What is consciousness?Waking Consciousness• Thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that occur

when we are awake and alert

Altered States of Consciousness• A mental state that differs noticeably from

normal waking consciousness

Types of consciousness DaydreamingNapping SleepingDreamingUnconsciousPreconsciousMeditative stateHypnosisDrug-induced states (e.g. hallucinations)Near death experience

Consciousness and Information Processing Waking consciousness is the “tip of the

information processing iceberg”

Role of non-directed thought, napping, daydreaming and even sleeping

Freud’s Levels of Consciousness

Sleep and DreamingSleep is characterized as unresponsiveness

to the environment and limited physical mobility.

How much sleep do we really need?

Sleep deprivation results in deterioration of immune function, lowered ability to concentrate, and an increase in accidents.

Stages of SleepAs we begin to fall asleep our body

temperature drops, pulse rate drops, and our breathing slows.

Eventually, our eyes close and our brain shows alpha waves on the EEG, which is associated with the absence of thought and with relaxation.

Stage 1 – lightest level of sleep; pulse slows more, muscles relax, but breathing becomes uneven and brain waves grow irregular. Lasts about 10 minutes.

Stage 2 – eyes begin to role from side to side.

Stage 3 – About 30 minutes later, deeper sleep.

Stage IV – deepest sleep possible; may feel disoriented if suddenly woken up.

Sleepwalking, bed wetting, talking out loud all happen during this stage and it leaves no trace on the memory.

75% of sleep time is spent in stages I-IV by the average person.

REM sleep – stage of sleep with Rapid Eye Movement, high levels of brain activity, pulse rate and breathing become irregular, levels of adrenal and sexual hormones in the blood rise, deep relaxation of muscles, and dreaming occur.

How much sleep do we need?

Circadian RhythmOur biological clock that is genetically

programmed to regulate physiological responses within a 24-25 hr time period.

Controls body temperature, metabolism, blood pressure, hormone levels, and hunger.

Role of light in regulating cycles (optic nerve and skin)

Pineal gland and melatonin

Jet lag is the result of desynchronization of the circadian rhythm (shift work, sleep deprivation, DS time change)

Sleep DisordersSleep is essential for mental

and physical restoration.

However, some people suffer from a variety of sleep disorders that keep them from getting sufficient rest.

Insomnia is a failure to get enough sleep at night in order to feel rested the next day.

Anxiety, depression, overuse of alcohol and drugs can cause insomnia.

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder in which someone had problems breathing or stops breathing for a brief period of time.

Affects 1 in 100 Americans.

Can be caused by a blockage of the airway, throat, middle and ear infections, or even obesity.

Narcolepsy is a condition characterized by suddenly falling asleep or feeling very sleepy during the day.

Can cause unusual sleep and dream patterns, as well as paralysis.

Nightmares are unpleasant dreams.

Night terrors are sleep disruptions that occur during Stage IV sleep, which can often involve screaming, panic, sweating, increased heart rate or confusion.Can last up to 20

minutes.

Sleepwalking is being partly, but not totally awake.

Sleepwalking can be inherited

Sleep talking is a common disruption; most people talk in their sleep, but do not have any memory of doing so.

DreamsEveryone dreams and most

people do remember their dreams.

Dreams we remember often times were interesting; filled with action, sensuality, emotion.

Dreams involve strenuous activity or passive events (watching tv or reading a book). Most dreams involve negative or unpleasant emotions (anxiety, sadness, fear, anger).

Dreams do not occur in a split second, but in a realistic time frame.

What are dreams? Why do we dream?Dreams are an extension of concerns in daily life

(Calvin Hall), and so…

Wish Fulfillment Freud suggested that dreams provide a psychic safety valve to deal with unacceptable feelings. The dream’s manifest (apparent) content may also have symbolic meanings (latent content) that signify our unacceptable feelings.

Information Processing Dreams may help sift, sort, and fix a day’s experiences in our memories. Memory consolidation model

Dream InterpretationFreud believed tat no matter how simple a

dream, dreams contain clues to thought one is afraid to acknowledge with in a conscious state.

http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionary/

Daydreams require a low level of awareness and involves fantasizing or thinking about something specific.

Daydreaming can help our creativity and can help control our emotions.

HypnosisHypnosis is a form of altered consciousness in which

people become highly suggestible to changes in behavior and thought.

Hypnosis Trance-like state in which people can respond more easily to suggestionHypnotic susceptibilityInduction and depth

Therapeutic uses of hypnotherapyHypnosis has been used in conjunction with

psychotherapy and as an anesthetic in dentistry and surgery

Smoking cessation, pain relief

Theories of HypnosisTheodore Barber

Hypnosis is not a special state of consciousness, but a simple result of suggestibility.

People try their hardest when they are given instructions, therefore being able to do whatever they are told by a hypnotist.

Ernest HilgardSomething special about the hypnotic state.People who are hypnotized are highly suggestible

and do what the hypnotist tells them, yet do not initiate the actions themselves.

Uses for HypnosisEntertainmentMedicalTherapeutic

Posthypnotic suggestions – suggestions made to forget or remember once the trace is over.

Hypnotic analgesia – reduction of pain in people who undergo hypnosis for medical purposes.

BiofeedbackBiofeedback – process of learning to

control bodily states with the help of machines monitoring the states to be controlled.

Monitors and records physiological responses, including brain waves, heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, and sweat gland activity.

“Feedback makes learning possible”

MeditationMeditation

Techniques which improve the ability to focus and relax

Suppresses activity of the sympathetic nervous system

Brain activity similar to deep sleep states

Drugs and ConsciousnessPsychoactive drugs –

chemicals that affect the nervous system, which alter a person’s mood, perception, and behavior.

These drugs range from caffeine (coffee, soda) to depressants like alcohol and hallucinogens (LSD, marijuana)

ToleranceEffects diminish requiring more substance to

obtain the original effect

WithdrawalPhysical discomfort when the substance is

stopped. Believed to be related to deficit of neurotransmitters

How do drugs work?Drugs are carried through the blood stream

then absorbed into target tissue

MarijuanaMarijuana is a plant that is

dried.

Hashish is a gummy powder taken from the flower tops.

Active ingredient in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Commonly found in Cannabis sativa (weed), or Indian hemp.

Marijuana is typically smoked, but can be cooked in food and eaten.

Hallucinations Seeing, hearing,

smelling, tasting, or feeling things that do not exist.

Can be caused by meditation, hypnosis, certain drugs, drug withdrawal, sleep deprivation or psychological breakdown.

HallucinogensFound in plants all

over the world

Drugs that usually cause hallucinations.

Psychedelics are hallucinogens that cause a loss of contact with reality.

Most common and potent hallucinogen – LSD

A does of a few millionths of a gram has a noticeable effect.

100 – 300 micrograms (average dose) causes a trip (experimental state) that can last 14-16 hours.

Usually taken as dissolving strips or in sugar cubes.

OpiatesAlso called narcotics…

opium, morphine, heroin.

Create pain reduction, euphoria (pleasurable state between wake and sleep).

Highly addictive

Overdose is usually due to respiratory failure.

Stimulants - Amphetamines and Meth

Amphetamines stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes, with devastating effects.

Ecstasy (Stimulant)Ecstasy or

Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) is a stimulant and mild hallucinogen. It produces a euphoric high and can damage serotonin-producing neurons, which results in a permanent deflation of mood and impairment of memory.

CocaineCocaine induces immediate euphoria followed by a

crash. Crack, a form of cocaine, can be smoked (Crack). Cocaine can also be sniffed or injected.

Prescription DrugsThe nonmedical use or abuse of prescription

drugs is a serious and growing public health problem in this country.

Most people take prescription medications responsibly; however, an estimated 48 million people (ages 12 and older) have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons in their lifetimes.

This represents approximately 20 percent of the U.S. population.

Monitoring the Future survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th-graders found that 9.3 percent of 12th-graders reported using Vicodin without a prescription in the past year, and 5.0 percent reported using OxyContin-making these medications among the most commonly abused prescription drugs by adolescents.

Most Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs Opiates, which are most often prescribed to treat pain;

Central nervous system (CNS) depressants, which are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders; and

Stimulants, which are prescribed to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

AlcoholMind altering substance Depressant that inhibits normal brain

function.

Effects of alcohol depend on amount of alcohol drinks consumed and hour and the drinker’s body weight.

Causes slurred speech, blurred vision, impaired judgment, memory loss, and blackouts.

Drug Abuse and TreatmentDrug abuse comes from boredom, wanting to

fit in, need for self-confidence, to forget problems/worries, relaxation, or just to feel good.

Drug abuse can cause death, possible overdose, damage to health, legal consequences, or destructive behavior.

Treatment includes :Drug abuser must admit they have a problemDrug abuser must enter a drug programDrug abuser must remain drug free; join a

support group; stay away from temptation.