PSYC 1010 Lecture Notes - Slow-Wave Sleep, Circadian Rhythm, Non-Rapid Eye Movement Sleep

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1010
• Professor: all

Document Summary

Consciousness varies along a continuum of levels of awareness. People maintain some degree of awareness during sleep and sometimes while under anaesthesia. Brain waves vary in amplitude and frequency (cps) and are divided into four bands: beta, alpha, theta, and delta. Variations in consciousness are related to variations in brain activity, as measured by the eeg. Consciousness - the awareness of internal and external stimuli. Awareness of self as the unique being having these experiences. Contents of your consciousness are continually changing - william james called this the stream of consciouness. William james emphasizes that consciousness is a continually changing stream of mental activity. Sigmund freud wanted to examine what went on beneath the surface of the stream of mental activity. Research has shown that people continue to maintain some awareness during sleep and even when they are put under anaesthesia for surgery. Research indicates that while people are asleep they remain aware of external events to some degree.