Unit 6 States of Consciousness PDF

Unit 6: States of Consciousness Biological rhythms are internal rhythms of biological activity. A woman’s menstrual cycle is LEARNING OBJECTIVE an example of a biologi...

Unit 6: States of Consciousness Biological rhythms are internal rhythms of biological activity. A woman’s menstrual cycle is LEARNING OBJECTIVE an example of a biological rhythm—a recurring, Understand what is meant by consciousness cyclical pattern of bodily changes. One complete Explain how circadian rhythms are menstrual cycle takes about 28 days—a lunar involved in regulating the sleep-wake month—but many biological cycles are much cycle, and how circadian cycles can be shorter. disrupted Discuss the concept of sleep debt Circadian Rhythm is a biological rhythm that Describe several theories aimed at takes place over a period of about 24 hours. Our explaining the function of sleep sleep-wake cycle, which is linked to our Differentiate between REM and non- environment’s natural light-dark cycle, is REM sleep perhaps the most obvious example of a circadian Recognize the symptoms and treatments rhythm, but we also have daily fluctuations in of sleep disorders heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, and Describe how different categories of body temperature. drugs affect behavior and experience Homeostasis is the tendency to maintain a Understand the similarities and balance, or optimal level, within a biological differences of hypnosis and meditation system. Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN) The brain’s INTRODUCTION clock mechanism is located in an area of the Our lives involve regular, dramatic hypothalamus. changes in the degree to which we are aware of The axons of light-sensitive neurons in our surroundings and our internal states. While the retina provide information to the SCN based awake, we feel alert and aware of the many on the amount of light present, allowing this important things going on around us. Our internal clock to be synchronized with the outside experiences change dramatically while we are in world. deep sleep and once again when we are Disruptions of normal sleep dreaming. This chapter will discuss states of consciousness with a particular emphasis on 1. Jet Lag - is a collection of symptoms that sleep. The different stages of sleep will be results from the mismatch between our identified, and sleep disorders will be described. internal circadian cycles and our The chapter will close with discussions of altered environment. states of consciousness produced by 2. Rotating Shift Work - refers to a work psychoactive drugs, hypnosis, and meditation. schedule that changes from early to late on a daily or weekly basis Consciousness describes our awareness of 3. Sleep Debt - A person with a sleep debt internal and external stimuli. Awareness of does not get sufficient sleep on a chronic internal stimuli includes feeling pain, hunger, basis. thirst, sleepiness, and being aware of our thoughts and emotions. Awareness of external stimuli includes seeing the light from the sun, Why do we sleep? feeling the warmth of a room, and hearing the voice of a friend. Sleep - is distinguished by low levels of physical activity and reduced sensory awareness. As discussed by Siegel (2008), a definition of sleep Stage 1 is a transitional phase that occurs must also include mention of the interplay of the between wakefulness and sleep, the period circadian and homeostatic mechanisms that during which we drift off to sleep. During this regulate sleep. time, there is a slowdown in both the rates of Sleep rebound - refers to the fact that a sleep deprived individual will tend to take a shorter time to fall asleep during subsequent opportunities for sleep. Sleep is characterized by certain patterns of activity of the brain that can be visualized using electroencephalography (EEG), and different phases of sleep can be differentiated using EEG as well. Evolutionary psychology - is a discipline that studies how universal patterns of behavior and cognitive processes have evolved over time as a result of natural selection. Variations and adaptations in cognition and behavior make respiration and heartbeat. In addition, stage 1 individuals more or less successful in sleep involves a marked decrease in both overall reproducing and passing their genes to their muscle tension and core body temperature. offspring. Stage 2 Stages of Sleep the body goes into a state of deep relaxation. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep - is Theta waves still dominate the activity of the characterized by darting movements of the eyes brain, but they are interrupted by brief bursts of under closed eyelids. Brain waves during REM activity known as sleep spindles. A sleep spindle sleep appear very similar to brain waves during is a rapid burst of higher frequency brain waves wakefulness. that may be important for learning and memory. non-REM (NREM) sleep - is subdivided into four In addition, the appearance of K-complexes. A stages distinguished from each other and from K-complex is a very high amplitude pattern of wakefulness by characteristic patterns of brain brain activity that may in some cases occur in waves response to environmental stimuli. NREM Stages of sleep Stage 3 & stage 4 are often referred to as deep sleep or slow-wave sleep because these stages are characterized by low frequency (up to 4 Hz), high amplitude delta waves. During this time, an individual’s heart rate and respiration slow dramatically. It is much more difficult to awaken someone from sleep during stage 3 and stage 4 than during earlier stages. Interestingly, individuals who Two Kinds of Parasomnias: have increased levels of alpha brain wave activity. 1. Rapid Eye Movement (REM) - involves physically acting out dreams. Sleep Problems and Disorders Type of REM Parasomnias: 1. Insomnia - is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay Nightmare - are vivid dreams during sleep that can cause feelings of fear, asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and terror, and/or anxiety. not be able to get back to sleep. Sleep Paralysis - is a sleep disorder where individuals are not able to move How to diagnose Insomnia? For the body or limbs when falling asleep or insomnia to be diagnosed, these symptoms must waking up due to their muscles being be present at least three nights per week and the briefly paralyzed, even though they are sleep difficulty is present for at least one month. awake. REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) - What Causes Insomnia? is a REM parasomnia where individuals act out dramatic and/or violent dreams Stress during REM sleep. Travel or Work Schedule 2. Non-rapid Eye Movement (NREM) - also Poor sleep habits called disorders of arousal, occur during the Eating too much late in evening sleep-wake transition and are initiated during Medications non-rapid-eye-movement sleep or slow-wave Mental health disorders sleep. Medical conditions Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol Type of NREM Parasomnias: Sleep terrors/night terrors - arouses How to Prevent Insomnia? from sleep in a terrified state often accompanied by crying or screaming, Keep your bedtime and wake time with an increase in heart rate or consistent from day to day. breathing, sweating, or flushing of the Stay active skin. Check your medications to see if they Sleepwalking - occurs when a person may contribute to insomnia. appears to be awake and moving around Avoid or limit naps with eyes wide open but is actually Avoid or limit caffeine and alcohol, and asleep. don't use nicotine. Confusional arousals - occur when a Avoid large meals and beverages before person is awakened from a deep sleep bedtime. during the first part of the night. Make your bedroom comfortable for sleep. Create a relaxing bedtime ritual, such as What Causes Parasomnias? taking a warm bath, reading or listening to soft music. Personality disorders 2. Parasomnias - are disruptive sleep disorders Other stressors that can occur during arousals from REM sleep Drugs, for example, levodopa, beta- or arousals from NREM sleep. adrenergic drugs, and withdrawal of REM-suppressing medications  Fever Morning headache Sleep deprivation (lack of sleep) Episodes in which you stop breathing Possible hereditary/familial trend during sleep — which would be reported Relationship difficulties by another person Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia) Excessive daytime sleepiness How to Prevent Parasomnias? (hypersomnia) Difficulty paying attention while awake Get a full night of sleep every night Irritability Keep a regular sleep-wake schedule If you use sleeping pills, use the medication as directed What Causes Sleep Apnea? Make adjustments to your work schedule if you are a shift worker Excess weight Avoid alcohol and drug use Being older Smoking 3. Sleep Apnea - is a potentially serious sleep Family history Nasal congestion disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. How to Prevent Sleep Apnea? Two types of Sleep Apnea: Maintain a healthy weight 1. Obstructive sleep apnea - occurs when an Try yoga individual's airway becomes blocked during Alter your sleep position sleep. Use a humidifier Avoid alcohol and smoking 2. Central sleep apnea - occurs when your brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. 4. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) - an infant stops breathing during sleep and dies. What Causes SIDS? SIDS is a mysterious syndrome, and by its very Treatment for Sleep Apnea: definition the cause cannot be determined. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Children’s researchers have uncovered strong (CPAP) - device includes a mask that fits evidence that SIDS has a biological basis, and over the sleeper's nose and mouth, are continuing to work towards determining the which is connected to a pump that pumps underlying causes and identifying at-risk babies. air into the person's airways, forcing them to remain open. How to Prevent SIDS? place your baby on his back to sleep Symptoms of Sleep Apnea: keep fluffy blankets and stuffed animals out of his crib Loud snoring don’t overheat the baby or his room when Gasping for air during sleep he sleeps Awakening with a dry mouth  don’t allow anyone to smoke around your disorder, there is a compulsive pattern of drug baby use that is often associated with both physical breastfeed your baby and psychological dependence. 5. Narcolepsy - is a sleep disorder Keywords: Physical characterized by excessive sleepiness. Dependence/Psychological Dependence/Tolerance/Withdrawal/Drug What Causes Narcolepsy? Experts Drug Categories: don’t know what causes narcolepsy. They think it involves multiple things that come together to cause problems in your brain and disturb your REM sleep. How to Prevent Narcolepsy? Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Keep your bedroom dark and at a comfortable temperature. Make sure your bed and pillows are comfortable. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and heavy meals several hours before bedtime. Don't smoke. Do something relaxing, such as take a warm bath or read a book before going to sleep. Alcohol and Other Depressants Get regular exercise every day, which can help you sleep at night. Be sure you - Ethanol, which we commonly refer to as plan exercise several hours before bedtime. alcohol, is in a class of psychoactive drugs Plan naps during the day when you known as depressants. typically feel tired. This helps control daytime sleepiness and reduces the A depressant is a drug that tends to suppress number of unplanned sleep attacks. central nervous system activity. Other Stimulant medicines can help you stay depressants include barbiturates and awake during the day. benzodiazepines. Antidepressant medicines can help reduce episodes of cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations. Stimulants are drugs that tend to increase Sodium oxybate (Xyrem) works well to overall levels of neural activity. Many of these control cataplexy. It can also help control drugs act as daytime sleepiness. agonists of the dopamine neurotransmitter system. Substance Use and Abuse. A person who A. Methamphetamine is a type of has a substance use disorder often uses more amphetamine that can be made from of the substance than they originally intended to ingredients that are readily available (e.g., and continues to use that substance despite medications containing pseudoephedrine, a experiencing significant adverse consequences. compound found in many over-the-counter cold In individuals diagnosed with a substance use and flu remedies). directed to be relaxed and sleepy. The participant is told to be open to the B. The cocaine, amphetamine, cathinones, process of hypnosis, trust the hypnotist and let and MDMA users seek a euphoric high, go. feelings of intense elation and pleasure, The participant is encouraged to use his or her especially in those users who take the drug via imagination. intravenous injection or smoking. Meditation is the act of focusing on a single target (such as the breath or a repeated sound) C. Caffeine is another stimulant drug. to increase Generally, people use caffeine to maintain awareness of the moment. increased levels of alertness and arousal. D. Nicotine is highly addictive, and the use of tobacco products is associated with increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and a variety of cancers. E. Opioid is one of a category of drugs that includes heroin, morphine, methadone, and codeine. Opioids have analgesic properties; that is, they decrease pain. F. Hallucinogen is one of a class of drugs that results in profound alterations in sensory and perceptual experiences. G. Medical Marijuana - While the possession and use of marijuana is illegal in most states, it is now legal in Washington and Colorado to possess limited quantities of marijuana for recreational use Other States of Consciousness Hypnosis is a state of extreme self-focus and attention in which minimal attention is given to external stimuli. These steps are conducive to being open to the heightened suggestibility of hypnosis. The participant is guided to focus on one thing, such as the hypnotist’s words or a ticking watch. The participant is made comfortable and is CHAPTER SUMMARY States of consciousness vary over the course of the day and throughout our lives. Important factors in these changes are the biological rhythms, and, more specifically, the circadian rhythms. We devote a very large portion of time to sleep, and our brains have complex systems that control various aspects of sleep. Several hormones important for physical growth and maturation are secreted during sleep. While the reason we sleep remains something of a mystery, there is some evidence to suggest that sleep is very important to learning and memory. The different stages of sleep are characterized by the patterns of brain waves associated with each stage. As a person transitions from being awake to falling asleep, alpha waves are replaced by theta waves. Sleep spindles and K-complexes emerge in stage 2 sleep. Stage 3 and stage 4 are described as slow-wave sleep that is marked by a predominance of delta waves. REM sleep involves rapid movements of the eyes, paralysis of voluntary muscles, and dreaming. Both NREM and REM sleep appear to play important roles in learning and memory. Dreams may represent life events that are important to the dreamer. Many individuals suffer from some type of sleep disorder or disturbance at some point in their lives. Insomnia is a common experience in which people have difficulty falling or staying asleep. Parasomnias involve unwanted motor behavior or experiences throughout the sleep cycle and include RBD, sleepwalking, restless leg syndrome, and night terrors. Sleep apnea occurs when individuals stop breathing during their sleep, and in the case of sudden infant death syndrome, infants will stop breathing during sleep and die. Narcolepsy involves an irresistible urge to fall asleep during waking hours and is often associated with cataplexy and hallucination. Substance use disorder is defined in DSM-5 as a compulsive pattern of drug use despite negativeconsequences. Both physical and psychological dependence are important parts of this disorder. Alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressants that affect GABA neurotransmission. Cocaine, amphetamine, cathinones, and MDMA are all central nervous stimulants that agonize dopamine neurotransmission, while nicotine and caffeine affect acetylcholine and adenosine, respectively. Opiate drugs serve as powerful analgesics through their effects on the endogenous opioid neurotransmitter system, and hallucinogenic drugs cause pronounced changes in sensory and perceptual experiences. The hallucinogens are variable with regards to the specific neurotransmitter systems they affect. Hypnosis is a focus on the self that involves suggested changes of behavior and experience. Meditation involves relaxed, yet focused, awareness. Both hypnotic and meditative states may involve altered states of consciousness that have potential application for the treatment of a variety of physical and psychological disorders. Contents lifted from: Spielman, R. (2017). Psychology. Openstax edition. Retrieved from https://openstax.org/details/books/psychology.