Psychology: Altered States of Consciousness
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Questions and Answers

What does consciousness mean?

A mental state when we are fully absorbed in our worlds and our thoughts are fixed on details.

What can cause Altered States of Consciousness?

  • Physiological
  • Psychological
  • Pharmacological
  • All of the above (correct)

    • Circadian Rhythms do not affect our biological functions.

    False

    What do Circadian Rhythms control?

    <p>Regular biological functions and fluctuations from high and low points during the day.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a form of Altered State of Consciousness?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    We spend about _____ of our lives in sleep.

    <p>1/3</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes REM sleep?

    <p>Brain waves similar to those of an awake person</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Insomnia is a temporary problem that usually stems from stressful life events.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which sleep disorder is characterized by periods when breathing stops?

    <p>Sleep Apnea</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily occurs during REM sleep?

    <p>Brain waves resemble those of an awake person.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which stage of sleep is characterized by 'Delta Sleep'?

    <p>Stage Four</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common effect of sleep deprivation?

    <p>Difficulties in sustaining performance on demanding tasks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about dreams is true?

    <p>REM sleep aids in memory consolidation related to dreams.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic feature of sleep apnea?

    <p>Periods of non-breathing during sleep.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one reason researchers are uncertain about why we sleep?

    <p>We have varying views on the necessity of sleep.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which sleep stage is notable for showing bursts of activity known as 'spindles'?

    <p>Stage Two</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do depressants and stimulants affect sleep?

    <p>They alter brain wave activity during sleep.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes altered states of consciousness?

    <p>A deviation from normal waking life that affects behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which physiological function is controlled by circadian rhythms?

    <p>Biological fluctuations such as blood pressure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does meditation have on physiological parameters?

    <p>Promotes deep relaxation and slows heart rate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How long does it typically take for the body to adjust to a consistent change in circadian rhythms?

    <p>Three weeks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about day dreaming is most accurate?

    <p>It can result in distractions from tasks requiring concentration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT true regarding hypnosis?

    <p>All individuals are equally susceptible to suggestion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following defines the impact of circadian rhythms on daily functions?

    <p>They directly influence hormonal secretion and body temperature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the main aspects affected by altered states of consciousness?

    <p>Behavior, thoughts, and physiological responses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a defining characteristic of narcolepsy?

    <p>A sudden loss of muscle tone and falling asleep unintentionally</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes sleep terrors?

    <p>They usually involve screaming and increased heart rate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of drug-induced experiences can heavily influence the effects of a substance?

    <p>The individual's expectations and emotional state</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In terms of addiction, what is psychological dependency primarily characterized by?

    <p>A craving for the pleasurable effects of a drug</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is chronic toxicity in relation to drugs?

    <p>Long-term health damage from prolonged use</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one potential consequence of developing a tolerance to a drug?

    <p>The need for larger doses to achieve the same effect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of sleep disorder involves a person moving or talking during sleep but typically does not respond to questions?

    <p>Parasomnias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes nightmares from other types of dreams?

    <p>They occur primarily in the REM stage of sleep</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Altered State of Consciousness (ASC)

    • Refers to any mental state deviating from normal waking life.
    • Often results in behavior different from the individual's norm.
    • Can be caused by physiological, psychological, or pharmacological factors.

    Circadian Rhythms (CR)

    • The body's internal 24-hour clock.
    • Affects biological functions like blood pressure, heart rate, appetite, sleep patterns, and hormone secretion.
    • Two key CR cycles: Alertness and Body temperature.
    • Disruptions to CR can lead to side effects and require time to adjust to a new pattern.
    • Body temperature typically rises throughout the day, from 97°F in the morning to potentially 98.5°F in the early evening.
    • Takes about three weeks for the body to adjust to a consistent change in CR.

    Forms of ASC

    • Meditation:

      • Often used as a treatment, particularly for addictions.
      • A process of deep relaxation.
      • Slows down heart rate and respiratory systems.
      • Increases brain wave activity.

    • Hypnosis:

      • Some individuals are more suggestible than others.
      • Can be used to control pain in medical treatments.
      • Requires participants to suspend usual rational and logical thinking.

    • Daydreaming:

      • May not have a significant effect on the individual.
      • Often occurs when someone:
        • Wishes to be elsewhere.
        • Engages in low-concentration activities.
        • Seeks escape from real-world demands.
      • Three groups of daydreamers identified by Singer (1975).

    • Sleep and Dreams:

      • Humans spend approximately one-third of their lives asleep.
      • The exact reasons for sleep and its necessity are still debated among researchers.
      • Falling asleep involves losing awareness and becoming unresponsive to stimuli that would normally wake us.
      • Dreams occur during both REM and non-REM sleep.
      • Depressants and stimulants affect dream stages.

    Stages of Sleep

    • Stage One: Irregular, low-voltage brain waves, slower pulse rate, and muscle relaxation.
    • Stage Two: Burst of brainwave activity (spindles) appear; accounts for about 50% of a night's sleep.
    • Stage Three: Spindles disappear, brain waves become longer and slower; marks the beginning of deep sleep.
    • Stage Four (Also known as Delta Sleep): Deepest stage of sleep with slow, even brain waves.
    • After Stage Four, individuals return to Stage Two, repeating the cycle.

    Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep

    • Occurs within Stage Four.

    • Brain waves resemble those of a waking person, indicating active brain activity.

    • Lasts approximately 10-15 minutes, followed by a return to Stage Two, restarting the sleep cycle.

    • The function of REM sleep is uncertain but believed to aid in:

      • Consolidation of memories post-learning.
      • 'Mental housekeeping' of non-essential thoughts and memories of the day.

    • Individuals tend to recall dreams with great detail when awakened during REM sleep.

    • Lucid dreams are defined in the textbook.

    Sleep Deprivation

    • Inadequate sleep affects motivation and sustained performance.
    • Less demanding, interesting, or shorter tasks can still be accomplished.
    • Challenging tasks requiring higher levels of attention, concentration, or focus become more difficult.

    Sleep Disorders

    • Insomnia: Difficulty sleeping, often caused by stress and can usually be temporary. Most common sleep disorder.
    • Sleep Apnea: Breathing stops during sleep, forcing individuals to briefly awaken to breathe. Textbook suggests possible causes.
    • Narcolepsy: Sudden onset of sleep.

    Altered States of Consciousness (ASC)

    • An awareness deviation from normal waking life, resulting in unusual behavior.
    • Caused by physiological, psychological, or pharmacological factors.

    Circadian Rhythms (CR)

    • The body's internal 24-hour clock controlling biological functions.
    • Affects blood pressure, heart rate, appetite, sleep patterns, and hormone secretion.
    • Key cycles include alertness and body temperature rhythms.
    • Impacts reasoning, learning, rest, reproduction, work productivity, etc.
    • Disruption leads to side effects and requires time to readjust.
    • Body temperature increases throughout the day, taking three weeks to adjust to changes.

    Forms of Altered States of Consciousness

    Meditation

    • Often used as a treatment method, especially for addictions.
    • A deep relaxation technique.
    • Slows heart rate and respiratory systems.
    • Increases brain wave activity.

    Hypnosis

    • Individuals vary in suggestibility.
    • Used for pain control in medical treatments.
    • Requires individuals to suspend rational and logical thinking.

    Daydreaming

    • No universally agreed upon effect on individuals.
    • Often occurs when:
      • A person desires to be elsewhere.
      • Engaging in low-effort activities.
      • Escaping real-world demands.
    • Three groups of daydreaming (Singer, 1975).

    Sleep and Dreams

    • We spend approximately one-third of our lives sleeping.
    • The exact reason for sleep is unknown.
    • Sleep involves losing awareness and becoming unresponsive to stimuli.
    Stages of Sleep
    • Stage One: Irregular, low-voltage brain waves, slow pulse, and muscle relaxation.
    • Stage Two: Brain waves show bursts of activity called "spindles" (about 50% of total sleep).
    • Stage Three: Spindles disappear, brain waves become long and slow (deep sleep).
    • Stage Four: "Delta sleep," the deepest stage with slow, even brain waves.
    Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep
    • Occurs during stage four of sleep.
    • Brain waves resemble those of a waking person.
    • Lasts about 10-15 minutes.
    • Believed to aid in memory consolidation and "mental housekeeping."
    • Dreams are often recalled vividly when woken during REM sleep.
    • Dreams occur in both REM and non-REM sleep.
    • Use of depressants or stimulants affects dream stages.

    Sleep Deprivation

    • Insufficient sleep can harm motivation and performance.
    • Less demanding or short tasks can be accomplished.
    • More challenging tasks requiring focus and concentration become difficult.

    Sleep Disorders

    Insomnia

    • Inability to sleep.
    • Often caused by stress.
    • Usually temporary.
    • Most common sleep disorder.

    Sleep Apnea

    • Periods of sleep where breathing stops.
    • Individual awakens briefly to breathe.
    • Causes include:
      • Obesity
      • Genetics
      • Alcohol use

    Narcolepsy

    • Sudden loss of muscle tone, falling asleep unintentionally.
    • A sudden attack of REM sleep.
    • Causes and treatment vary.

    Nightmares

    • Frightening dreams, often recalled vividly.
    • Occur primarily during early morning hours in longer REM sleep.

    Sleep Talking

    • Not responsive to questions.
    • Utterances often nonsensical.

    Parasomnias

    • Sleepwalking: Eyes open, blank expression, shuffling movements.
    • Sleep Terrors: Sudden screams, eyes open, sweating, increased heart rate. Often occur early in the night.

    Drug-Induced Experiences

    • Heavily influenced by:
      • Individual expectations and emotional state.
      • Individual's physical and social environment.

    Psychoactive Drugs

    • Substances altering behavior, mood, perception, or thought processes.

    • Some are legal, while others are not.

    • Examples include:

      • Alcohol
      • Caffeine
      • Nicotine
      • Marijuana
      • Cocaine
      • Heroin

    • Administration methods include:

      • Oral
      • Injection
      • Inhalation
      • Absorption through skin or membranes

    • Associated hazards include:

      • Toxicity: Physical or psychological harm caused by drug usage.

        • Acute toxicity: Immediate harm from drug intake.
        • Chronic toxicity: Harm from long-term use.

      • Addiction:

        • Psychological dependency: Craving for the pleasurable effects of a drug.
        • Physical dependency: Continued use to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

      • Tolerance: The body's natural defense mechanism against harmful substances, requiring more drug for the same effect.

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    Description

    Explore the fascinating concepts of altered states of consciousness and circadian rhythms in this quiz. Learn how these phenomena impact behavior, physiological functions, and overall well-being. Dive into forms like meditation and their therapeutic uses.

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