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Questions and Answers
What are the two key brain structures that are thought to be necessary for consciousness?
What are the two key brain structures that are thought to be necessary for consciousness?
The thalamus and the reticular formation.
Why might an animal's awareness of its surroundings be important for survival?
Why might an animal's awareness of its surroundings be important for survival?
It allows the animal to make more informed decisions and take actions that increase its chances of survival.
What is the default mode network (DMN) of the brain responsible for?
What is the default mode network (DMN) of the brain responsible for?
It maintains a high level of unconscious background activity and helps the brain prepare for conscious thought.
Which of the following is not an example of a state of awareness?
Which of the following is not an example of a state of awareness?
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What is the term for the daily biological rhythm that responds to both internal and external factors?
What is the term for the daily biological rhythm that responds to both internal and external factors?
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Travelling westward is more disruptive to circadian rhythms than travelling eastward.
Travelling westward is more disruptive to circadian rhythms than travelling eastward.
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What is the name of the mood disorder that occurs regularly at the same time each year, usually during the winter months?
What is the name of the mood disorder that occurs regularly at the same time each year, usually during the winter months?
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Sleepwalking occurs during REM sleep.
Sleepwalking occurs during REM sleep.
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What are the two main types of sleep?
What are the two main types of sleep?
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Which of the following is not a benefit of sleep?
Which of the following is not a benefit of sleep?
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What is the term for the conscious awareness of dreaming accompanied by the ability to control the content of the dream?
What is the term for the conscious awareness of dreaming accompanied by the ability to control the content of the dream?
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Which of the following is not a type of sleep disorder?
Which of the following is not a type of sleep disorder?
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Match the following sleep disorders with their descriptions:
Match the following sleep disorders with their descriptions:
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Breathing-related sleep disorders can lead to problems like heart disease and increased risk of stroke.
Breathing-related sleep disorders can lead to problems like heart disease and increased risk of stroke.
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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the most common cause of death in infants during the first six months of life.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the most common cause of death in infants during the first six months of life.
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What is the name of the disorder characterized by involuntary limb movements, often accompanied by tingling sensations?
What is the name of the disorder characterized by involuntary limb movements, often accompanied by tingling sensations?
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Which of the following is not a way in which consciousness can be altered?
Which of the following is not a way in which consciousness can be altered?
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A person in a vegetative state (VS) is completely unresponsive to stimuli.
A person in a vegetative state (VS) is completely unresponsive to stimuli.
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Brain death is considered irreversible.
Brain death is considered irreversible.
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What is the term for altered states of consciousness reported by people who have been close to death?
What is the term for altered states of consciousness reported by people who have been close to death?
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Seizures are always caused by brain injury or infection.
Seizures are always caused by brain injury or infection.
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What are the two main categories of seizures?
What are the two main categories of seizures?
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What is the term for the need to administer greater quantities of a drug to achieve the same subjective effect?
What is the term for the need to administer greater quantities of a drug to achieve the same subjective effect?
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Withdrawal symptoms are only physical in nature.
Withdrawal symptoms are only physical in nature.
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What are the three main neural systems that can be disrupted by drug addiction, leading to impulsive decision-making?
What are the three main neural systems that can be disrupted by drug addiction, leading to impulsive decision-making?
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Which of the following is not a commonly used psychoactive drug?
Which of the following is not a commonly used psychoactive drug?
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What is the term for an altered state of consciousness characterized by relaxation and increased suggestibility?
What is the term for an altered state of consciousness characterized by relaxation and increased suggestibility?
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Meditation is a voluntary alteration of consciousness characterized by positive emotion and a stream of thoughts.
Meditation is a voluntary alteration of consciousness characterized by positive emotion and a stream of thoughts.
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High doses of alcohol can lead to death.
High doses of alcohol can lead to death.
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Opioids, even in low doses, can lead to a state of euphoria and pain relief.
Opioids, even in low doses, can lead to a state of euphoria and pain relief.
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Study Notes
Consciousness: A State of Awareness
- Consciousness is awareness of ongoing internal and external experiences.
- Self-awareness is a specific understanding of oneself distinct from other stimuli.
- Certain brain structures (like the thalamus and reticular formation) are involved in consciousness but it's more useful to see it as resulting from change in brain networks.
Consciousness as Variations in Alertness
- Varying states of awareness might allow animals to repair their bodies and conserve energy.
- Maximizing survival requires adapting to activity levels depending on the time of day/night.
- Sleeping during times of low activity can be beneficial for animal survival.
Consciousness as Awareness of Sensations
- Consciousness allows the ability to choose how to react by processing information rather than reacting instinctively.
- Being consciously aware of sensations gives animals more options (ex., fleeing a predator).
- Consciousness increases survival chances.
Consciousness in the Brain
- The Default Mode Network (DMN) maintains unconscious background activity, helping the brain prepare for conscious thought.
Definition of Consciousness
- State of Awareness: The level of awareness of internal states and surroundings, which can be high or low, and realistic or distorted. (e.g., asleep, awake, meditating, hallucinating)
- Content of Awareness: The ongoing catalog of internal and external stimuli. (e.g., hearing music, feeling hungry, thinking about a news report)
- Self-Awareness: Understanding of the self as separate from other stimuli. (e.g., knowing you're looking in a mirror, knowing you're dreaming)
Circadian Rhythms
- Sleep is a normal state of consciousness characterized by reduced awareness of external stimuli.
Sleep Disorders
- Sleepwalking: Occurs in stages 3 and 4 of NREM sleep.
- Sleep talking: Occurs in lighter stages of NREM sleep.
- Nightmares: Associated with REM sleep.
- Sleep terrors: Associated with NREM sleep.
The EEG During Sleep
- Sleep is a mixture of NREM and REM sleep.
- EEG recordings demonstrate different waveforms (theta, delta, etc) during various stages of sleep.
Features of Wakefulness and Sleep
- Brain activity recorded by EEG varies depending on wakefulness and sleep stage.
- Different stages of sleep have different levels of responsiveness to stimuli.
- REM sleep resembles brain activity typical of wakefulness, but is accompanied by muscle paralysis.
Benefits of Sleep
- Stages 3 and 4 of NREM sleep repair the body and release growth hormones.
- Sleep restores energy and improves memory.
Daydreaming
- Daydreaming is a spontaneous experience in a no-task, no-stimulus, and no-response situation.
- Daydreaming is correlated with the Default Mode Network (DMN).
Sleep Disorders
- Insomnia: Inability to initiate or maintain normal sleep.
- Narcolepsy: Consists of 'sleep attacks' where REM sleep occurs during wakefulness.
- Cataplexy: Muscle paralysis during wakefulness.
- Breathing-related sleep disorders: Include sleep apnea, where breathing stops and starts repeatedly.
Consciousness and Brain Damage
- Coma: Abnormal state of deep unconsciousness, caused by damage to cerebral hemispheres or the reticular formation.
- Vegetative State (VS): Wakefulness without consciousness.
- Brain death: Irreversible lack of measurable brain activity.
Seizures
- Seizures: Abnormally high brain activation; often classified as tonic-clonic or absence.
- Partial seizures originate in one area of the brain and can spread.
- Generalized seizures affect the whole brain.
Psychoactive Drugs
- Psychoactive drugs alter a person's state of consciousness.
- Some, such as marijuana, LSD, and caffeine, affect perception.
- Some, like alcohol, opioids, and nicotine, affect behaviour.
Non-drug Methods for Altering Consciousness
- Hypnosis is characterised by relaxation and increased suggestibility.
- Meditation is a voluntary alteration of consciousness.
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Description
Explore the intriguing concepts of consciousness and self-awareness. This quiz delves into how varying states of awareness affect survival and decision-making in animals. Understand the critical brain structures involved and their role in creating different levels of alertness.