Consciousness Awareness of the outside world and of ones own mental processes, thoughts, feelings, a

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ConsciousnessAwareness of the outside world
and of ones own mental processes, thoughts,
feelings, and perceptions.Consciousness is a
culmination of many mental processes.
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In the late1960s, the study of consciousness was
looked at more in depth due to techniques that
allow analysis of brain activity.Scientists
who study this concept refer to their work as
cognitive science or cognitive neuroscience
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Mind-Body ProblemWhat is the relationship
between the conscious mind and the physical
brain?Dualism Sees the mind and brain as
different entities. Champion of this philosophy
Rene Descartes French Philosopher Dualism
has virtually disappeared.
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Materialism suggests that mind is brainargue
that complex interactions among the brains nerve
cells create consciousness.Theater view
consciousness is a single phenomenon, a kind of
stage where all the different events of
awareness converge to play before the
audience of your mind.
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Conscious level the mental events that you are
aware of. Ex. Necker cube pg. 292 - Have
students look.Nonconscious level events
totally removed from conscious awareness ie.
brain regulates your blood pressure.
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Preconscious level mental events that are
outside of awareness but can be easily brought
into awareness.Ie stopping to think about what
you ate for supper last night.Unconscious
level level of mental activity that influences
consciousness but is not conscious.
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Neuropsychology of ConsciousnessProsopagnosia
cannot consciously recognize facesincluding
their own face in the mirroryet they can still
see and recognize many other objects and use
voice to recognize people.Anterograde amnesia
the inability to form new memories or remember
new informationcan learn new skills, but may not
remember the practice sessions.
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States of Consciousnessdeep sleep, day dreaming
to alert wakefulness.Altered state of
consciousness when changes in mental processes
are great enough for you or others to notice
significant differences in how you function.
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Hallucinations perceptual experiences, such as
hearing voices, that occur in the absence of
sensory stimuli. Most people view hallucinations
as undesirable. Not so for what country?
Mescaline drug ingested by healer in Peru.
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Sleeping DreamingStages of Sleep EEG
electroencephalogram. EEG recordings show
brain waves as behavior or mental processes
change. The brain waves of an awake, alert
person have high frequency and low amplitude
beta waves. Alpha waves a relaxed person with
closed eyes.
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Stages of Sleepquiet sleep slowed brain waves,
deep breathing, a calm heartbeat, and low blood
pressure. Also known as non-REM or NREM
sleep.REM sleep rapid eye movement or active
sleep. Heart rate, breathing, blood pressure
mimic the waking state. Most of a nights dreams
occur during REM sleep.
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Sleep DisordersInsomnia trouble falling
asleep or staying asleep, resulting in daytime
fatigue.Narcolepsy A disturbing daytime sleep
disorder that begins between the ages of 15-25.
Victims abruptly switch from active state to REM
sleep. Sleep apnea a brief stop in
breathing, waking up to resume breathing.
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Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) a sleeping
baby stops breathing and dies. Nightmares
frightening REM dreams, Night terrors horrific
dream images that occur in stage 3 or 4 sleep.
Sleep walking occurs in non-REM sleep, usually
in childhood.In what stage of sleep do you dream
that you cant move? REMREM behavior disorder,
when near paralysis that normally accompanies
REM sleep is absent. Circadian rhythm the
sleep-wake cycle or pattern that repeats about
every 24 hours.
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Dreams and DreamingLucid dreaming sleeper is
aware of dreaming while a dream is happening.
Why do we dream??? Your thoughts?Freuds view
vs. activation-synthesis theoryFreud royal
road to the unconscious activation says dreams
are meaningless and random by-products of REM.
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Hypnosis an altered state of consciousness
brought on by special techniques and producing
responsiveness to suggestions for changes in
experience and behavior.Posthypnotic
suggestions Instructions about behavior to take
place after hypnosis has ended.Role theory
socially acceptable to follow someones
suggestions.State theory hypnosis does indeed
create an altered state of consciousness.Dissocia
tion theory blend role and state theories.
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Applications of HypnosisHelps with chemo
therapy patients and their nausea (Redd, 1984),
surgical bleeding (G. R.B., 1980)
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Psychoactive DrugsDrugs that affect the brain,
changing consciousness and other psychological
processes.Psychopharmacologythe study of
psychoactive drugs.What did the chapter say
about expectations and drug effects and our
cultural values?
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DrugsDepressants reduce activity of the
central nervous system ex alcohol
barbiturates.Effects of alcohol depend on
biochemical factors and on learned expectations.
Effects increase with faster drinking or empty
stomach. Genetics also seems to play a role.
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Stimulants drugs that increase behavioral and
mental activity. Examples amphetamines,
cocaine, caffeine, nicotine ectasy.Amphetamine
s, uppers or speed, increase the release, and
decrease the removal of norepinephrine and
dopamine at synapses, causing increase activity
at these neurotransmitters receptors. Cocaine,
very addicting. Crack a smokable form of
cocaine.
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Opiates relieve pain and causes feelings of
well-being and dreamy relaxation. Examples are
opium, morphine, and heroin. (Percodan
demerol) Again, highly addictive.Psychedelics
create a loss of contact with reality and alter
other aspects of emotion. (LSD, Marijuana, )See
chart on pg. 316Legalizing marijuana
debate.Thoughts?