consciousness and learning Flashcards
Define consciousness?
consciousness our immediate awareness of our internal and external states.
what is the definition of psychology according to William James?
Early psychologists defined psychology entirely as the study of consciousness. William James, for example, noted that our conscious awareness continually shifts based on what we’re paying attention to and how intensely we are attending to our environment
define the stream of consciousness?
James coined the term “stream of consciousness” to signify how we experience our conscious life because consciousness, like a running stream, keeps flowing with time.
define the term “ alter state of consciousness”?
altered states of consciousness a change in a person’s ability to be fully aware of their external surroundings and internal states. Ex: being asleep, having a dream, psychoactive drugs, anesthesia etc
define the term state of consciousness?
States of consciousness: Sleep, in contrast to being awake, is just one of several states of consciousness. Dreaming while sleeping is one of several altered states of consciousness.
define the components of conscious awareness?
1.states of consciousness the level of awareness we have of our external surroundings and internal states.
2.contents of consciousness specific thoughts we are aware of about our internal states or external surroundings.
what is the definition of consciousness based on Joh Ratey?
Psychiatric researcher John Ratey (2001) has pointed out that “Before we can be conscious of something . . . we have to pay attention to it.”
define multitasking?
Multitasking We often think we can manage to do several mental tasks at the same time however what our brain is really doing is switching quickly between tasks. only 2% of the people can truly perform several mental functioning.
who discovered reticular formation?
In the years 1940s and 1950s, Horace Winchell Magoun and colleagues (French, Von Amerongen, & Magoun, 1952; Moruzzi & Magoun, 1949) discovered that electrical stimulation of the brainstem, specifically a structure they named the reticular formation (see Chapter 3), could bring an animal out of a state of sleep into a state of alert arousal.
what happens if reticular formation get damaged in animals and humans?
in cases where this structure is damaged, an animal can no longer maintain a state of wakefulness.
This work was extended to humans, with the findings that individuals with damage to the front portion of the reticular formation or after meningoencephalitis, an infection of the meninges that covers the brain and presumably interfered with the functions of the reticular formation, had prolonged loss of consciousness.
Today we recognize damage to the reticular formation, and associated pontine structures in the hind brain, as one of the factors that may contribute to cases where individuals are in a “locked in,” or paralyzed and in non-communicative state like a coma
what is the function of hypothalamus in processing information or consciousness?
The hypothalamus, via several sub areas, including the paraventricular and mammillary nuclei, relays the signals received from the hindbrain reticular formation to the cortex to maintain an awake and attentive state
what is the consequence of damage in the hypothalamus?
Damage to the neurotransmitter systems of the hypothalamus, specifically the orexin system, can lead to disturbances of wakefulness such as narcolepsy
describe the function of Thalamus in relying the information in the brain?
The second area of the brain that is crucial for sending signals from the hindbrain to the forebrain or cortex for consciousness is the thalamus. Activation of loops of circuits between the thalamus, and the different sensory and motor areas of the cortex, is critical for us to be consciously aware of our surroundings.
what is the symptoms if thalamus is damaged?
lack of conscious awareness of specific parts of the body or our surrounding environments.
in what situation an individual can lose the awareness of its half of the body?
if the damage to the nuclei occurs in only one hemisphere, individuals lose awareness of only half of their bodies. They become unaware of all events that occur on one side of their visual field, for example, or unaware of all objects that touch one side of their body
what is the contribution of cerebral cortex in terms of awareness?
cerebral cortex—are in charge of one’s awareness of the information the cortex receives from subcortical structures.
explain the Weiskrantz experiment ?
the patients in Weiskrantz’s studies could and did readily attend to visual objects, yet because the primary visual areas in their cerebral cortex had been destroyed, they were unaware of those objects. Weiskrantz and others have concluded that the areas of the brain that help us attend to visual stimuli are different from the visual areas in the cerebral cortex that help us to be aware that we are attending to such stimuli.
what are some of the functions of the left and right cerebral cortex?
-the left cerebral cortex is responsible for verbal awareness and the ability to send a motor command to the mouth from Broca’s area in order for the word to be spoken.
In contrast, the right cerebral cortex seems to be responsible for non-verbal forms of conscious awareness.
define the sense of self concept?
fully awareness of oneself as separate being from others is sense of self.
what is Rouge test?
the mirror test to identify the level of consciousness of kids. it starts at the age of 22 months.
define the term preconsciousness?
Preconsciousness is a level of awareness in which information can become readily available to consciousness if necessary. Bringing to mind what you had for lunch last Tuesday might take a bit of work, but you should be able to pull the information out of your preconscious mind. When (or if) you finally do remember that bowl of soup, the memory has reached consciousness. many of our familiar behavior occur during preconsciousness.
define the unconscious state?
unconscious state state in which information is not easily accessible to conscious awareness.
describe the two type of memories based on the cognitive theorists?
cognitive theorists distinguish between two basic kinds of memory: explicit memory and implicit memory.
1. Explicit memories involve pieces of knowledge that we are fully aware of. Explicit memory is the conscious, intentional recovery of a memory. Knowing the date of your birth is an explicit memory.
2. Implicit memories refer to knowledge that we are not typically aware of—information that we cannot recall at will, but that we use in the performance of various tasks in life. it also involves functional information. cause of the current taken action.
describe the work of Gary Klein in regard to decision making and role of intuitive process?
Early work by psychologist Gary Klein, for example, examined decision making in firefighters. Klein expected that, given the huge stakes involved in fighting fires, fire chiefs typically must consider a range of scenarios and carefully weigh the pros and cons before acting. What he found instead was that when fighting fires, fire chiefs typically identify one possible decision immediately, run the scenario in their head, and if it doesn’t have any glaring errors, they go with it. Basically, the fire chiefs let their experience automatically generate a solution.
define disorders of consciousness?
Disorders of consciousness Patients who are in a coma, and on a ventilator, may still have brain activity in response to a naturalistic stimulus such as watching television.
define the Freudian slip?
slip of the tongue (called a Freudian slip) as a moment when the mind inadvertently allows a repressed idea into consciousness.
define the adaptive theory of sleep?
the adaptive theory of sleep, suggests that sleep is the evolutionary outcome of self-preservation.
what are the benefits of sleep?
sleep plays a role in the growth process, a notion consistent with the finding that the pituitary gland releases growth hormones during sleep. In fact, as we age, we release fewer of these hormones, grow less, and sleep less.
which neurotransmitter contribute to the sleep process?
GABA from hypothalamus signals to the rest of the brain to inhibit the wake promoting process.
define the restorative theory of sleep?
restorative theory of sleep, suggests that sleep allows the brain and body to restore certain depleted chemical resources, while eliminating chemical wastes that have accumulated during the waking day
what are some of the side effects of sleep deprivation?
Sleep deprivation also reduces the functioning of the immune system and has negative effects on cardiovascular health. As well, growth hormone production increases during sleep in adults, a process that would also promote restoration of body tissues and structures
define the term circadian rhythm?
circadian rhythm pattern of sleep–wake cycles that in human beings roughly corresponds to periods of daylight and night.
to which process do we call biological clock?
circadian rhythm is called biological clock cause the pattern repeats itself in 24 hr
define the term lark and owls?
lark is referred to the early morning person vs Owl to the last noon people.
define what is a clock genes ?
very cell in your body has its own internal clock, governed by circadian clock genes, and scientists are able to measure your unique body clock at the cellular level. These clock genes govern a variety of functions within the body and can be altered by stress and nutrition and can influence a person’s likelihood of developing a substance abuse disorder
what is found in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)?
the master control centre for your body’s internal clock and your own sleep–wake rhythm may be found in the brain area known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
define the suprachiasmatic nucleus?
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) a small group of neurons in the hypothalamus responsible for coordinating the many rhythms of the body.
describe the brain patterns?
Every 90 to 100 minutes over the first half of the night while we sleep, we pass through a sleep cycle that consists of five different stages.
- Over the latter part of the night, we tend to spend most time in the first two of these five stages and in rapid eye movement or REM sleep. Researchers have identified these stages by examining people’s brainwave patterns while they sleep, using a device called an electroencephalograph (EEG).
describe the firs 2 stages of the patterns of sleep?
> When we first go to bed and, still awake, begin to relax, EEG readings show that we experience what are called alpha waves.
1. When we finally doze off, EEG readings show that our brainwaves become smaller and irregular, signaling that we have entered Stage 1 sleep. Alpha-wave patterns are replaced by slower waves, called theta waves. it represent a bright between wakefulness and sleep.
2. A still further slowing of brainwave activity occurs during this stage, although we may also exhibit sleep spindles—bursts of brain activity that last a second or two. During Stage 2, our breathing becomes steadily rhythmic. Occasionally the body twitches, although generally our muscle tension relaxes. During this stage, which lasts 15 to 20 minutes, we can still be awakened fairly easily. towards the end of this stage, theta wave change to Delta wave.
describe the 3 last stages of sleep patterns?
- , Stage 3 and Stage 4, are characterized by very deep, slow wave, sleep. In Stage 3, between 20 and 50 percent of our EEG waves are delta waves.
- During Stage 4, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rates all drop to their lowest levels, and the sleeper seems cut off from the world. Although our muscles are most relaxed during this deepest phase of sleep, this is also the time when people are prone to sleepwalking. This is also the stage of sleep that changes most during adolescence. As the brain finishes maturing during this time, the amount of slow wave sleep declines to adult typical levels.
- , rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep. A graduate student in physiology, Eugene Aserinsky, discovered REM sleep when he attached electronic leads to his 8-year-old son’s head and eyelids to monitor his sleep and waking brainwaves. He found unexpected brainwave activity, suggesting his son “had woken up even though he hadn’t”
What happens during the REM sleep?
During REM sleep, we experience rapid and jagged brainwave patterns, increased heart rate, rapid and irregular breathing, rapid eye movements, and dreaming, in contrast to the slow waves of NREM sleep. REM sleep has been called paradoxical sleep because, even though the body remains deeply relaxed on the surface—almost paralyzed—we experience considerable activity internally
what is NERM?
stage 1-4 of normal sleep pattern.
define dream?
Dreams—emotional, story-like sensory experiences that usually occur during REM sleep—have proven to be endlessly fascinating to scientists, clinicians, philosophers, artists, and laypeople, probably because of their vividness and mysteriousness. Research suggests that actions in dreams run in real time—that is, it takes you as long to accomplish something in the dream as it would if you were performing the action while you were awake
define information-processing theory?
offers a cognitive view of dreaming. According to this view, dreams are the mind’s attempt to sort out and organize the day’s experiences and to fix them in memory.
what is the hypotheses proposed by Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley about dreaming?
activation-synthesis model theory that dreams result from the brain’s attempts to synthesize or organize random internally-generated signals and give them meaning.
when dreams occur, neurons in the brainstem get activated–> cerebral cortex produces visual and auditory signals – cingulate cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus gets activated as well.
what is the difference between manifest content of the dream and latent content?
Freud called the dream images that people are able to recall the manifest content of the dream. The unconscious elements of dreams are called the latent content. In our example, the young man’s desire for his sister-in-law (latent content)—a scandalous idea that he would never allow himself to have—is symbolized in the dream by a swim in the pool (manifest content)
define the nightmare?
Dreams filled with intense anxiety are called nightmares. The feeling of terror can be so great that the dreamer awakens from the dream, often crying out.
who is more likely to suffer from dream anxiety disorder?
People who experience frequent nightmares and become very distressed by their nightmares are considered to have a nightmare or dream anxiety disorder.
name a therapy that helps with reducing nightmares?
Cognitive interventions such as imagery rehearsal therapy, where an imagination of a new scenario rather than the nightmare imagery is practised.
define the lucid dreams?
lucid dreams dreams in which sleepers fully recognize that they are dreaming, and occasionally actively guide the outcome of the dream.
define the daydream?
Fantasies that occur while one is awake and mindful of external reality, but not fully conscious, are called daydreams
which area of the brain is activated during REM but not wakefulness?
muscle twitches during REM sleep activate hippocampal and cerebellar pathways; these same areas are not activated by motor behavior during wakefulness
what risks can be associated with lack of sleep?
muscle twitches during REM sleep activate hippocampal and cerebellar pathways; these same areas are not activated by motor behaviour during wakefulness for adolescence.
Lack of good sleep in adulthood may be related to psychological disorders such as dementia and depression
what is the main reason for the primary sleep disorder?
Primary sleep disorders typically arise from abnormalities in people’s circadian rhythms and sleep–wake mechanisms.
define insomnia?
People who suffer from insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, regularly cannot fall asleep or stay asleep .
what can be the main cause of snoring?
It is likely that many of these serious snorers suffer from sleep apnea, the second most common sleep disorder. People with this condition repeatedly stop breathing during the night, depriving the brain of oxygen and leading to frequent awakenings. Sleep apnea can result when the brain fails to send a “breathe signal” to the diaphragm and other breathing muscles, or when muscles at the top of the throat become too relaxed, allowing the windpipe to partially close. Sufferers stop breathing for up to 30 seconds or more as they sleep.
define the central disorder of hypersomnolence?
Excessive daytime sleepiness is characterized by feeling drowsy or chronically tired even after having a good night sleep.
- Narcolepsy is marked by an uncontrollable urge to fall asleep and muscle tone. can last up to 15 mins. can be genetic
which neuroreceptors can contribute in Narcolepsy?
Recent work by Maan Lee and his colleagues at the Montreal Neurological Institute has helped to identify orexin or hypocretin receptors in the hypothalamus and their potential role in narcolepsy. When these receptors under-function, narcolepsy results
what is delayed sleep phase syndrome?
Delayed sleep phase syndrome is characterized by a long delay in a person’s ability to fall asleep, often hours past the time they wish to fall asleep. Difficulty in waking up at the desired time in the morning is also characteristic of this disorder.
define the term advanced sleep phase disorder?
Individuals with this sleep difficulty tend to fall asleep early in the evening, between 6 and 9 p.m., prior to their desired time to fall asleep. They wake up in the early hours of the day, between 2 and 5 a.m., well before their desired time to wake. common on old and middle age people. can be genetic.
define the sleep related movement disorders?
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS) are disorders where individuals have strong urges to move their legs, usually in the evenings just prior to falling asleep, or during sleep in the case of PLMS. This condition is typically considered a sleep disorder since it usually gets worse when a person is still and just prior to going to sleep. Individuals describe this disorder as one where their legs are uncomfortable and they feel pins and needles, or experience a crawling feeling under the skin of their legs that leads to an uncontrollable urge to move their legs.
- Abnormalities in dopamine neurotransmitter system function is likely related to both disorders
what is parasomnia?
–Sleepwalking (somnabulism) most often takes place during the first three hours of sleep.
- Night terrors are related to sleepwalking. Individuals who suffer from this pattern awaken suddenly, sit up in bed, scream in extreme fear and agitation, and experience heightened heart and breathing rates. They appear to be in a state of panic and are often incoherent. Usually people suffering from night terrors do not remember the episodes the next morning. They tend to occur during Stages 3 and 4, the deepest stages of NREM sleep.
- REM Sleep Behavior Disorder: he usual small twitches that often occur they are moving about vigorously, and appear to be acting out their dream. This type of behavior is typical of REM sleep behavior disorder
define hypnosis?
hypnosis a seemingly altered state of consciousness during which individuals can be directed to act or experience the world in unusual ways
what was the argument of Spanos about hypnoses?
Nick Spanos working at Carleton University. Spanos argued that hypnosis subjects are actually role-playing—acting as they believe hypnotized people should act.
define the posthypnotic response?
A posthypnotic response is a behavior that was suggested while the person was hypnotized, but that is engaged in later when a specified sign is observed
what is posthypnotic amnesia?
Related to posthypnotic responses is the phenomenon of posthypnotic amnesia, in which the hypnotist directs the person to later forget information learned during hypnosis. the individual can remember the learnt behavior during hypnosis if the hypnotist provide a predetermined signal to remember.
what are some of the side effects caused by hypnosis?
- Hypnosis can also induce hallucinations, mental perceptions that do not match the physical stimulations coming from the world around us.
- Positive hallucinations are those in which people under hypnosis are guided to see objects or hear sounds that are not present. - — Negative hallucinations are those in which hypnotized people fail to see or hear stimuli that are present. Negative hallucinations are often used to control pain. The hypnotized person is directed to ignore—basically, to simply not perceive—pain. The hallucination may result in a total or partial reduction of pain
why hypnosis is used?
Beyond its use in the control of pain, hypnosis has been used successfully to help treat a variety of problems, such as anxiety, skin diseases, asthma, insomnia, stuttering, high blood pressure, warts, and other forms of infection, quit smoking or bad habits.
why does hypnosis work?
hypnosis is a state of divided consciousness . Another theory suggested by Canadian Nick Spano, sees hypnosis as an implementation of common social and cognitive processes or role-playing
how is the participant’s attention diverted form the pain?
- divided consciousness theory: hypnosis splits awareness into 2 parts; one part responds to the hypnotist’s suggestion, the other part continues to process pain information but at a less conscious level.
- social/cognitive process theory: the participants is highly motivated to believe in hypnosis, and, without awareness, works hard to ignore the pain.
what is dissociation by hypnosis?
a theory suggested by Ernest Hilgard: dissociation a splitting of consciousness into two dimensions.
