23 Nov 2012
School
Department
Course
Professor
Subjective and private
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Dynamic
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Self-reflective and central to our sense of “self”
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Consciousness
Self-reports
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e.g electrodes
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Physiological measures
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Behavioural measures
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Measuring states of consciousness
“The tip of the iceberg”
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Current awareness of thoughts and perceptions
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The conscious mind
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Outside current awareness
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Can be recalled under certain conditions
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Guilt is the thing that keeps us in check
Super ego:
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The preconscious mind
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Unavailable to consciousness
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Includes instincts such as sex drive and aggression
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The Unconscious mind
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Freud's Level of consciousness
Controlled processing: Voluntary use of attention and conscious processing
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Automatic processing: Activities carried out with little or no effort which may not require or give rise to
conscious awareness
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Reisberg (1997): The cognitive unconscious works in harmony with our conscious thoughts
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The cognitive unconcious
Unconscious processes can affect emotion and motivation
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The Emotional Unconscious
Interacting “modules” or brain networks for sensation, perception, memory, emotions etc. alter our consciousness
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The Modular Mind
Ego Superego } Conscious
UNCONSCIOUS
Id
States of Consciousness
November 6, 2012
12:51 PM
States of Consciousness - Lecture 6 Page 1
Are regulated by the suprachiasmatic nuclei in the hypothalamus
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Environmental factors like the day-night cycle also affect circadian rhythms
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Circadian rhythms are daily biological cycles
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Tendency to become depressed during certain months of the year
More prevalent in Canada than the U.S.
□
Linked to northern latitudes
Seasonal Affective Disorder
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Oral Melatonin to reset circadian rhythm
Jet lag
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Shift to Daylight Savings (spring) leads to a temporary increase in
accidental deaths (Coren, 1966
Nightshift work
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Distruption of Circadian rhythms
•
Circadian rhythms
November 6, 2012
12:55 PM
States of Consciousness - Lecture 6 Page 2
Stages of sleep
Stage 1
•Theta waves
Stage 2
•Sleep Spindles
Stage 3
•Delta waves
Stage 4
•Deep sleep
REM
•Dreams Hours of Sleep
1 2 43 5 6 7 8
Sleep Stage
1
2
4
3
REM REM REM REM REM
Awake
A typical night’s sleep
Sleep allows us to recharge our bodies and recover from
fatigue
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Restoration Model
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Sleep’s main purpose is to increase a species’ chances of
survival
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Evolutionary/ circadian rhythm model
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Theories of Sleep
Insomnia: Chronic difficulty in falling asleep
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Narcolepsy: Sudden, uncontrollable sleep attacks
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Sleep apnea: Breathing stops and restarts during sleep
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Sleepwalking
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Nightmares and night terrors
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Sleep Disorders
Sleep
November 6, 2012
1:17 PM
States of Consciousness - Lecture 6 Page 3