Psychology Chapter on Consciousness

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Questions and Answers

What does the Motor Cortex primarily do?

Initiates muscle movements (correct)

Regulates sleep stages

Generates readiness potential

Controls circadian rhythms

What is the primary function of sleep as mentioned?

Enhancement of sensory perception

Increase in motor functions

Conservation of energy (correct)

State of unconsciousness

What is Narcolepsy characterized by?

Inability to breathe during sleep

Periods of insomnia

Sudden attacks of sleepiness (correct)

Frequent nightmares

What role does Orexin play in the brain?

Maintains wakefulness Signup and view all the answers

Which brain mechanism generates an approximately 24-hour rhythm?

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Signup and view all the answers

What happens to circadian rhythms when one flies west?

They shift later each day Signup and view all the answers

What is the cycle duration for sleep stages?

90 to 100 minutes Signup and view all the answers

What type of dreams are typically reported more often?

Threatening dreams Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when someone is conscious of a stimulus?

The stimulus activates neurons more strongly. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term 'epiphenomenon' in the context of consciousness?

An accidental by-product with no purpose. Signup and view all the answers

How is the operational definition of consciousness characterized?

Conscious awareness is all-or-none. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common method used to examine unconscious processes in the brain?

Masked stimuli exposure. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does conscious experience of a stimulus typically have regarding timing?

It can occur slightly after the stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to neural activity when a stimulus is consciously processed?

Activity may inhibit responses to other stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of consciousness do researchers focus on today?

The subjective experience of awareness. Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher noted a significant question about existence related to consciousness?

Gottfried Leibniz Signup and view all the answers

What psychological phenomenon involves presenting a stimulus while blocking conscious perception of it?

Masking Signup and view all the answers

Which state is characterized by a complete lack of brain activity and an unresponsive state?

Brain Death Signup and view all the answers

What describes the gradual nature of voluntary decisions according to research?

They occur before the conscious awareness. Signup and view all the answers

What structure in the brain is responsible for the generation of circadian rhythms?

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of individuals with a Minimally Conscious State?

Brief periods of purposeful actions Signup and view all the answers

How do morning and evening people differ in their alertness patterns?

Morning people reach peak alertness early in the day. Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the cyclical changes in alertness over a 24-hour period?

Circadian Rhythm Signup and view all the answers

What does research suggest about people's ability to report their decision times accurately?

People may struggle with accurate reporting of decision times. Signup and view all the answers

What do sleep spindles primarily help with during sleep?

Storing memory Signup and view all the answers

Which phenomenon occurs during REM sleep?

Lucid dreaming Signup and view all the answers

What type of sleep disorder is characterized by prolonged creepy-crawly sensations in the legs?

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of REM Behavior Disorder?

Failure to inhibit muscular activity during REM Signup and view all the answers

Which type of sleep occurs after the first cycle of sleep?

REM sleep Signup and view all the answers

What is a common result when individuals are awakened during REM sleep?

They usually report dreaming Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes insomnia?

Subjectively unsatisfactory sleep Signup and view all the answers

What does the polysomnograph measure?

Brain waves and eye movements Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Consciousness

Operational definition: If a person is conscious of a stimulus, they can report being aware of it.
Masking: A stimulus is presented briefly, followed by an interfering stimulus, preventing conscious perception.
Flash suppression: Other visual distractions are presented to prevent conscious perception of a target stimulus.
Binocular rivalry: Two different images are presented to each eye, resulting in alternating perception of each image.
Brain processes stimuli unconsciously: This occurs even without conscious perception, helping to evaluate their importance.
Consciousness of a stimulus: Is an all-or-none process, either the brain activity spreads strongly or it doesn't.
Conscious experience of a stimulus: Is constructed slightly after the stimulus itself, rather than simultaneously.
Brain scans: Suggest consciousness in unresponsive patients.
Conscious decision to act: Brain activity responsible for the movement starts before the conscious decision is reported.
Possible function of conscious thought: To prepare for future actions when a similar situation arises.

Sleep and Dreams

Sleep: Is not a state of unconsciousness but a state of reduced or altered consciousness.
Sleep stages: People cycle through stages 1 to 4 and back through stages 3 and 2 to 1 again.
Electroencephalogram (EEG): Measures brain activity during sleep.
Polysomnograph: Combines EEG measurement with a simultaneous measurement of eye movements.
Sleep spindles: Seen in stage 2, waves of activity that are important for memory storage.
REM sleep: A special stage with high brain activity and relaxed muscles, often associated with dreaming.
Dream content: More dreams are threatening than pleasant.
Lucid dreaming: A state where part of the brain is awake and another part asleep.
Nightmares: Unpleasant dreams.
Night terrors: Causes the sleeper to awaken screaming and sweating.
Insomnia: Subjectively unsatisfactory sleep.
Apnea: No breathing during sleep.
Narcolepsy: Sudden attacks of sleepiness during the day.
Orexin: Important for maintaining long periods of wakefulness.
Circadian rhythms: Even in unchanging environments, people become sleepy in cycles of approximately 24 hours.
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus: A brain structure that generates the circadian rhythm of sleep and wakefulness.
Morning and evening people: Some people are more alert early in the day, others are more alert later in the day.
Jet lag: A period of discomfort and inefficiency when internal clock is out of phase with new surroundings.
Brain mechanisms of circadian rhythms: Sunlight does not generate the rhythm, but does reset it.
Need for sleep: Serves many functions, including energy conservation and strengthening memories.
Sleep-deprived people: Have difficulty maintaining attention.
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder: Prolonged creepy-crawly sensations in legs, accompanied by repetitive leg movements.
REM Behavior Disorder: Failure to inhibit muscular activity during REM sleep, resulting in actions during dreams.

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Description

Explore the fascinating concepts of consciousness in psychology. This quiz covers operational definitions, masking techniques, binocular rivalry, and unconscious brain processes related to stimulus perception. Test your understanding of how our conscious experiences are formed and the scientific investigations around them.