Module 2 Consciousness and Behavior

Description

Module 2 Part 1- Consciousness and Behavior. This module looks at different states of consciousness, in particular, it looks at the stages of sleep and existing sleep research. The biological basis of behavior is also examined, through looking at the brains hemispheres and lobes. You will also learn about the importance of the spinal cord. This module will also walk you through the effects of stress on the body.
Licette  Silva
Flashcards by Licette Silva, updated more than 1 year ago
Licette  Silva
Created by Licette Silva almost 6 years ago
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Question Answer
States of Consciousness Measurement of different physiological responses can indicate diff. states of consciousness: electrical activity of the brain and other physiological responses, including hear rate, body temperature and galvanic skin response. EEG or electroencephalograph, measures activity in the brain.
State of Consciousness; Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) used to make inferences about the changes in an individual's state of consciousness. The GSR measures changes in the electrical conductivity in the skin by using two electrodes placed on the skin and pssing a weak current between them. Sweaty skin has an increased conductivity.
SOC; Ways to study sleep: Electroencephalograph(EEG), electromyograph(EMG), electro-oculargram(eye movements) and sleep laboratories.
EEG- Electroencephalograph used to measure the electrical activity of the brain through small metal discs pasted on the scalp. Beta waves, Alpha waves, and Delta Waves. Awake and alert ppl. are using Beta waves, or busy waves, 15-30 cycles per second, which are high in frequency.
EMG An electromyograph(EMG) is a device that measures electrical activity in the muscles through electrodes attached to the chin. This machine helps to establish if a person is in rapid eye movement(REM) sleep, as the output would show low activity due to relaxed muscles(Atonia) in REM sleep.
EOG The electro-oculargram(EOG, eye movements) is used to measure eye movements by attaching electrodes to the skin around the eyes. It also assists in the recognition of REM sleep, as the EOG shows high activity due to rapid eye movements in REM sleep.
Sleep Laboratory Most sleep research takes place in a sleep laboratory. As a person's sleep is affected by their surroundings, a sleep lab. attempts to mimic a home. It contains one or more small bedrooms and furnishings and decorations are as homelike and comfortable as possible. A subject may spend a couple of nights in the sleep laboratory before data is recorded from them. as it is expected that they may be unsettled for the first night or two bc of the new environment. However, by the third night, sleep is essentially normal and from this pt on, observations can be considered useful.
Characteristics and Patterns of Sleep Stages Rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) and non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM sleep). When awake: EEG shows wave lengths low in amplitude and high in frequency called beta waves. When relaxed: alpha waves, high in amplitude and low in frequency. When asleep: alternating from REM to NREM sleep.
Sleep Cycle; 4 Stages of Sleep: Stage 1 1.Small, irregular waves which are a combo of alpha and theta waves. 2.The person is drowsy and drifting off into a light sleep from which they can be easily awoken. 3.Heart rate slows and muscles relax. 4. apart from the first entering stage 1, this stage is known as REM
Stage 2 of Sleep Cycle: In this stage sleep spindles begin to occur. These are sharply pointed waves recorded by the EEG. The EEG also shows rapid bursts of electrical activity with irregular brain waves.
Sleep Cycle; Stage 3 of sleep: This stage is characterized by the onset of slower delta waves. These brain waves are high in amplitude and low in frequency. At this stage, the person becomes harder to awaken, their breathing and pulse rate slow down and their temperature drops.
Sleep Cycle; Stage 4 of sleep This stage consists of pure delta waves and it is extremely difficult to rouse the sleeper. This is the stage when sleep walking, sleep talking and night terrors occur.
Sleep pattern: Stage 4 is reached about an hour into sleep.Then the person travels backwards, stage 3, stage 2, stage 1. When stage 1 is reached for the second time, REM sleep begins and the sleeper engages in about 10 min of dreaming. As the night progresses, the time spent in stages three and four decreases while REM sleep increases. The last stages or REM sleep can last up to one hour or so. The entire cycle of stages 1 -4 occurs approximately 4 to 6 times during an average 8 hr period of sleep.
REM Sleep 'paradoxical sleep' bc waves are similar to beta waves when awake. Jerky eye movement, increased heart rate, blood pressure rises and their breathing becomes faster and more irregular.
Sleep Deprivation results: irritability, tiredness, confusion, lack of concentration, headaches, hallucinations, and lack of energy. REM sleep is vital for our survival, and affects our ability to concentrate and remember.
Sleep Disorders; Insomnia This is when a person has problems getting adequate sleep. This can be a temporary or chronic problem. It may be caused by stress, depression, or changes in biological rhythms.
Hypersomnia The person experiences excessive daytime sleepiness and has extreme difficulty in awakening. The person feels drowsy during the day no matter how many hours the person has slept. This may be caused by other sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy or sleep Apnea.
Sleep Apnea This is a temporary cessation of breathing during the night(can be 20 seconds or more) which deprives the person of oxygen. It is associated with snoring where the person gulps for air then settles back to sleep. This may happen hundreds of times throughout the night and can be very dangerous to the person's health.
Narcolepsy The person has sudden uncontrollable sleep attacks where they go from being wide awake straight into REM sleep. The usual muscle paralysis of REM sleep occurs called Cataplexy. This disorder can be very dangerous, especially if a sleep attack happens when the person is driving or working with machinery.
Sleep Phenomena: Nightmares These occur during REM sleep and are frightening REM dreams. They can usually be remembered and usually occur during a REM episode toward the end of the night and early morning.
Night Terrors These occur during REM sleep (stage 4) and. bc the muscles are not paralyzed, involve violent body movements such as trashing about or running. The person often wakes up in a sweat and in extreme stress, unable to recall the night terror. Night terrors occur less frequently than nightmares and usually occur earlier in the night than nightmares.
Sleep Walking This occurs during the deep NREM sleep (stage 4) and hence it is difficult to wake the sleepwalker. It appears to be an inherited trait.
Sleep Talking This often accompanies sleep walking and also occurs during the deep stages of NREM sleep(stage 4). It is also thought to have a hereditary link.
Types of Dreams; Daydream A daydream is an altered state of consciousness where there is a change in brain wave patterns. The person is awake and experiences thoughts,images and sensations that are usually positive and pleasant in nature.
Positive Effects of Daydreams 1. a way of relieving anxiety 2. helping to keep mentally alert 3. helping to solve problems 4. increasing creativity
Nightdream A night dream is also an altered state of consciousness. They may be positive or negative and usually ppl. have little control over their contents. Dreams in REM sleep tend to be more emotional and story-like in quality compared to dreaming in NREM sleep. NREM dreaming is more like thinking.
Lucid Dreaming Lucid dreaming is when a person is aware that they are dreaming as is able to direct the action in the dream; the person has control over the sequence of events in the dream. This has been used as a therapeutic technique where the dreamer attempts to change the negative ending of the dream to overcome a traumatic event.
States of Consciousness; William James(1842-1910) American Psychologist, likened consciousness to a stream or river, 'stream of consciousness' - continuous and ever flowing, thoughts, sensations, images, and feelings are continually blending together into ea. other, always changing, and like a stream, never ending.
Consciousness Refers to the level of awareness of our internal state and of our external environment. It consists of the sensations, perceptions, and memories and feelings that we are aware of at any given moment. Existing at diff. levels from coma to fully alert in a state of hyperactivity.
Characteristics of Waking Consciousness we are awake, alert and aware of our thoughts, feelings, sensations and our environment. It is characterized by attention, memory, content and time limitations. There are shifts from internal to external.
High level and Lower Level AWarenesss The level of awareness in normal waking consciousness varies along a continuum between being alert, focused awareness and the minimal awareness characteristics of sleep. i.e. at the alert end of the continuum are activities that demand high concentration, such as sitting an exam or playing a video game.
Controlled Processes These types of activities involve controlled processes. Controlled processes require alert awareness, full attention and they interfere w/ other ongoing activities. Focused attention is an example of controlled processes within normal waking consciousness.
Automatic Processes awake but on 'automatic pilot'- Automatic processes occur with little awareness, require minimal attention and do not interfere with many other activities. i.e. driving and not paying attention
Daydreaming Ex of lowered awareness. Involves drifting onto a world of fantasy. Exp a reduced awareness of external stimuli. Usually occurs when a person is engaged in automatic processes where minimal attention to the task is required. Helps relax, alleviate boredom, and endure frustration.
Characteristics of Altered Consciousness -change in brain wave patterns -extreme sense of emotion, sensation, and thoughts. -Can occur naturally as in sleep or induced through meditation. -changes in perceptual and cognitive distortions -disorganized thoughts, illogical, lacking sequence -difficulty solving problems, information processing is impaired -lack of memory of past events or of altered state
Disturbed Time Sense ASOM-estimation of time is inaccurate -change in emotional state -more emotionally expressive -open to suggestions, behave w/o self control, let their guard down.
Description of pain -extreme pain can create an altered state of consciousness -can change thoughts, feeling and sensations -use of treatments to induce an ASOC such as meditation and biofeedback
Biofeedback -where an individual is given extreme feedback about bodily functions, i.e. blood pressure, pulse rate and muscle tension, to bring an automatic physiological function under voluntary control. -can learn to control these functions. -treat migraines, asthma, and other stress related illnesses.
Meditation -deliberate attempt to bring on an altered state of consciousness to exp. relaxation
Physiological Changes of Meditation -an altered brain wave pattern showing alpha waves -less oxygen consumption -less carbon dioxide exhaled -less muscle tension -lowered heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration rate. -calm and relaxation
Purpose of Sleep -restorative theory -survival theory
Purpose of Sleep; Survival Theory: -sleep serves as a protective behavior where the organism is inactive at the most dangerous time of the day. -adaptive process, evolved from ancestors -preserve energy, reduce heat loss -critique: asleep, an animal is less alert and potentially more vulnerable to attacks.
Purpose of Sleep; Restorative Theory: -physical growth, repair body -repair damaged cells, rid muscles of waste product -brain growth, restoration (stage 3 and 4) -ppl engaged in vigorous physical activity sleep longer.
Purpose of Sleep; Restorative Theory; Limitations: 1. inactive ppl. such as the disabled, do not necessarily sleep less than more active ppl. 2. it is not clear what, if anything, is restored and repaired during sleep. 3. during sleep we experience a fall in body temperature and metabolic rate which indicates that the body is conserving energy rather than restoring or rejuvenating itself.
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