Outline for M 17 States of Consciousness
History: Psychology began as the
study of States of Consciousness
Difficult to study scientifically
(behaviorist focused on observable behavior)
Consciousness returned to the scene in 1960s
Advances in neuroscience make study possible today
Conscious vs. Sub conscious – Iceberg example:
Tip of the iceberg (area sticking out of the water) = Consciousness
Just below the surface of the water = Subconscious
Deep below the surface = Unconscious
Conscious info. is processed in sequence,
It’s relatively slow, limited capacity
Subconscious info is processed
simultaneously/parallel tracks
(somewhat automatically)
Daydreams & Fantasies
Most daydreams involve familiar details,
alternative approaches to tasks,
preparation for future plans (adaptive), rehearsal,
sub. For impulsive desires/behavior, escape
Biological Rhythms p. 263
Annual cycles – seasons
28 day cycles – menstrual
24 hr cycles – night/day
90 min cycles – stages of sleep
Circadian rhythm – about a day (waking & sleeping)
Body temp. changes
chemical in your body: p. 265
melatonin – produced by pineal gland (light sensitive retinal proteins)
Jet lag – might cause you to notice your circadian cycle
Sleep Stages:
Cycle through 5 stages every 90 min. – EEG display this p.266
(Aserinsky, 1952)
alpha waves – see ex. 266
Sleep stage 1 – falling sensation, a transition stage when first falling asleep, 5 min., may experience hallucinations, side to side slow rolling movement of the eyes, low alpha waves
Stage 2-4 pulse, body temp, blood pressure all slow/drop, muscles relax deeper with each stage
Stages 2 - 20 min., sleep spindles – bursts of rapid activity, sleeper gets harder to awaken as the night progresses
Sleep talking possible as well as in other stages
Stages 3 – continuing into deeper sleep
Stage 4 (Delta Stage) – 20 -30 min for Stage 3, 4
See delta waves p. 266
Sleep walking likely to occur during this stage
Ascend back through the stages 3,2,1 NREM
Upon returning to 1 you enter REM (10 min)
Rapid Eye movement (paradoxical sleep)
Vivid dreams common
Muscles relaxed (paralysis) but brain waves resemble alertness,
heart rate & bp up
REM progressively get longer through out the night, delta shortens
1, 2, 3, 4 (NREM)
3, 2 (NREM),
1 REM
Need for sleep:
Protective role in evolution
Restore exhausted tissue
Consolidate memories
Growth time
Sleep disorders:
Insomnia
Narcolepsy
Sleep apnea
Night terrors
Sleep talking/walking
REM sleep disorder
Dream Theories:
Freud – dreams key to understanding inner conflict/desires
Information processing – sift, sort, fix days exp. in memory
Physiological function – stimulation for the brain
Activation-synthesis – brain attempt to make sense of neural activity
REM Rebound – rem sleep will increase/double if deprived of it