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1. AP Unit 5AP Unit 5
States of ConsciousnessStates of Consciousness

2. I. Understanding
Consciousness 2
• I. Understanding Consciousness
• A. consciousness- is the personal awareness of
thoughts, sensations, memories, & the external
world.
• William James- likened it to a “stream” that is
perceived as unified or unbroken.
• B. Levels of Awareness:
• Controlled processes- require focused, maximum
attention
• Automatic processes- require minimal attention

3. Cont. 3
• Subconscious- below conscious awareness, such as sleeping
& dreaming
• No awareness- being in a coma oir under anesthesia
• C. Circadian Rhythms: biological processes that
systematically vary over a period of ca. 24 hrs.
• Researchers have id more than 100 bodily process that
rhythmically peak & dip ea. day.
• When time cues are removed, our sleep-wake cycle averages
ca. 25 hrs.
• Jet lag & rotating work schedules are common ie of
activities that disrupt normal circadian rhythms.

4. II. Sleep Patterns 4
• A. Studying sleep: researchers use an EEG to
detect & record brain-wave changes during the
sleep cycle.
• EEG recordings show that sleep consists of a
repeating pattern of distinct stages.
• B. Two Basic Types of Sleep
• REM- active sleep associated with dreaming
• NREM- non-rapid-eye-movement sleep- quiet
sleep with slowing brain activity

5. Stages of NREM Sleep 6
• Stage 1: light sleep that lasts only a few
min.- has slowing heart rate & decreasing
BP
• Stage 2: lasts 15-20 min. with short bursts
of rapid brain waves
• Stage 3 & 4: deep sleep lasting 20-40 min
with low levels of breathing, BP, & heart
rate.

6. D. REM Sleep 6
• Characterized by active eye movements & the loss
of muscle movement, which prevents the sleeper
from acting out dreams.
• The amt. of REM sleep changes during our life
span with infants getting 40 %, adults 20%, and
the elderly at 14% of their sleeping time spent in
REM.
• E. Sleep Cycles: In a typical night an avg. person
has five 90-min. cycles. The 1st
cycle is short but
as the night progresses the REM phases get
longer & less time is spent in NREM.

7. III. Theories of Sleep 7
• A. The Restoration theory of sleep:
• Sleep rejuvenates the mind & body
• REM sleep restores brain functions while NEWM
restores the physical
• B. Adaptive Theory of Sleep: says sleep patterns
evolved so both human & non-human animals could
conserve energy & avoid predators.
• They argue sleep is a necessary part of the
circadian cycles.

8. IV. Theories of Dreams 8
• A. Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic View: In The
Interpretation of Dreams, Freud said dreams
were the “road to the unconscious.”
• Freud believed dreams provide insight into the
unconscious by expressing hidden desires &
conflicts.
• He believed dreams contain a story that consists
of symbols & the symbols disguise the dream’s
true meaning & that the hidden or latent content
has the real unconscious meaning.

9. B. The Activation-
Synthesis View 9
• Allan Hobson believed the dreaming brain is responding to
its own internally generated signals. He believed dream
meanings were from analyzing the personal way in which a
dream organizes images.
• V. Sleep Disorders:
• A. Insomnia: the most common sleep disorder.
Characterized by persistent problems in falling asleep,
staying awake, or awakening too early.
• B. Sleep Apnea: common in overweight men over age 50.
Characterized by loud snoring, irregular breathing, and
gasping for air.
• C. Sleep Walking: much more common in children than
adults. Occurs during stage 3 or 4 NREM sleep.

10. VI. Hypnosis 10
• A. Definition: a trance-like state of
heightened suggestibility, deep relaxation,
& intense focus.
• B. Practical applications:
• Reduce stress & anxiety
• Treat chronic pain
• Manage pain during medical & dental
procedures
• Used to loose weight & stop smoking

11. C. Limitations 11
• Can’t be hypnotized against ones will
• Can’t make people violate their moral values
• Can’t bestow new talents or make a person stronger
• D. Explanations of Hypnosis:
• Dissociation- Ernest Hilgard’s exp. showed a divided
consciousness exists where subjects can consciously
respond but also be able to sense the world around them, ie
his exp with cold water.
• Social influence theory- says there is no hypnotic trance
but a person “acting out” the role of a hypnotic subject.
• VII. Psychoactive Drugs: A. Key Terms:
• Psychoactive drugs- chemicals that change conscious

12. Cont. 12
• Awareness, mood, &/or perception.
• Agonistic drugs- enhance a neurotransmitter’s
effect
• Antagonistic drugs- inhibit a neurotransmitter’s
effect
• Withdrawal- the painful experience associated
with stopping the use of addictive drugs
• Tolerance- bodily adjustment to higher & higher
levels of a drug, which leads to decreased
sensitivity.

13. B. Depressants 13
• Act on the brain by decreasing bodily processes,
reducing reaction times, & causing a feeling of
well being.
• Alcohol, barbiturates, & anti-anxiety drugs, such
as Valium, are all depressants.
• Alcohol is the most used & abused depressant & in
any amt. is always a depressant.
• The psychological effects of alcohol are strongly
influenced by the user’s expectations.

14. C. Stimulants 14
• Act on the brain by producing alertness,
excitement, elevated mood, & general
responsiveness.
• Caffeine, nicotine, amphetamine, & cocaine are all
stimulants.
• Ea. yr. over 400K Americans die from smoking-
related illnesses. Smoking plays a role in causing
bronchitis, emphysema, & heart disease.
• Cocaine is a highly addictive & particularly
dangerous stimulant.

15. D. Opiates 15
• Numb the senses and relieve pain
• Morphine, heroine, & codeine are all
opiates.
• They are extremely addictive & w/drawal
is excruciatingly painful.
• E. Hallucinogens
• Produce sensory or perceptual distortions
called hallucinations
• Marijuana & LSD are the best-known.