Psychology Chapter: Consciousness and Awareness

The state of being aware of ongoing experiences both internally and in the world around us.

A special understanding of the self as distinct from other stimuli. It allows us to recognize ourselves as individual entities.

Variations in alertness allow animals to conserve energy and maximize safety. Examples include going to sleep during the day if an animal is better equipped for activity at night.

The ability to choose responses rather than to respond instinctively. Animals that are conscious can process information and make decisions based on it.

A network of brain structures involved in maintaining unconscious background activity and preparing the brain for conscious thought.

A normal state of consciousness characterized by reduced awareness of external stimuli. It's a period of rest and restoration.

A normal state of consciousness characterized by alertness and awareness of external stimuli.

An internal mechanism that provides an approximate schedule for various physical processes in the body.

A daily biological rhythm that responds to a combination of internal and external factors, such as light and darkness. It's controlled by the hypothalamus.

A condition experienced when someone travels across time zones, disrupting their internal clock. Symptoms include feeling tired and disoriented.

A mood disorder in which depression occurs regularly at the same time each year, usually during the winter months. It is linked to changes in the amount of available sunlight.

A waveform pattern of 15 to 30 cycles per second recorded by electroencephalogram (EEG) that is typically observed when a person is awake and alert. It's associated with focused attention and active thinking.

A waveform pattern of 2 to 12 cycles per second recorded by electroencephalogram (EEG) that typically occurs when a person is awake but relaxed, such as when closing one's eyes.

A waveform pattern of more than 30 cycles per second recorded by electroencephalogram (EEG) that's associated with conscious attention to sensory input. It's involved in processing complex information and heightened awareness.

Spontaneous, subjective experiences that occur in a no-task, no-stimulus, and no-response situation. They are associated with the default mode network (DMN) but their purpose is unclear.

Components of sleep characterized by theta and delta waves activity as recorded by electroencephalogram (EEG) and deep physical relaxation.

A waveform pattern of 4-7 cycles per second that is characteristic of lighter stages of NREM sleep.

A waveform pattern of 1-4 cycles per second that indicates deep NREM sleep.

The component of sleep characterized by waveforms resembling waking activity, as measured by electroencephalogram, accompanied by rapid eye movements, muscular paralysis, and sympathetic nervous system activation.

A sleep disorder that occurs during NREM sleep when the sleeper wakes up suddenly in great distress but without experiencing the imagery of a nightmare. The person may sit up in bed, seem to be awake, talk incoherently, and cry out.

A mental state that occurs during sleep featuring visual imagery. Dreams often reflect ongoing neural activity.

A sleep disorder that consists of “sleep attacks” in which REM sleep occurs during wakefulness. People with narcolepsy may experience sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and cataplexy.

A sleep disorder characterized by the involuntary movement of an extremity, usually one leg. It causes a tingling sensation and urges to move.

A sleep disorder in which breathing can stop for a minute or two, and the sleeper usually awakens abruptly gasping for air.

A sleep disorder that occurs during REM sleep featuring vivid, disturbing dreams that cause the sleeper to wake up in fear. The person may remember the dream.

The inability to either initiate or maintain normal sleep.

A disorder characterized by muscle paralysis during wakefulness that occurs when the muscle paralysis normally associated with REM sleep happens unexpectedly.

An altered state of consciousness characterized by relaxation and increased suggestibility.

A voluntary alteration of consciousness characterized by positive emotion and absence of thought. It's a practice often used for relaxation and stress reduction.

An abnormal state of deep unconsciousness in which a person does not have sleep-wake cycles, cannot be awakened, does not respond to pain or light, and is incapable of voluntary behavior.

An abnormal state following brain injury featuring wakefulness without consciousness. The person may exhibit cycles of sleep and wakefulness, but they are essentially unaware of their surroundings.

Complete and irreversible lack of measurable brain activity. It's diagnosed by two flatline EEG recordings taken 24 hours apart.

An altered state of consciousness reported by people who were close to death because of medical problems that features an

Abnormal level of brain activation with a sudden onset.

Any drug with the capability of altering a person’s state of consciousness.

The need to administer greater quantities of a drug to achieve the same subjective effect.

Physical responses to the removal of some habitually administered drugs.