Questions and Answers
What is consciousness?
A state of awareness referring to knowing or being aware of ongoing experiences occurring both internally and in the world around us.
What is self-awareness?
A special understanding of the self as distinct from other stimuli.
What role does consciousness play in alertness?
It allows bodies to repair and conserve energy while maximizing safety.
How does consciousness influence our response to danger?
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What is consciousness as self-awareness correlated with?
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What is the Rouge Test used for?
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What is required for consciousness according to the biology of consciousness?
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What is the Default Mode Network (DMN)?
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What is meant by 'state of awareness'?
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What characterizes the state of sleep?
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How is waking defined in terms of consciousness?
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What are circadian rhythms?
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What is the biological clock?
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What are zeitgebers?
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How does modern living affect circadian rhythms?
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What is major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern?
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What is indicated by individual variations in circadian rhythms?
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Study Notes
Consciousness
- A state of awareness encompassing internal experiences and the external environment.
Self-Awareness
- Involves recognizing oneself as distinct from other stimuli; focuses on individual identity.
Variations in Alertness
- Consciousness aids in bodily repair and energy conservation.
- Enhances safety by promoting sleep during survival-conducive cycles.
Awareness of Ongoing Sensations
- Facilitates deliberate response choices rather than instinctive reactions.
- Enables responses to danger, including fighting, fleeing, or waiting for more information.
Self-Awareness and Survival
- Enhances survival motivation; allows appropriate response selection to threats.
- Recognition of being alive correlates with heightened self-preservation meaning.
- High self-awareness appears unique to humans.
Rouge Test
- A child's self-awareness is assessed by placing a dot on their forehead and observing their reaction in a mirror, starting around 18 months.
- Used to measure self-recognition in non-human primates like chimpanzees and gorillas.
Biology of Consciousness
- Consciousness requires communication between the thalamus and cerebral cortex.
- Dysfunction of the thalamus affects sensory information but not overall consciousness.
- The reticular formation adjusts levels of conscious awareness.
Default Mode Network (DMN)
- Manages unconscious background activity, preparing the brain for conscious thought.
- Activity increases during mind wandering and self-reflection; decreases during focused tasks.
- Correlated with feelings of unhappiness and self-directed thoughts.
Levels of Awareness
- The state of awareness can vary in realism and intensity, reflecting internal and external states.
Content of Awareness
- Represents the active focus on both internal stimuli and external environments.
Sleep
- A normal consciousness state with decreased awareness of surroundings and external stimuli.
Waking
- Characterized by alertness and awareness of external stimuli; represents an active state of consciousness.
Circadian Rhythms
- Daily biological rhythms governing sleep and waking patterns, influenced by both internal and external factors.
Biological Clock
- An internal timing mechanism, typically regulated by the hypothalamus, overseeing processes like sleep and hunger.
- Interacts with external cues known as zeitgebers to maintain synchronization.
Zeitgebers
- External stimuli that aid in identifying the time of day.
Circadian Rhythms and Modern Living
- Artificial lighting has altered traditional sleep-wake patterns, leading to potential health issues.
- Shift work can result in maladaptation syndrome, impacting health and social interactions.
- Jet lag from time zone changes causes fatigue and irritability, often more pronounced traveling east.
- Daylight saving time leads to abrupt schedule shifts, associated with increased traffic accidents.
Major Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern
- Mood disorder characterized by consistent seasonal depression, often occurring in winter, previously known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Individual Variations in Circadian Rhythms
- People may be classified as morning or night individuals based on genetic differences influencing sleep patterns.
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Description
Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key concepts from Psychology Chapter 6: Elements of Consciousness. Each card presents important terms and their definitions related to consciousness and self-awareness, crucial for understanding this chapter's material.
