Chapter 3 PSY 2012 Dr. SpiresAltered States of Consciousness- Consciousness – the awareness of the outside world and of one’s own mental processes,thoughts, feelings, and perceptions- The mental events that you are currently aware of exist at the conscious level.- Pre-conscious level refers to events that can easily and quickly be brought into conscious experience.- The term unconscious, or subconscious, describes normally inaccessible mental activity that influences us ii various ways.- Sleep Cycle :1. Interim between consciousness and sleep.2. After 5-15 minutes, heart rates slows, brain does less complicated tasks.3. After another 15 minutes move into non-REM sleep, the Delta stage. Body makes repairs.4. Body temperature and blood pressure decreases. (Delta stage continued)5. After 90 minutes from the beginning of the cycle, there is an increase in eye movement, heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and temperature.- Rapid Beta waves → slower Alpha waves → slower Theta waves → Delta Stage- Sleep deprivation may cause:o Memory problemso Depressiono Weakening of the immune systemo Increase of the perception of paino Aching muscleso Hallucinationso Hand tremorso Headacheso Bloodshot eyeso Periorbital puffiness (bags under eyes)o Increased blood pressureo Increase in stress hormone levelso Increased risk of diabeteso Irritabilityo Obesityo Temper tantrums in childreno Yawningo Nystagmus (rapid involuntary rhythmic eye movement)Page 1 of 3Chapter 3 PSY 2012 Dr. Spireso Symptoms similar to:- ADHD- Psychosis- Possible explanations for dreams:o To represent unconscious desires and wisheso To interpret random signals from the brain and body during sleepo To consolidate and process information gathered during the dayo To work as a form of psychotherapy- Sleep researcher J. Allan Hobson (1988) identified 5 basic characteristics of dreams:o Dreams often feature intense emotions.o Dreams are frequently disorganized and illogical.o Strange dream content is accepted without question by the dreaming mind; mayseem odd after awaking.o People often experience bizarre sensations.o Dreams are difficult to remember. Researchers estimate that approximately 95%of all dreams are forgotten entirely upon awakening.- Sleep Disorders:o Insomnia – difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep; can be temporary or chronico Sleep Apnea – reflexive gasping for air which awakens a person and disrupts sleep; the brain stops sending signals that trigger the breathing response (tends to affect older obese men and causes SIDS)o Narcolepsy – sudden and irresistible onset of sleep during waking hourso Nightmares – bad dreams that occur during REM sleep; different from night terrors that occur during stages 3 & 4 of sleep and the person has no recollectionof a dream.o Sleep Walking – (somnambulism) – walking during stage 3 & 4 of sleepo Sleep Talking – (somniloque) – talking aloud while asleep- Hypnosis - state of altered consciousness characterized by a deep relaxation and detachment as well as a heightened state of suggestibility to the hypnotist’s directionso Characterized by total relaxation and a strong sense of detachmento Facts: Only 15% of people are very responsive to hypnosis Children tend to be more susceptible to hypnosis Approximately 10% of adults are considered difficult or impossible to hypnotize People who can be easily absorbed in fantasies are much more likely to respond to hypnosiso Hypnotherapy is sometime used to treat phobias, drug addiction and overeating,and for reduction of pain and anxiety.Page 2 of 3Chapter 3 PSY 2012 Dr. Spireso Applications of hypnosis: Chronic pain Pain reduction during labor Reduction of symptoms of dementia Treating certain symptoms of ADHD Reduction of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients Pain control during dental proceduresPage 3 of