Discussion Questions – Consciousness
Name
Hr
For the following questions answer true or false and give a reason why you think that way. Remember you have not
learned anything yet on consciousness, so you may be wrong. That is ok as long as you have a reason to support your
answer.
1. T/F everyone dreams at night.
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2. T/F taking sleeping pills is a good way to get relaxing sleep and wake up feeling refreshed.
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3. T/F Under hypnosis, a person will do whatever the person who put them under tells them to do, regardless of what
it is.
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4. T/F We are most likely to sleep walk and sleep talk while we are dreaming.
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5. T/F Lack of sleep can produce hallucinations and even death
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6. T/F if you die in your dream, you will die in real life.
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7. T/F People can actually stop breathing at night and fall back asleep without realizing it.
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8. T/F without any external cues to know what time it is (clocks, daylight, tv schedules, etc.) we would begin to
function on a 25 hour day.
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Consciousness HW pg 271-285
What is Consciousness?
Consciousness is our awareness of ourselves and our environment. Consciousness brings varied information to
the surface, enabling us to reflect and plan.
We process a lot of information that is not within our awareness
William James described consciousness as a stream – always changing but perceived as unified and unbroken.
Levels of Consciousness
Preconscious: ideas you are not consciously thinking of but could recall if someone asked about them.
Unconscious: Unavailable to consciousness most of the time. (Hidden) Underlying thoughts and feelings.
Non-Conscious: Normal biological functions that we cannot detect (pupil adjustment, heart rate, etc.)
Sleep and dreams
We spend about a third of our life sleeping.
Circadian Rhythm: Biological Clock. The daily cycle of bodily changes. Includes blood pressure, body
temperature, and sleep/wake cycle. Our body temperature rises as we approach morning, peaks during the day,
dips for a time in early afternoon (siestas) and then begins to drop again before we go to sleep.
Have you ever awoken at 4:00 a.m. and started to fret over concerns? With your body in a depressed biological
state everything seems worse. Think about the problems a few hours later and your view should be improved.
You can help reset your circadian rhythm if you throw it off from travel (jet lag). Bright light helps reset your
biological clock if you feel like sleeping. So after a long flight spend the first day outdoors. Bright light can also
help delay sleep if needed.
Sleep Wake Cycle
Because of the earth’s rotation and people’s acceptance of a 24 hour cycle most people adapt to a 24 hour cycle.
However, our body, if removed from any external cues to what time of the day it is, it will move to a 25 hour
schedule. The cause of this is unknown.
The suprachiasmatic nucleus is a sensor located in the hypothalamus that receives info from retina concurring
changes in light. Less light prepares body for sleep - Pineal gland releases hormone – melatonin for sleep
Sleep Cycle – about 90 minutes each
REM – Rapid Eye Movement (eye move around rapidly) – also called paradoxical sleep – body asleep but mind is awake
You have 4 stages of NREM sleep (non-REM)
Stage 4 is the deepest stage, 3 not as deep, etc… Each stage lasts about 15-20 minutes
You start at stage 1 down to 4, then back up to 1…then into REM
AWAKE – Beta waves (beta-er be awake when you take a test)
Stage 1 – Alpha waves (AHH – wake up in class) – when you start to relax, tune out the day, you can still hear
around you but you don’t really comprehend what it is.
o Hypnic jerk – No known cause but we guess it is because we used to sleep in trees and the falling feeling
would keep us alive.
o Hypnagogic images – flashes of light or images in stage 1 – maybe similar to dreams. Most scientists now
think ghost visits, alien abductions, near-death are explained by this
Stage 2 – sleep spindles – you are asleep. Starting in this stage sleep talking can occur.
Stage 3 and 4 – Delta waves – Deep sleep. In stage 4 – very hard to wake you up in these stages
o In stage 4 is when most children will wet the bed, or sleep walk (disorder)
o 20 percent of 3-12 year olds will have at least one episode of sleepwalking lasting about 2 to 10 minutes.
o It is not true that if you wake a sleep walker they will become violent but it is usually just easier to
redirect them back to bed.
o Sleep walking and talking usually run in families
o Stage 4 sleep diminishes as you age so stage 4 disorders are very rare after 40, night terrors, sleep
walking, sleep talking.
Even when you are deeply asleep, your brain still processes the meaning of certain stimuli. You move around your bed,
but you manage to not fall out. If you sleep with your baby you will not roll over and suffocating them (as long as you
have not done anything to change your consciousness – sleeping pills, alcohol, etc). If you hear your baby crying or your
name…again you will most likely wake up: We process most information outside our conscious awareness.
REM Sleep – Stage in which we have vivid dreams
o **The whole point of going to sleep is to dream
o During REM sleep it is VERY difficult to wake someone, and your muscles are paralyzed (That’s why
you sometimes can’t move in your dreams, your body is aware of this)
o Brain wave pattern looks similar to Stage 1 – but your heart rises, breathing becomes rapid and irregular,
and your eyes dart around behind your lids.
o People who say that they don’t dream – if woken up during REM will remember their dreams 80% of the
time.
Most people get about 4-5 cycles per night
The longer you sleep the less time you spend in Stage 4 and 3…thus you get more REM sleep closer to the morning.
REM lasts longer in each consecutive study
So how much sleep do you need?
The idea that everyone needs 8 hours of sleep is not necessarily true
Newborns sleep 16 hours a day
Some people thrive on only 6 hours other regularly sleep 9 or more.
But most people allowed to sleep unhindered will sleep at least 9 hours and wake up refreshed and not groggy.
If you continue to sleep fewer hours than needed and try to catch up, you usually can’t make it up in one long
period of sleep. This is why you can wake up and feel sleepy even after sleeping for 12 hours.
REM Rebound: “catching up” REM cycles last longer when a person has been deprived of REM sleep the previous
nights.
Alcohol and other tranquilizers actually result in less REM periods and therefore worse sleep.
Sleep Deprivation
In 2001 average amount of sleep – 6.7 hours
In 1942 average amount of sleep – 7.6 hours
Teenagers need on average 8 to 9 hours of sleep to function at peak most get 6-7
In Canada in the spring when we “spring forward” and lose an hour of sleep, accidents the Monday after increase
7 %. The opposite happens in the fall when you gain an hour. Accidents decrease by 7%. Similar statistics as
noted in the US.
Sleep deprivation suppresses immune cells that fight infection. This may help to explain why people who get 7 to
8 hours of sleep tend to outlive people who are sleep deprived.
Chronic sleep debt can also alter metabolic and hormonal functioning in ways that mimic aging and may
contribute to hypertension, obesity, slowed performance, and memory impairment.
In another study volunteers spent 14 hours daily in bed for at least a week. For the first few days volunteers
averaged 12 hours of sleep, catching up on the 25 to 30 hours of sleep debt. They then settled back into 7.5 to 9
hours of sleep.
Functions of REM Sleep
Formation of memory and learning
Lesions to the hippocampus often cause the inability to form new memories, thus it is hypothesized that this is the
area where memories are formed.
The hippocampus produces its own rhythm, known as Theta rhythm, Theta rhythm is quick, about 6 bursts per
second.
Rats, Rabbits, and cats all produce Theta rhythm when exploring new places, stalking prey, or startled by a
predator. These are all behaviors important to survival.
Theta rhythm is also generated during REM sleep
In rats, while exploring a new place, whisker movement and sniffing is perfectly synced with theta rhythm,
therefore an experiment was performed
Winson’s Rat Experiment
Insert electrodes into the brain of live rats.
Put rats in a box that had 8 branching arms. Winson found that the specific place neurons that the electrode was
plugged into would fire as he assumed, when the rat explored a certain place in the box.
Next the rat went to sleep and theta waves began, the place neurons began firing rapidly. Winson concluded that
the rats were rehearsing their new memories, and placing then into long term memory by dreaming about them.
Sleeping and Learning – Avi Karni’s Findings
People were given a new task to learn, then later went to sleep
Those who were awakened a few times during non-REM sleep (which accounts for 75% of sleep time) suffered
NO reduction in their ability to perform the task.
Those subjects who were awakened each time they entered REM sleep suffered some impairment in their ability
to perform the task.
In experiments we incorporate the previous day’s events into our dreams
When people played the computer game Tetris” for seven hours and then went to sleep and were awoken during
REM, ¾ reported images of the game’s falling blocks
After suffering from trauma, people commonly report nightmares
People in hunter-gatherer societies, people dream of animals whereas in urban Japan they rarely do.
If sleepers were lightly sprayed with water during a dream they reported water in their dream compared with a
group that did not.
Regeneration of Body processes
During the night is when your hair, nails, and other body parts grow the fastest
We sleep longer when we have had a stressful day
May have an effect on Primal urges/sex drive - TANGENT
Cats deprived of REM sleep show dramatic increases in drive oriented behaviors. They also become hyper-sexual
Human studies show that men deprived of REM sleep show a great increase interest in sexual imagery
Studies show that men who least the least amount of REM sleep are often those type A personalities who are on
the go, extroverted, risk takers, who often lead promiscuous sex lives.
During REM sleep your genitals become aroused regardless of content of dream, even during scary dreams.
Many men who suffer from “erectile disorder” have morning erections suggesting that the problem is not
physical.
Conclusion of REM in learning
1. REM sleep coincides with theta waves and hippocampus activity, and most likely plays a part in the sorting of
new and significant memories and learning
2. REM sleep is important in body regeneration and healing
3. REM sleep may regulate sex drive
High school students with high grades (A and B average) average 25 minutes more sleep at night and got to bed 40
minutes earlier than C, D and E classmates.
Adaptive theory – Animals that are hunted sleep less and at night while Hunters sleep all hours and get more (Lions sleep
15 hours a day)
Sleep Disorders
Insomnia: The inability to sleep
Some 10-15% of adults complain of this disorder BUT
True insomnia is not the inability to sleep when anxious or excited
American who report experiencing stress frequently average nearly one hour less of sleep a night
Most common fix is sleeping pills and alcohol – both reduce REM sleep
Trying to sleep can actually make it worse, since it increases stress
Caffeine is a major cause of insomnia if taken near bedtime (6 hours)
Occasional insomnia is very common and not necessarily a problem
Natural Treatment
1. Relax before bedtime, using a dimmer light
2. Avoid caffeine, this includes chocolate, after late afternoon and avoid rich foods. A glass of milk may actual
help because it provides the raw materials for the manufacturing of serotonin, a NT that facilitates sleep.
3. Sleep on a regular schedule and avoid naps. Even getting less sleep, if it is on a schedule you have more
daytime alertness. (7.5 hours – set schedule vs. varied schedule)
4. Exercise regularly but not in the late evening (late afternoon is best)
Nightmares and Night Terrors
Nightmare: Typical scary dream. Occurs during REM sleep, often influenced by the day’s events. Occur about once or
twice a month
Seems to occur more often in children. May happen because the world is more terrifying to kids
Night terror: more intense nightmares. Heart races, blood pressure increases, though the sleeper does not fully wake up.
Occurs in stage 3 or 4 sleep.
Dreamer may have some recollection of vague or image as to what the dream was about.
Real life – it was August 1985, and Colin Kemp, a 33-yr-old salesman in England went to sleep as usual. About 2
hours later, two Japanese soldiers appeared in his room. They started to chase him. One soldier had a knife, the
other a gun. Kemp ran as fast as he could but he was not fast enough. Kemp wrestled with the knife-wielding
soldier. The other soldier pointed his gun at Kemp, but Kemp tripped him and began to choke him but and he
slipped away. The soldier pointed his gun at Kemp and fired. Kemp awoke in a state of panic, sweat pouring
down his head. He turned to his wife, who was lying next to him in bed. She was dead. Kemp had strangled his
wife, not a Japanese Soldier. 9 months later at his trial Kemp said that he was asleep when he killed his wife. He
pleaded not guilty to the murder charge because he intended to kill a Japanese soldier not his wife. **Kemp had
experienced night terrors on two occasions prior to the fatal event. Both times the intruders chased him during his
sleep. In one he punched his wife. The second time he kicked her.
Would you find Kemp
Guilty
Not Guilty
(circle one)
Verdict______________________
Night terrors are more common in the early sleep cycles; nightmares are more common toward the morning.
Sleep Apnea: Breathing interruption during sleep. People may wake up grasping for air, and once they start breathing, go
right back to sleep.
Affects 1 in 20 people – usually overweight males
Can happen over 400 times a night
Most suffers do not know there is a problem.
Often correlated with snoring or other blocked airway problems. Also linked to SIDS
Narcolepsy: Sleep problem where people fall sleep suddenly no matter what time it is or where they are. People go
directly into REM sleep.
Usually lasts less than 5minutes
Affects roughly 1 in 2000 people
Brain disorder – caused by a missing NT hypocretin, in the future may be cured by drug therapy.
Are you sleep deprived?
True
False
____
____ 1. I need an alarm clock in order to wake up at appropriate times
____
____ 2. It’s a struggle for me to get out of bed in the morning
____
____ 3. Weekday mornings I hit the snooze bar several times to get more sleep
____
____ 4. I feel tired, irritable, and stressed out during the week
____
____ 5. I have trouble concentrating and remembering
____
____ 6. I feel slow with critical thinking, problem solving, and being creative
____
____ 7. I often fall asleep in boring meetings or lectures in warm rooms
____
____ 8. I often fall asleep after heavy meals
____
____ 9. I often fall asleep watching TV
____
____ 10. I often fall asleep within five minutes of getting into bed
____
____ 11. I often fall asleep while relaxing after dinner
____
____ 12. I often feel drowsy while driving
____
____ 13. I often need extra hours on weekend mornings
____
____ 14. I often need a nap to get through the day.
____
____ 15. I have dark circles around my eyes
If you answered true to three or more items, you are probably not getting enough sleep.
Dream Theories and Hypnosis HW pg 285-296
To Sleep, Perchance to Dream…
We spend six years of our life in dreams. 8 in 10 dreams are marked by negative emotions – repeated failing, being
attacked, pursed, or rejected. When awakened during REM sleep, very few people report sexual imagery. Only 1 in 10
dreams among men and 1 in 30 among women.
An early theory on dreaming: Freudian Theory
Dreams consist of wishes, desires, and emotions that pop up in sleep.
Ego normally block these feelings, but it is “sleepy”
These feelings would be upsetting if left encrypted so the ego disguises them into symbols
These symbols can be interpreted (the reason for so many books on the subject)
Manifest content – actual dream
Latent content – analysis of symbols
No science to back up this theory
File away memories
Sift, sort, organize and store days events
After trauma – more likely to report nightmares
Play tetris for seven hours – dream about tetris
Awoken during REM – problems with memory
High-achieving secondary students with high grades average 25 more min. of sleep and go to bed 40 minutes
earlier then lower achieving students
To develop neural pathways
Newborns get more REM sleep – when pruning
Activation-Synthesis
Proposed by Hobson and McCarley
Documented activity in the Pons during REM – Inhibits NTs for movement while allowing messages for vision,
hearing, and so on – so the brain “synthesizes” or puts together these messages based on memories and other
information
Neural activity is random and dreams are the brain’s way of attempting to make sense of
Because frontal lobe is “asleep” during REM – maybe why dreams can be unrealistic
Activation-information-mode model (AIM)
Most people when talking about dreams – meaningful, and fits with present emotions
Hobson has reworked his theory – when synthesizing info, brain uses current experiences
Hypnosis
Always four steps
1. focus on what is being said
2. person told to relax and feel tired
3. let go and accept suggestions easily
4. use vivid imagination
Only 80% of people can be hypnotized but only 40% are good subjects. Those that can be hypnotized are more
suggestible in real life and are more imaginative and can get lost in their thoughts.
Theories
1. Disassociation/Divided-consciousness – think if you have ever driven somewhere familiar and you
get there and realize you don’t actually remember driving there – kind of on auto pilot. You train your
brain to not respond to certain stimuli but you can also do this without hypnosis (women and
childbirth)
2. Social-Cognitive Theory of Hypnosis – Play the part – had people pretend to be hypnotized. People
not familiar with hypnosis couldn’t
Can NOT
1. help people recall past events
2. Force people to do things against their will
Can
1. Help with things such as stress, pain, headaches – maybe placebo effect
Drugs HW pg 296-310
Dependence
Psychoactive drugs – chemicals that change perceptions and mood
Tolerance – why a user needs more to feel high
Nueroadaption – brain adapts its chemistry to offset drug (cocaine ex)
Withdrawal – physical pain and intense cravings associated with stoppage
Indicates a physical dependence
Also can develop psychological dependence – not chemically addicting but still crave
Misconceptions
Addiction is a craving for substance despite adverse consequences (everyone is addicted to something today – not
really true)
1. False – everyone will get addicted to drugs – actual stats within 10 years (Marijuana 9%, Alcohol 15%,
Cocaine 17%, Heroin 23%, Tobacco 32%)
2. False – Addicts need treatment to overcome addiction – Can do it on your own but treatment can help.
3. False – addiction can be used to explain a lot of repetitive, pleasure seeking behaviors internet addiction, sex
addiction, “I’m a ______ addict”
Psychoactive Drugs
Depressants – calm normal activity and slow body functions
Pupils constrict, heart rate decreases
Alcohol
Alcohol “spirits” is actually due to decrease in judgment and inhibitions
When provoked – act more aggressively
When asked to help – more likely
Urges you feel in sober more likely to act on when intoxicated
Low doses – slows sympathetic nervous system
Disrupts long term memory (Maybe due to disruption in REM)
Long term drinker may shrink brain – see scan in book
Women get drunk faster – less stomach enzyme that digests alcohol – also more likely to get
addicted
Reduces self awareness – drink to suppress shortcomings
Some of the effects are placebo effect – nonalcoholic drinks – still drunk
Barbiturates – tranquilizers
Mimic effects of alcohol
Depress central nervous system
May be used to induce sleep and reduce anxiety
If taken with alcohol – may be lethal (depresses CNS to point of death)
Opiates – Morphine and Heroin
Depress Neural functioning
For a few hours – blissfully pleasant replaces pain and anxiety
Stimulants – excite neural activity and arouse body functions
Most widely used are caffeine, nicotine. Also amphetamines (methamphetamines – speed)
Increase heart rate, pupils dilate, appetite diminishes
Maybe prescribed for weight loss
Cocaine
Crack – potent form of cocaine (Sniffed – snorted, Injected or smoked – free based)
Floods synapse with dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine
Early Coca-cola, also doctors used a lot
Ecstasy - MDMA
Stimulant and mild hallucinogen
Releases serotonin and blocks reuptake – prolonged feel good
Hallucinogens – distort perceptions and evoke sensory images without sensation
LSD – block serotonin
Trip can vary from euphoria to detachment to panic
Marijuana – active ingredient – THC
Mild hallucinogen
Smoking quicker – drug to brain in 7 sec., eating slower
Effects can be determined by situation – anxious or depressed – intensify
Therapeutic – glaucoma, nausea associated with AIDS and chemo
Can linger in body for a month or more - regular uses might need less to get high
Influences on Drug use
Culture – acceptance, society, etc
Biology – dopamine reward circuit – drug use changes this area, need more just to feel normal
Psychological – disorders and depression, lack of purpose, stress, etc.