This document summarizes various topics related to states of consciousness and how consciousness can be altered. It discusses biological rhythms like circadian rhythms which are controlled by the body's internal clock. It also examines sleep cycles and disorders, exploring topics like insomnia, sleep apnea, parasomnias and more. The document then analyzes methods of altering consciousness through different drug categories like depressants, stimulants, opiates, hallucinogens and more, providing details on substances like alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and their effects.

1. Chapter 5
States of
Consciousness

2. What Is Consciousness?
Awareness? Aware of what?
Why is it like a stream?
Changes from normal consciousness are known as
altered states of consciousness.

3. The Rhythms of Life
Chronobiology – the
study of biological
rhythms
Circadian rhythms
are biological
changes that occur
on a daily schedule,
including the sleep-
wake cycle and the
body temperature
cycle.

4. Rhythm of Body
TemperatureCircadian rhythms are controlled by the
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) which is located in
the hypothalamus and acts as an internal clock.
Levels of a hormone secreted by the pineal
gland, melatonin, are affected by light and darkness;
thus melatonin may play a role in controlling
biological rhythms.

5. The Rhythms of Life
By isolating volunteers in an environment without time
cues, researchers have found the free-running sleep-
wake cycle extends to about 25 hours.
To correspond to the 24-hour day, the cycle must be
reset every day by external cues, especially sunlight.
Jet travel and shift work can disrupt the sleep-wake
cycle.
The symptoms of Jet leg result from the difference
between our internal clock and the time in our
environment.
It is easier to adapt to phase delays (east-west travel)
than to phase advances (west-east travel).
Rotating shifts can be improved by using a clockwise
rotation (days to evenings to nights), which involves a
series of phase delays.

6. The Study of Sleep
A sleep cycle lasts
approximately 90
minutes and starts with
non-REM (NREM)
sleep.
We descend through
NREM Stages I to 4
and then ascend
through them to rapid
eye movement (REM)
sleep.

7. The Study of Sleep
The average adult repeats this cycle about four
to six times each night.
Sleep decreases from about 16 hours at birth to
about 7 to 8 hours in young adulthood, with little
change thereafter.

8. The Study of Sleep
Sleep efficiency (time in
bed actually asleep) is
lower among elderly
people, who experience
less slow-wave sleep
and spend increased
time in the lighter stages
of sleep.
Naps

9. The Study of Sleep
Infants spend about 50%
of their sleep in REM,
perhaps to provide
stimulation needed for
brain development.
Sleep may have evolved
to fill time, but the
amount of sleep in each
species depends on
vulnerability to predators
and the need to find
food.

10. The Study of Sleep
Most cases of insomnia are of short duration.
Sleeping pills have limited usefulness and should
be used with care.
The stimulus control method is an effective
treatment for sleep onset insomnia.

11. Hypersomnias
Narcolepsy
Sleep apnea

12. Parasomnias
Enuresis (bedwetting)
Sleepwalking
Sleep terrors
REM sleep behavior disorder
Nightmares are bad dreams
SIDS

13. Hypnosis

14. Hypnosis
• Hypnotically refreshed
memories?
• Positive and negative
hallucinations?
• Age regression and past-life
regression

15. Altering Consciousness with
Drugs
Psychoactive
substances

16. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Substance
abuse?
Substance
dependence?

17. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Tolerance?

18. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Withdrawal
•Symptoms?

19. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Depressants
• Slow functioning of CNS
• Alcohol, barbiturates, and the
benzodiazepines.

20. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Alcohol
• Most widely used psychoactive
substance in United States and
throughout world
• Associated with range of medical
and mental health problems

21. Fun facts about alcohol!
• Energy, but no nutrients
• Slows rate at which fat burns
• Likely to deposit unburned
fat on hips, thighs, and
stomach

22. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Alcohol
• Metabolism rate
• BAC
• Legal definition of intoxication
• CNS inhibitor

23. BAC

24. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Long-term
consequences
Delirium
tremens (DTs)
Korsakoff’s
syndrome

25. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Barbiturates
Depress CNS
functioning
Effects range
from mild
sedation to
coma
High doses can lead to
serious withdrawal
symptoms, including life-
threatening convulsions
“Downers”

26. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Benzodiazepines
• Used in treatment of
sleep-related difficulties,
anxiety and agitation,
and muscle relaxation

27. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Stimulants
Speed up CNS
activity
Mimic body’s
reaction to
stress
(Inc bp and
respiration)
Stimulate release
of
neurotransmitters
dopamine and
norepinephrine
Amphetamines;
“Uppers” or
“speed”
Suppress
appetite

28. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Amphetamines:
Low to moderate
doses
• Increase alertness
• Elevate mood
• Reduce appetite
and need for sleep
• Induce euphoria
Amphetamines:
Larger doses
• Cause irritability
and anxiety
• Induce serious
reaction
indistinguishable
from paranoid
schizophrenia

29. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Cocaine
Extracted from leaves
of coca plant (Peru,
Bolivia, Middle East
Most potent stimulant
of natural origin?
Short and intense high
makes it especially
addictive

30. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Methamphetamine
Meth, crystal, speed, ice
Stimulant
most dangerous?
Snorted, smoked, or injected

31. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Ecstasy
• Methylenedioxymetham
phetamine (MDMA)
• Synthetic substance
can be manufactured
from readily available
materials
• Also known as XTC,
Adam, MDM, hug,
beans, and love drug
High doses
• Can interfere with
body’s ability to
regulate temperature

33. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Caffeine
• most widely-used
stimulant
• Found in
chocolate (usually
very little),
beverages, some
nonprescription
drugs
Nicotine
• Stimulant
• Potent; activates
brain, heart, and
nervous system

34. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Opiates
or
opioids
Naturally occurring
or synthetic drugs
with properties
similar to opium
Narcotic analgesics
or narcotics
Morphine, codeine,
and heroin
Produce analgesia
and sleepiness
Highly addictive
and potentially
dangerous

35. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Hallucinogens
• Often natural compounds; some produced in
lab
• Changes perception, thought, emotions, self-
awareness
• time and space distortions, and symptoms
similar to those found in severe psychological
disorders
(Next)

36. Altering Consciousness
with Drugs
Marijuana effects
•Increase heart rate;
bloodshot eyes
•Attention, memory, and
coordination