States Of Consciousness

Consciousness

a state of being awake and aware of external stimuli and one's own mental activity

Circadian rhythm

biological 24 hour clock that impacts our sleep and wake cycle

NREM-1

hypnagogic sensations, sensation of falling or floating, jerking (alpha waves)

NREM-2

sleep spindles, k-complexes, rapid brain activity (theta waves)

NREM-3

sleep terrors, sleep talking, somnambulism, hard to awaken (delta waves)

REM

rapid eye movement, vivid dreams (beta waves)

Insomnia

persistent problems in falling or staying asleep

Narcolepsy

sudden attacks of overwhelming sleepiness

Sleep Apnea

moments where breathing stops during sleep, snorting

Latent Content

hidden meaning of a dream

Manifest Content

obvious events in a dream

Dissociation

a split in consciousness, allowing some thoughts and behaviors to collide

Psychoactive Drug

a drug that can produce mood changes and distorted perceptions

Tolerance

the diminishing effect of the regular use of the same drug which causes a person to consume a higher dosage

Withdrawal

discomfort and distress from stopping use of addictive substance

Substance Use Disorder

continued substance craving despite significant life disruption and physical and mental risks

Activation-Synthesis Theory

during dreaming, the brain attempts to create patterns out of random brain waves

Freud's Dream Theory

dreams satisfy our own unconscious wishes, safe place to discharge feelings and urges

Information Processing Theory

dreams help sort and develop new memories from events of the day

Physiological Theory

brain's high activity to replenish itself

Cognitive Development

brain maturation and development, dreams simulate reality by drawing on concepts and knowledge

Cocktail Party Effect

the ability of humans to focus all their attention on one speaker while tuning out competing and distracting noises in the background.

Schemas

a concept that organizes and interprets information

Stimulants

block reuptake of neurotransmitters, leads to increased energy, panic and anxiety

Depressants

increased neurotransmitter GABA, decreases reactions in the brain, slowed reactions, impaired speech and drowsiness, impaired memory (Frontal Lobe and Cerebellum)

Narcotics

medical painkillers, recreationally creates a sense of euphoria

Hallucinogens

mimic neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, can cause hallucinations, seeing and hearing things that aren't there

Hypnosis

social interaction where a person suggests to another that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur

Post-Hypnagogic Suggestion

suggestion made during hypnosis session to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized

Social Influence Theory

explains that people begin to feel and behave in ways appropriate for "good hypnotic subjects"