MB1 - Consciousness Expand Cards
0.0 / 5
- Created by: Psych951
- Created on: 11-05-18 12:14
What is Consciousness?
- Moment-to-moment awareness
- Properties of consciousness
- Measuring consciousness
1 of 22
What is Consciousness Expanded
- Moment-to-moment awareness of ourselves and our environment
- Properties:
- Subjective
- Private
- Dynamic
- Self-reflective
- Connected to selective attention
- Measuring states of consciousness is hard
- Self-report
- Behavioural measures (e.g. record performance on tasks)
- Physiological measures (e.g. brain imaging).
2 of 22
Levels of Consciousness
- Freudian View
- Cognitive View
- Examples of unconscious processing
3 of 22
Levels of Consciousness Expanded
- Freudian View:
- Conscious, pre-conscious and unconscious.
- Criticised for not being scientific/empirically based.
- Cognitive viewpoint:
- Complimentary levels of consciousness
- Controlled (con) and automatic (uncon)
- Divided attention = attend to more than on activity at the same time because one or both behaviours are automatic.
- Examples of unconscious processing
- Visual agnosia
- Blind-sight
- Priming
- Emotional unconscious.
4 of 22
Why have Consciousness?
- Summaries
- Override impulse
- Novel Situations
5 of 22
Why have Consciousness Expanded
- Provides summaries of important stimuli to help decision making
- Override potential dangerous behaviours dictated by impulse
- Deal with novel situations of which there is not yet an automatic/learnt response
6 of 22
Sleep
- 90 Minute sleep cycle
- Beta vs Alpha waves
- Changes in the night
- REM
- Sleep and the Brain
- Purpose
- Sleep disorders
7 of 22
Sleep Expanded
- 90 Minute cycle of stages: 1-2-3-4-3-2-REM
- 1 = Light sleep; Irregular brain wave patterns; Slow theta waves – Intense images, light dreams, little muscle spasms
- 2 = Deeper sleep; Sleep spindles (bursts of brain wave activity); Some dreams; Relaxed body
- 3 = Deeper sleep; Regular delta waves
- 4 = Deepest; Delta dominate EEG pattern
- Beta waves = Alert, high frequency, low amplitude – Alpha waves = Relaxed, low frequency, high amplitude.
- During the night, REM periods increase in length and stage 3&4 decrease.
- REM = Rapid eye movements – High brain activity and frequent dreaming – Sleep paralysis.
- Brain isn’t turned off to sleep, instead areas of the brain promote sleep – Brain stem and basal forebrain key in REM
- Purpose of sleep:
- Restore bodies and mind
- Evolutionary adaptation
- Memory consolidation.
- Sleep disorders have serious consequences – Examples Inc. insomnia, narcolepsy and REM sleep behaviour disorder.
8 of 22
Dreams
- What are dreams
- Dream content
- Theories of dreaming
- Dreaming whilst awake
9 of 22
Dreams Expanded
- A series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep
- Dreams occur in all stages of sleep
- Hypnagogic state = Vivid images/hallucinations often experienced in the transition from wake to sleep early stage 2
- REM = majority of dreams.
- Dreams aren’t as abstract as believed, and normally involve real places, people etc. but in less real sequences.
- Culture, experience, concerns etc. all affect dream content
- Help prepare for environment.
- Theories of dreaming:
- Freud’s Psychoanalytical = Wish fulfilment, urges, psychological meanings are discovered.
- Activation-synthesis = Dreams have no function, they are a by-product of REM activity (activation) which the cerebral cortex tries to organise (synthesis).
- Cognitive theories = Problem solving, and dreams are like normal waking behaviour/brain activity.
- Dreaming whilst awake e.g. daydreams and fantasy-prone personalities.
10 of 22
Hypnosis
- Process of Hypnosis
- Induction
- Susceptibility
- Theories of hypnosis
- Hypnotised Brain
11 of 22
Hypnosis Expanded
- Heightened suggestibility, vivid imagination and intense relaxation
- Induction = Leading someone into a hypnotic state
- Susceptibility = How easily someone is hypnotically induced
- Theories of hypnosis:
- Dissociation = Splitting consciousness
- Social-cognitive theory = Expectations of someone who is motivated to be hypnotised.
- Hypnotised brain: Hypnotised people experience different brain activation
12 of 22
Neural Basis of Consciousness
- Neurological states
- Processing pathways
- Brain acitvity
- Enactive consciousness
13 of 22
Neural Basis of Consciousness Expanded
- Different neurological states correlate with consciousness = Neural basis
- Processing occurs across multiple pathways, some of which produce conscious awareness.
- Unified activity of different systems in brain – Not localised to one area.
- Enactive consciousness: Alternative to neural consciousness – Doesn’t deny neural representations, but says we use skills to generate perceptions and conscious.
14 of 22
Focussed Attention
- Selective concentration
- Filter models
- Attenuation model
- Inattention and change blindness
- Measuring attention
15 of 22
Focussed Attention Expanded
- Selectively concentrating on aspects of environment and specifically responding to stimuli, especially in ‘noisy’ environment.
- Filter models: Focus attention/filter specific info at an early stage.
- Late selection model suggests filtering happens later in attention process, just before we respond.
- Attenuation model: Attenuate (reduce effect) of some information, so it isn’t consciously processed.
- Inattention blindness = Failure to notice unexpected items in visual scene – Change blindness = Fail to see changes to items.
- ERPs measure attention – Larger and stronger waves when paying attention
16 of 22
Divided Attention
- Simultaneous response
- Factors affceting ability to divide attention
- Endogenous vs. exogenous control
- Cross modal effects
17 of 22
Divided Attention Expanded
- Respond seemingly simultaneously to multiple demands
- Factors affecting ability to divide attention:
- Rehearsal
- Difficulty
- Similarity
- Endogenous control = Attention drawn by internal stimuli; Exogenous = drawn by external
- Cross modal effects: When one sense is drawn in, it draws attention of other senses e.g. hearing someone speak draws eyes to the person’s lips.
18 of 22
Circadian Rhythms
- 24-Hour biological clock
- Regulation
- Zeitgebers
- Seasonal Affective Disorder
19 of 22
Circadian Rhythms Expanded
- Biological clock adapted to a 24-hour day world – Steady rhythmic state - Affects body temperature, chemical levels, blood pressure etc.
- Regulated by suprachiasmatic nucleus in hypothalamus – Linked to Pineal gland which controls melatonin secretion.
- Zeitgebers = Stimuli that help regulate clock, may be disruptions e.g. jet lag
- Exogenous = External e.g. sunlight, regular patterns of behaviour
- Endogenous (pacemakers) = Internal e.g. Pineal gland's melatonin secretion, suprachiasmatic nucleus
- Seasonal affective disorder: Low mood in winter when there is reduced sunlight – Their clock is particularly dependent on light, therefore becomes more free-running in winter.
20 of 22
Drug-Induced States
- Alter consciousness
- Tolerance
- Withdrawal
- Addiction
- Depressants
- Stimulants
- Opiates
- Determinants of drug effects
21 of 22
Drug-Induced States Expanded
- Drugs alter consciousness by modifying brain chemicals – Facilitate or inhibit synaptic transmission - Drugs are carried through the brain via capillaries
- Drug tolerance = Repeated use increases dosage needed to produce same effects, due to brain counter-acting affects to maintain homeostasis (battle between drug and brain)
- Withdrawal = Brain still compensates to achieve homeostasis, but it isn’t needed.
- Drug addiction/dependence = Maladaptive pattern of substance use causing distress.
- Depressants = Decrease nervous system activity
- Stimulants = Increase neural firing and arouse nervous system.
- Opiates = Pain relief and mood changes by affecting endorphin and dopamine systems.
- Determinants of drug effects:
- Biological (genes)
- Psychological (beliefs and expectancy, personality)
- Environmental (setting of drug use),
- Cultural (affect responses)
22 of 22
Related discussions on The Student Room
- High scorers, how did you learn and revise? »
- 5 note-taking methods all students should know »
- Can someone help me with revising history? (GCSE EDEXCEL) »
- Reincarnation is inevitable and infinite »
- How do I get the most out of in-person lectures? »
- UK Design Master Choices »
- Best building at ARU for study facilities? »
- Is there a ‘right way’ to make revision notes? »
- Liking someone »
- Struggling with physiology »
Similar Psychology resources:
0.0 / 5
5.0 / 5 based on 1 rating
0.0 / 5
0.0 / 5
0.0 / 5
0.0 / 5
0.0 / 5
5.0 / 5 based on 1 rating
0.0 / 5
Comments
No comments have yet been made