Understanding Human Consciousness: Stream of Thoughts, Sleep Stages, and Dream Functions -, Study notes of Psychology

Download Understanding Human Consciousness: Stream of Thoughts, Sleep Stages, and Dream Functions - and more Study notes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! Chapter 5 Human Consciousness ● thoughts typically flow in a stream of consciousness. you can examine your consciousness through introspection ● consciousness ranges from unconsciousness to alert awakeness. ● normal waking consciousness is in two modes: ○ Active ○ Passive ● Consciousness is an adaptive and actively evolved function of the brain and behavior ● Four major features of consciousness ○ focues ○ structure ○ attributes ○ flow ● Determinants of conscious behavior ○ internal factors ○ external factors ● Selective attention focuses consciousness and is influenced by both internal and external factors Sleeping/Dreaming ● There are 4 stages and 2 main types of sleep which alternate during the sleep cycle ○ Non REM ○ REM- Rapid Eye Movement ■ EEG pattern similar to that of a waking state ■ may be important to neural development and memory ● Circadian (daily) cycle is 25 rhythm included a 25 hour wake/sleep cycle ● Sleep Problems/disorders: ○ Insomnia ■ sleep-onset insomnia, trouble falling asleep ■ sleep-maintained insomnia- trouble staying asleep ■ in most cases insomnia is a 2ndary disorder ○ Hypersomnia- patient gets too much sleep ○ Parasomnia- nightmares ○ Narcolepsy ■ random falling asleep ■ caused by damage to the brain ■ can be treated but not cured ○ Sleep Apnea ■ Patient stops breathing periodically for various lengths of time during the night ● Treating Insomnia ○ Treatment principles ■ treat underlying disorder ■ treat briefly with drugs ○ Sleep Hygiene ■ teaches patients how to sleep better ○ Drugs ■ bensodiasepines ● tranquilizers ■ Sedatives ● Narcotic (addictive) ● non-narcotic ● newer sedatives- ambien ○ sedatives sometimes escalate the problem, tollerance rebuilds to increased dosages ● Everyone Dreams ● REM dreams are more vivid and clear and easier to remember, but sometimes people dream during NREM periods ● Theories of REM/ Dream functions ○ Frued: dreams provide an essential outlet for intense or dangerous impulses ○ Activation-Synthesis (Hobson/McCarley): ■ brain keeps working during sleep ■ dreams occus as an offshoot of neuron firing ■ dreams are random neurological phenomena ○ Problem-solving (Cartwright) ■ Dreams represent an attempt at solving provlems ■ does NOT say that dreams SOLVE problems ● Special dream states include: ○ Lucid Dreams ○ out-of-body dreams ○ night terrors ○ nightmares ○ sleepwalking More States ● virtually everyone daydreams ● Singer identifies three patterns of day dreams: ○ ○ ○ ● Two main types of meditation ○ concentrative ○ opening-up ● Physiological, physical, and psychological benefits of meditation are similar to those of relaxation ● There is no apparent differntial benefit of meditation ● Systematic Relaxation is easier/simpler and less expensive than meditation ● Benson’s elements of relaxtation: ○ Quiet environment