States of Consciousness

Consciousness has always been interesting to psych. but has been researched more these days because we have much better tools to study the brain.

Monism vs. Dualism Monism mind and body are one; mind arises from the body and its functioning Dualism mind and body are separate; the mind can survive separate from the body

More of a historical philosophical debate, not fundamentally important to psychologists today.

Our level of awareness of ourselves and our environments. E.g. waking (different levels), sleep, hypnotic states, drugged states, etc.

We can operate on different levels (more than just conscious or unconscious).

As well, more than one might be operating at the same time.

Some suggested possible Levels of Consciousness include:

Conscious Level: information youre currently aware of; the current focus of your mind Nonconscious Level: body functions like heartbeat, breathing, digestion, temperature, etc. We are not usually aware of these. Preconscious Level: info. That is not in conscious awareness, but that you can bring there. - e.g. Roommate easily brought to mind

Subconscious Level: info. we cant consciously access, but that must exist because we can see the effects of the info. on our behaviour.

E.g. mere-exposure effect previously experienced stimuli are preferred, even if we cant remember it consciously. Nonsense words presented; later cant remember them, but when asked to choose among various nonsense words, we pick ones we saw earlier.

Priming is another example, where people do better on questions theyve seen before, even though they cant remember seeing them before. Not consciously remembered, but affects behaviour.

Unconscious Level: Psychoanalytic (Freudian) concept that unacceptable / painful thoughts and feelings are pushed out of our conscious minds down into our unconscious. NOT the same as being unconscious (from a head injury, anesthesia, etc) Not all agree with this concept. We will discuss it in more detail later when we talk about psychoanalytic perspectives.

Sleep is one state of consciousness.

Sleep is not the same as being unconscious (unconscious states can result from head injuries, anesthesia, etc)
Sleep is one part of our circadian rhythm, our daily cycle in our metabolism, activity levels, states of consciousness, etc.

Sleep Onset when we fall asleep; period of time between being awake and asleep.

Stages 1 4 of sleep. 1 is lighter sleep, 4 is the deepest sleep. We cycle between these stages as we sleep. We spend less time in deeper sleep levels as the night goes on.

Muscle atonia muscles lose strength, they dont make big movements during REM sleep maybe to keep us from moving too much in our sleep.

Stage 1 Sleep EEG measures theta waves which are generally high frequency (come often) and low amplitude (low height).

Stage 2 Sleep Also theta waves, and they get less frequent and higher amplitude as we progress into deeper sleep. Stage 2 we can also see sleep spindles, which are short periods of rapid brain waves.

Stages 3 and 4 can also be called delta sleep because we can see delta waves in these stages. Delta waves are low frequency (slower), and indicate deep sleep. Delta sleep is important for maintenance of our healthy body and immune system. If deprived, immune system problems can occur.

From stage 4, we climb back up through the stages towards Stage 1 Sleep again. When we get to stage 1 we go into a special sleep stage called REM Sleep. Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REM) brains become very active, includes some muscle twitching, especially the eyes, but large muscle movements are suppressed.

Muscle atonia muscles lose strength, they dont make big movements during REM sleep maybe to keep us from moving too much in our sleep.

REM sleep can also be called paradoxical sleep, because even though we are asleep, our brains are very active. Dreams are much more likely to happen in REM stages of sleep.

If you stop people from getting REM sleep, they will spend more time in REM stages the next time they sleep. Being more stressed will also increase the time spent in REM sleep. This suggests that it is important for maintenance or functioning somehow, though this is not well understood yet.

Some psychologists think that REM sleep is important for processing new information and sorting out mental things, including setting memories firmly into our long term memory. Babies do a lot of REM sleep, which might support this idea. Because they learn so many new things and encounter new stimuli a lot, maybe they need to do more sorting that adults do.

We spend less time both sleeping and in REM sleep as we get older.

Some people remember dreams more than others. Lucid Dreams when you know you are dreaming, and have a high degree of control. Often these dreams are very realistic and detailed. Dreams are very difficult to study. We usually need to rely on peoples self-reports.

1. Sigmund Freud / Psychoanalysis think we act out our desires in our dreams, studying dream content can tell us about our secret, hidden unconscious desires.

These are usually hidden from our conscious mind, but our dreams can give us clues to help us find out what they are. Even in our sleep we are protected from these thoughts and desires protected sleep

Because we are still protected from these unacceptable or painful thoughts and memories, our dreams have TWO layers of meaning. Manifest Content the actual content of the dream, the literal story, characters, etc. Latent Content the symbolic meaning that our mind wraps in manifest content to protect us. Latent shows our true unconscious desire

For example, falling in a dream is the manifest content, but the latent content (or meaning) might be interpreted as giving in to (or surrendering yourself to) an unconscious desire. Psychoanalytic dream theory is very difficult to test, so it is not often considered very seriously by psychologists these days.

2. Activation-Synthesis Theory: A biological explanation; our brains are biologically activated, and meaningless neural signals are sent during sleep. Our brains automatically make up a story to match the kinds of signals that are being sent. This could be why dreams can be so illogical and nonsensical.

3. Information-Processing Theory: stress and new information increases our dreams, so maybe dreams are when our brains are integrating and processing that information. Dreams can often include important things from our recent daily activities.

This is connected to activation-synthesis (story making), but also includes meaning.

Insomnia persistent problems getting to sleep, or staying asleep. Diagnosed, insomnia is more serious and continuing than an occasional problem sleeping.

Changed patterns of sleep, exercise, and avoiding caffeine can often help insomniacs.

Narcolepsy feelings of intense sleepiness and falling asleep at strange and possibly dangerous times. Some say overwhelming sleepiness) Narcolepsy can be very dangerous; e.g. people could fall asleep while driving. Medication and sleep pattern changes (including daytime naps) can help.

Sleep Apnea breathing difficulty in night that wakes people, preventing them from getting the deep sleep that they need for normal functioning. More likely to affect overweight people. Hard to diagnose because people often dont remember waking up due to sleep apnea. Respirators used to keep people breathing properly throughout the night.

Somnambulism (sleep walking) and Night Terrors movement and speech that occurs while the person is asleep; usually in stage 4 sleep early in the night; much more often in children. Usually not remembered when the person wakes up.

Somnambulism (sleep walking) and Night Terrors Night terrors are similar to sleep walking, but involve fear; the person will scream and move around.

Dans Father apparently suffered from Night Terrors when he was a child.

Hypnosis possibly an altered state of consciousness that includes increased control of hypnotized person by the hypnotist. Hypnotized people are more likely to follow suggestions. Sometimes seen as a greatly increased focus of attention, to the exclusion of other outside happenings.

Post-hypnotic amnesia forgetting what happened while you were hypnotized. Post-hypnotic suggestion while hypnotized, an instruction is given that the person should follow after the hypnotic state is over. Some people are more easily hypnotized. Those who are, are often also more likely to follow directions, and to strongly focus for long periods. - Dans hypnosis story

1. Role Theory hypnosis is not an altered state of consciousness, but people are just acting the way that society expects them to act in a hypnosis situation. Maybe some people are more willing to fill this role, so that could be why some are more easily hypnotized.

2. State Theory believe it really is an altered state of consciousness. Evidence people report experiencing their environment differently, and being able to change their health and experience of pain or addiction thanks to hypnosis.

However, very difficult to study / test. Many still skeptical of hypnosis.

3. Dissociation Theory (one specific version of state theory) Ernest Hilgards theory of hypnosis; involves us allowing our consciousness to split into TWO parts One part responds to suggestions from hypnotist Other is hidden observer that watches reality and keeps track of whats going on; protects us.

3. Dissociation Theory Ice water bath studies hypnotized people instructed to not feel pain, and put their hands in cold ice water normally very painful. Participants didnt report pain, but when told to lift finger if there is pain, participants did so. (hidden observer lifts finger)

Another hypnotized to not be able to hear

3. Dissociation Theory Hidden observer can protect us, and will stop us from doing something bad or dangerous while hypnotized. E.g. we wont hurt ourselves or others

Psychoactive Drugs drugs that affect our minds by changing brain chemistry; alter our state of consciousness Drugs can cause behavioural and mental changes due to biological changes, but can also be due to placebo effect (expected changes alone can cause change)

Blood-Brain Barrier protection mechanism; separates circulating blood from the brain fluid by thicker blood vessel walls Allows our body to control what goes into our brain fluid.

However, some things are small, and can pass easily from the blood to the brain.

Psychoactive drugs somehow alter our brain activity, by changing how we interact with neurotransmitters.

Some are agonists, that mimic neurotransmitter action by activating receptors. E.g. morphine activates endorphin receptors. Some are antagonists, that reduce normal transmitter functioning by entering receptors, but not activating them.

Others might increase neurotransmitter activity by blocking reuptake of used neurotransmitters, so they stay in the synapse and stay active. E.g. SSRIs Over time, drug use can cause the brain to produce less neurotransmitter. This leads to tolerance a need for more of the drug to make the same effect as before.

Strong tolerance will mean withdrawal symptoms if the person stops taking the drug. Body reacting to the lack of neurotransmitter or the substance that was replacing it. E.g. headaches, nausea, sweating, shaking, anxiety, etc. Addiction a psychological or physical (or both) need to take a drug. Also called dependence. Physical dependence will mean withdrawal symptoms will occur if you quit

Stimulants Speed up brain and body processes, including autonomic nervous system processes (heartbeat rate, breathing, etc.); also feelings of elevated mood / euphoria E.g. caffeine (coffee), nicotine (cigarettes), cocaine, amphetamines, Side Effects disturbed sleep, reduced sleep, increased anxiety.

Depressants slow down mental and body systems, also euphoric feelings.

Include alcohol, barbiturates (kind of sedative), tranquilizers, antianxiety drugs (e.g. Valium).

Alcohol very well studied drug; also commonly used, for thousands of years It slows our reactions, reduces our ability to make judgments, reduces our inhibitions (so we might do things we wouldnt do without alcohol) Also affects cerebellum, so we become less coordinated, clumsy; a lot can make it hard to walk and move around.

Hallucinogens / Psychedelic Drugs: change how we perceive reality, possible hallucinations, change in perception of time, vivid fantasies, etc. Effects can be more unpredictable than those of depressants and stimulants.

E.g. LSD, peyote, psychoactive mushrooms, marijuana

Hallucinogens tend to stay in the body for longer periods, which means taking the drug again later can cause larger effects.

The remaining drug from last time adds to the newly taken drug, to add to a larger effect.
This can be called reverse tolerance.

Opiates: agonists for endorphins (our natural painkilling / euphoria neurotransmitter) so they elevate our mood and kill pain. E.g. opium, morphine, heroine, methadone (sometimes used to treat heroine addiction), codeine Very physically addicting. Strong tolerance and withdrawal.