States of Consciousness
What the college board is asking for: In this section of the course, students are introduced to research information on different states of consciousness, ranging from normal occurrences in people's day-to-day lives to those that are markedly different from the experience of most people. Understanding consciousness and what it encompasses is critical to an appreciation of what is meant by a given state of consciousness. Thus, this unit often begins with a defintional overview that provides the basis for discussion of commonly experienced and atypical variations in consciousness.
A standard portion of the discussion of commonly experienced variations in consciousness is consideration of the two extremely different states of consciousness that usually fall under the title of sleep: NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement) sleep and REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Students learn about REM sleepand the stages of NREM sleep, and are introduced to the functions, dysfunctions, and theories of sleep. The study of variations in consciousness frequently includes an examination of hypnosis, meditation, and daydreaming, as well as a discussion of the effects on consciousness of such drugs as narcotics, depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens. I personally would like to add that the AP Exam seems to lean away from this subject a bit; making it worth 2-4%.
Consciousness is a slippery concept. It cannot be touched or seen, but we know it is taking place. It is what we would consider a psychological construct; a concept that is devised to help us understand our observations of behavior. Consciousness is along a long contimuum, from sensory overload to coma. It's also interesting because it doesn't demand our full attention. Once something is well learned our "automatic pilot" takes over.
For so long, the study of consciousness was so difficult that it led psychologists to focus their studies on the observable (behaviorism).
Consciousness wears many faces. Consciousness consists of all the sensations, perceptions, memories, and feelings you are or aren't aware of at any instant. We spend much of our time in waking consciousness, a state of clear, organized alertness. Alternative states of consciousness consists of sensory overload, monotonous stimulation, and unusual physical conditions. Altered states of consciousness is the result of deliberately shifting our normal state of consciousness.
There is alot to be said of the state in which we spend 1/3 of our lives. Sleep is uderstood using an electroencepholagram, or EEG. An EEG begins with a person in a relaxed state. The EEG shows alpha waves, but soon as the participant drifts off to sleep we see theta and then beta waves.
There are two major stages of sleep: REM and NREM. NREM is also known as slow-wave sleep. Lets begin with NREM. The stages of NREM are conveniently named stage 1,2,3, and 4.
Stage 1: easily awakened, dream-like imagery called hypnagogic state, muscle relaxation
Stage 2: sleep spindles, sleep talking
Stage 3: first sign of delta waves (deep sleep waves), which resemble a person in a coma
Stage 4: deepest sleep, when awoken they will be disoriented and confused
REM Sleep: also known as dream sleep, and paradoxical sleep, rapid brain waves, genital arousal, muscle paralysis, darting of the eyes, heart rate and breathing speed up
The Functions of Sleep
One way to know why we need sleep is to observe the effects of no sleep. We use sleep deprivation studies to confirm that sleep is very important. Lack of sleep results in attention problems, irritability and staying alert. Serious sleep loss results in sleep-deprivation psychosis. This shows confusion, disorientation, delusions and hallucinations. What is most important about sleep is that we need adequate amounts of both REM sleep and slow-wave sleep. Slow-wave sleep helps bodily recuperation resulting from physical fatigue. This is proven by the fact that the growth hormone is released during NREM sleep. REM sleep seems to forge the neural connections in infants and consolidate and strengthen neural connections in adults. The teen brain is still growing, thus the reason for them to need more sleep than children.
Hypnosis was first popularized by Anton Mesmer. He used the power of suggestion to help patients recover from mental ailments. His methods were a bit skeptical (passing magnets over the body to release the animal magnetism), however his contribution is timeless.
The investigation of hypnosis is long going. Is it real and if so how does it work? The first step is to induce hypnosis (induction procedure) where the subject is asked to relax and shift their attention inward. The brain waves are similar to theta waves, which is much like the onset of sleep, but not yet asleep. The post-hypnotic effect is the instructions given to the subject to follow during or after session. What we do know is that it is real, but can
Did you know that legal drugs (alcohol and tobacco) cause far more deaths, economic loss and other social problems than illegal drugs. There are roughly 1.5 billion perspriptions written each year. A psychoactive drug is a substance that affects the central nervous system and alters consciousness.
Drug tolerance is a reduced response to a drug. To use a drug to maintain bodily comfort is physical dependence. Psychological dependence is feeling the drug is necessary to maintain emotional and psychological well-being.
Depressants (barbituates, alcohol, tranquilizers): depress the central nervous system.
Stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine, nicotine and caffeine): stimulate the central nervous system
Hallucinogens (LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, marijuana): produce sensations and perception without external stimulation
