boosts energy and mood
What are Opiates?
Drugs that provide pain relief and mood changes
List the different types of Opiates
Opium, morphine, codeine, heroin
What are Hallucinogens?
Drugs that distort our sensory
They very in affects on the neurotransmitter
List the different types of Hallucinogens
LSD and Magic mushrooms
What is the active ingredient of Marijuana, how does it effect Consciousness
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) creates euphoria, relaxation and enhanced sensory experiences
