States of Consciousness (Modules 7-10) Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in States of Consciousness (Modules 7-10) Deck (81)
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1
Q

Consciousness

A

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment

2
Q

Cognitive Neuroscience

A

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory and language)

3
Q

Dual processing

A

The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

4
Q

Selective Attention

A

The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

5
Q

Inattentional Blindness

A

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

6
Q

Change Blindness

A

Failing to notice changes in the environment

7
Q

What machine do they use to study sleep?

A

Electroencephalograph

8
Q

Circadian Rhythm

A

The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle

9
Q

What two things can change our circadian rhythm?

A

Sleep and light

10
Q

How long does a full sleep cycle last?

A

90 minutes

11
Q

How many stages of sleep do you go through during that cycle?

A

4

12
Q

REM Sleep

A

Rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivd dreams commonly occur. AKA paradoxical sleep because muscles are relaxes but body systems are active.

13
Q

Alpha Waves

A

The relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

14
Q

Sleep

A

Periodic, natural, reversible loss of consciousness – as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia or hibernation

15
Q

Stage 1 of Sleep (NREM-1)

A

Sensation of falling or floating, brief. May include hallucinations, false sensory experiences such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus.

16
Q

Stage 2 of Sleep (NREM-2)

A

Relax more deeply, about 20 minutes. Sleep spindles, bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain-wave activity, occur here.

17
Q

Stage 3 of Sleep (NREM-3)

A

Lasts about 30 minutes. Delta waves, large and slow brain waves associated with deep sleep, occur here.

18
Q

REM Sleep

A

Heart rate rises, rapid and irregular breathing, darting eyes behind closed eyelids

19
Q

What happens to NREM-3 sleep as the night goes on?

A

Dream formation

20
Q

How much of an average night’s sleep do we spend in REM?

A

30-45 minutes

21
Q

How much do newborns sleep per night?

A

2/3 of their day

22
Q

How much do most adults sleep per night?

A

Less than 1/3 of their day

23
Q

What are some of the effects of getting too little sleep?

A

Difficulty studying, diminished productivity, tendency to make mistakes, irritability, fatigue, weight gain, stress

24
Q

List the 5 reasons that sleep may have evolved.

A
  1. Sleep protects.
  2. Sleep helps us recuperate (restore and repair brain tissue).
  3. Sleep is for making memories.
  4. Sleep feeds creative thinking.
  5. Sleep may play a role in the growth process.
25
Q

Insomnia

A

Persistent problems in falling or staying asleep

26
Q

What makes insomnia worse?

A

When drugs are discontinued

27
Q

What are the quick fixes for insomnia? Do they work?

A

Sleeping pills and alcohol; no, they aggravate the problem.

28
Q

Narcolepsy

A

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks, sufferers lapse directly into REM sleep at inopportune times

29
Q

What is the cause of narcolepsy?

A

Absence of a hypothalamic neural center that produces orexin, a neurotransmitter linked to alertness

30
Q

Sleep Apnea

A

A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings

31
Q

What are the causes/warning signs of sleep apnea?

A

Snoring at night, feeling tired during the day, high blood pressure

32
Q

Night Terrors

A

A sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; distinct from nightmares

33
Q

Who do night terrors usually affect?

A

Children

34
Q

During what stage of sleep do night terrors happen?

A

Stage 3

35
Q

Dream

A

“Hallucinations of the sleeping mind”

36
Q

What is the difference between daydreams and REM dreams?

A

Daydreams tend to involve familiar details of our life, but dreams can be vivid, emotional and bizarre.

37
Q

What can happen to sensory stimuli that occur while you are sleeping?

A

A similar sensory experience can happen in the dream

38
Q

Why do we dream?

A
  • To satisfy our own wishes (Freud)
  • To file away memories
  • Information-processing perspective: To develop and preserve neural pathways, to make sense of neural static, and to reflect cognitive development
39
Q

Who is responsible for the theory that we dream to satisfy our own wishes?

A

Sigmund Freud

40
Q

According to Freud, what is the purpose of dreaming?

A

Dreams are our unconscious selves revealing our own deep desires.

41
Q

Manifest content

A

The remembered story line of a dream

42
Q

Latent content

A

The underlying meaning of a dream

43
Q

What do most psychologists believe today about Freud’s dream theories?

A

There is no reason to believe that Freud’s theory are true.

44
Q

What happens if you deprive yourself of REM sleep for many days in a row? (REM rebound)

A

REM sleep increases; people return more and more quickly to the REM stage after falling asleep

45
Q

Psychoactive Drugs

A

A chemical substance that alters perception

46
Q

A drug’s overall effect depends on what two things?

A

Physical and psychological dependence

47
Q

Tolerance

A

The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug requiring larger intakes to achieve an effect

48
Q

Withdrawal

A

The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug

49
Q

Physical Dependence

A

A physiological need for a drug, marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued

50
Q

Psychological Dependence

A

A psychological need to use a drug, such as to relieve negative emotions

51
Q

Addiction

A

Compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences

52
Q

What are the three myths of addiction?

A

1) Addictive drugs quickly corrupt.
2) Addictions cannot be overcome voluntarily.
3) Addictions cover not just drug dependencies but many pleasure-seeking behaviors.

53
Q

Depressants

A

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

54
Q

Is alcohol a stimulant in small doses?

A

No

55
Q

What does it mean that alcohol is a disinhibitor?

A

Alcohol leaves you feeling invincible; drinkers may become hyper-aggressive or leave extravagant tips.

56
Q

Why, biologically, does alcohol relax the drinker?

A

Alcohol slows sympathetic nervous system activity.

57
Q

What effect does alcohol have on memory?

A

Alcohol disrupts processing of recent experiences into long-term memories.

58
Q

How does alcohol affect your self-control?

A

Self-control is reduced because alcohol reduced self-awareness.

59
Q

What effect does expectancy have on drinking?

A

When people believe that alcohol affects social behavior in certain ways, and they believe that they have consumed alcohol, they act accordingly.

60
Q

Barbiturates

A

Drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system reducing anxiety and impairing memory and judgment

61
Q

What are barbiturates commonly used for?

A

Induce sleep and reduce anxiety

62
Q

What is the effect of large doses of barbiturates?

A

Impaired memory and judgment, death

63
Q

Opiates

A

Opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

64
Q

What is the long term price of opiates?

A

Depression of neural functioning

65
Q

When you take an opiate, what does your brain stop producing?

A

Endorphins

66
Q

Examples of opiates

A

Opium, morphine, heroin

67
Q

Stimulants

A

Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

68
Q

Amphetamines

A

Stimulant. Drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes

69
Q

What do people use stimulants for?

A

Stay awake, lose weigh, boost mood or athletic performance

70
Q

Methamphetamine

A

Powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system and speeds up bodily functions, reduces baseline dopamine levles

71
Q

What neurotransmitters does meth trigger?

A

Dopamine

72
Q

What is the world’s most widely used stimulant?

A

Caffeine

73
Q

Nicotine

A

Addictive, mood-altering, reinforcing drug found in cigarettes, releases epinephrine and norepinephrine which diminishes appetite and boosts awareness

74
Q

Cocaine

A

Addictive drug that enters the blood stream quickly and leads to emotional disturbance, suspiciousness and cardiac arrest

75
Q

What neurotransmitters are affected by cocaine?

A

Dopamine, serotonin, and nonepinephrine

76
Q

Ecstasy (MDMA)

A

Stimulant and mild hallucinogen, amphetamine derivative, triggers dopamine release

77
Q

Hallucinogens (psychedelics)

A

Drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

78
Q

LSD

A

A powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid

79
Q

Marijuana (THC)

A

THC is a major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects including mild hallucinations

80
Q

What are some of the effects of marijuana?

A

Relaxation, disinhibits, produces a euphoric high, amplified sensitivity to colors, sounds, tastes and smells

81
Q

What diseases is medical marijuana used for?

A

Cancer, chronic pain disease, eating disorders, anxiety, depression and cramps