Psy190 General Psychology

PSY190 General Psychology

Introduction Consciousness is the awareness of internal and

external stimuli

Function of consciousness:  Monitoring and controlling ourselves and our environment

Levels of Consciousness Conscious level: The level at which mental activities

that people are normally aware of occur. Ex: listen to radio

Nonconscious level: Preconscious level: A level of mental activity that is not currently conscious but of which we can easily become conscious. 

Ex: swimming skill, language

Unconscious level: A level of mental activity that

influences consciousness but is not conscious. 

Ex: memories, impulses and desires that are unacceptable

Levels of Consciousness Ice berg’s theory

Mental Processing Without Awareness Patients who was played audiotape of 15 pairs of

word in unconscious (under anesthesia)can recall the member of the word pair. Consciously process information without awareness- can’t tell the rule Blindsight- still can locate visual targets Priming-people tend to respond faster or more accurately to previously see stimuli. Priming can alter behaviors when unconsciously influenced.  Participants who had been exposed to rude words

were most likely to interrupt conversation, if compared to polite or neutral words.

Unconscious help us to effectively carry daily

mental abilities

The Neuropsychology of Consciousness Thalamus and the cerebral cortex are among the

brain structures involved in the experience of consciousness. Ex: thalamus of patient in vegetative state

Brain injuries can impair consciousness Ex: anterograde amnesia- can’t form new memories (damage to hippocampus) But, mental processing can occur without

conscious awareness Ex: task performance improved- can learn and

remember without conscious memory

Stages of Sleep Study sleeping by using EEG to monitor the brain’s

electrical activity (brave wave) during sleep. Slow-Wave Sleep. Stages 1 through 4 are progressively deeper stages of

non-REM sleep. The last two stages—3 and 4—are called slow-wave sleep. 

accompanied by deep breathing; calm, regular heartbeat; and reduced blood pressure.

It is quite difficult to be awakened in Stage 4 (deepest

stage of slow-wave sleep).

Stage 4 -> stage 2 -> REM

Stages of Sleep (con’t)

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, or active sleep, is a

paradoxical state in which brain waves and other physiological functions resemble those of a person who is awake, but muscle tone resembles that of paralysis. A Night’s Sleep. Most people travel through the five stages of slow-wave

and REM sleep four to six times each night. REM sleep is most frequent during the second half of the night. The amount of time spent in stages 1 to 4 and REM sleep varies with age. 

Ex: 50% of total sleep time at birth is REM sleep

Sleep Disorders Insomnia, fatigue resulting from little sleep or difficulty

falling asleep, is the most common sleep disorder and is correlated with mental distress (anxiety). Treatment: sleeping pills or other techniques (relaxation)

People with narcolepsy fall, without warning, into REM

sleep from an active waking state. Sleep apnea is a disorder in which people stop breathing momentarily while they sleep. Apnea episodes can occur hundreds of times per night, thus leaving the victim feeling tired during the day. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a disorder in which a baby stops breathing and dies. Doctors recommend that babies sleep on their back.

Sleep Disorders (con’t)

Nightmares are frightening dreams that can occur

during REM sleep.

Imagery therapy- imagine new and less frightening

outcomes

Night terrors occur during stage 3 or 4 and are

characterized by horrific images, screaming upon wakening, and difficulty in calming down afterward. Sleepwalking, which is most common among children, is walking during non-REM sleep. REM behavior disorder, a condition similar to sleepwalking, occurs during REM sleep. The normal paralysis that occurs during REM sleep is

absent, and the person acts out his or her dreams.

Why Do People Sleep?

Sleep as a Circadian Rhythm. Humans have a built-in biological clock that is linked to light and dark environmental cues. 

Ex: Jet lag- symptoms of fatigue and irritability.

Human circadian rhythms are “clocked” in a part of the

hypothalamus called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). 

SCN regulate the release of the hormone Melatonin.

The Functions of Sleep. Sleep is necessary for resting and restoring the body. REM sleep may help maintain the activity of neurons that use norepinephrine.  for developing, checking, and expanding the brain’s nerve connections.  solidify and absorb what has been learned during the day. 

Dreams and Dreaming 

Dreams are storylike sequences of images, sensations, and perceptions.  Most (bizarre & vivid)dreams occur during REM sleep  Daytime activities and experiences may influence content of dreams.  Ex: wear red-tinted goggles before sleep-> report red images  Lucid dreamers know when they are dreaming.

Some theories suggest that dreaming helps mammals

process and consolidate information of great personal significance or survival value. Psychodynamic theory suggests that dreams express unconscious wishes. The activation-synthesis theory suggests that dreams represent efforts to make sense of random signals sent to the cortex. Dreams review and address problems  current concern-> content of dreams

Brain areas controlling logical thought are suppressed

HYPNOSIS Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness brought on

by special techniques and characterized by responsiveness to suggestions for changes in perceptions and behavior. Procedures for inducing hypnosis  focus people’s attention on a restricted set of stimuli  while asking them to ignore everything else as they imagine

certain feelings.

Hypnotically susceptible people are more imaginative,

have a tendency to fantasize, can focus their attention for long periods, and are able to process information quickly and effortlessly.  Willingness to be hypnotized is the most important factor.

Posthypnotic suggestions affect behavior after hypnosis

has ended. (ex: smiling whenever someone says “England”) Posthypnotic amnesia, which is an inability to remember what happened under hypnosis.

Explaining Hypnosis State theory: a special state of consciousness hypnotized people experience an altered state of consciousness. Role theory- subjects under hypnosis merely

act in accordance with the hypnotized role. They are not in a special state; they simply

comply with the hypnotist’s directions. Provide socially acceptable reason to follow suggestions 

Ex: take off cloth when having medical check up

Explaining Hypnosis (con’t) Dissociation theory: hypnotized subjects dissociate,

or split, various aspects of their behavior and perceptions from the “self” that normally controls these functions. When hypnotized, these subjects are sharing some of

this control with the hypnotist. Evidence- hypnotized person immerses one hand in ice water and presses button

Applications of Hypnosis Relieve pain Aid memory (doubtful, but positive expectation causes confident)

PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS Psychoactive drugs cause psychological changes by altering

the functioning of the brain. Psychopharmacology is the study of psychoactive drugs. Psychoactive drugs or substances influence the interaction between neurotransmitters and receptors. Drugs that act as agonists mimic the effects of neurotransmitters, whereas those acting as antagonists prevent neurotransmitters from binding with receptors and inhibit neurotransmitter activity.

The Varying Effects of Drugs

Substance abuse is the self-administration of drugs in

ways that deviate from either medical or social norms. Psychological dependence occurs when a person continues to use the drug to gain a sense of well-being even when the drug produces adverse consequences. Physical dependence or addiction exists when there is an altered physiological state in which continued use of the drug is required to prevent the onset of withdrawal syndrome. Tolerance may develop with prolonged use of a drug.

Categories of Drugs

Depressants  reduce central nervous system activity.  increase GABA neurotransmitter activity.  Ex: alcohol, barbiturates Stimulants  increase behavioral and mental activity  Ex: Cocaine, Caffeine Opiates  cause sleep and pain relief.  Ex: morphine, heroin Hallucinogens  cause a loss of contact with reality and induce changes in emotion, perception, and thought.  Ex: LSD, Marijuana