States of Consciousness

What does it mean that alcohol is a disinhibitor?

The urges you would feel if sober are the ones you are more likely to act upon on drugs. Equal opportunity; aggressive people become aggressive, people leave bigger tips.

Possible reasons for dreaming

To satisfy our own wishes To file away memories Information-processing perspective To develop and preserve neural pathways To make sense of neural static To reflect cognitive development

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN):

Triggered by light sensitive retinal proteins. Rice sized clusters in hypothalamus that causes the pineal gland to decrease its production of melatonin in the morning or increase it in the evening. Light helps with biological clocks. 24 hour cycle.

Summary of hearing

Vibrations cause the cochlea's membrane to shake. This causes ripples in the BASILAR MEMBRANE, bending the HAIR CELLS lining its surface (wheat field). Hair cells convert the messages into neurons that are then sent by the AUDITORY NERVE to the thalamus, then onto the AUDITORY cortex in the TEMPORAL lobe.

What effect does expectancy have on drinking?

When people believe that alcohol affects social behavior in certain ways, an believe, rightly or wrongly, that they have been drinking alcohol they will behave accordingly.

Psychoactive Drugs:

a chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods at the neural synapses.

LSD

a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid. Extra credit: lysergic acid diethylamide

Narcolepsy

a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

Ecstasy (MDMA)

a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons to mood and cognition.

Stage 2 (NREM-2)

about 20 minutes. lightly sleeping, high brain activity. Sleep talking begins. Now clearly asleep

To make sense of neural static

activation synthesis theory. REM sleep triggers neural activity that evokes random visual memories which our brain weaves into stories.

Is alcohol a stimulant in small doses?

at first it may appear to liven the drinker, but brain activity slows.

What 2 things can change our circadian rhythm?

bright light at night spending the day outdoors

Methamphetamine: WALTER WHITE

causes 8 hours of heightened energy and euphoria. Men more susceptible to addiction because it causes them to release more dopamine. can cause permanent depression can lead to irritability, insomnia, hypertension, seizures, social isolation, depression, and violent outbursts.

Who do night terrors usually affect?

children

There are THREE TYPES of rhythms

circadian, ultradian (more than once per day;appetite, hormonal), and infradian (once per month; menstruation and yearly, seasonal) =monarch butterfly

Addiction

compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences. physical, psychological

What four symptoms must you meet to be diagnosed with a substance use disorder?

denial, tolerance, withdrawal, and craving.

Psychoactive Drugs:3 types

depressants, stimulant, and hallucinogens

What are some of the effects of getting too little sleep? Be sure to have at least 3.

difficulty studying, diminished productivity, tendency to make mistakes, irritability, fatigue, you get fatter, and weakened immune system. Altered metabolic and hormonal functioning that mimic aging. Hypertension and memory impairment. Slowed performance, impaired creativity, concentration, and communication, slowed reaction time.

What neurotransmitters does meth trigger?

dopamine, enhances energy and mood.

To file away memories

dreams for information processing. Dreams help sift, sort, and fix the day's experiences in our memories.

Information-processing perspective

dreams help us sort out the day's events and consolidate memories

To develop and preserve neural pathways

dreams may serve a psychological function. Regular stimulation from REM sleep may help develop and preserve neural pathways.

Depressants

drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

Stimulants

drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine and the amphetamines cocaine and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Barbiturates (tranquilizers)

drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement.

Amphetamines

drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing sped-up body functions and associated energy and mood change.

When you take an opiate, what does your brain stop producing?

endorphins

Hallucinations

false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus.

Nicotine

found in cigarettes. Triggers release of epinephrine and nor-epinephrine, diminish appetite, boosts alertness and mental efficiency. CNS release neurotransmitters that calms anxiety and reduces sensitivity to pain. Smoking correlates with higher rates of depression, chronic disabilities, and divorce. High death rates.

Why, biologically, does alcohol relax the drinker?

low doses slow sympathetic nervous system activity.

4 things that alcohol does

lowers inhibitions, slow neural processing, stops mental formation, self awareness

Marijuana (THC)

made from hemp plant. Mild hallucinogen Enhanced sensation, relief of pain, distortion of time, relaxation. Impaired learning and memory, increased risk of psychological disorders, lung damage from smoke.

Hallucinogens (psychedelics)

mind manifesting. Drugs such as LSD that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

Substance Use Disorder

occurs when a person has a dependence on alcohol and or drugs that is accompanied by intense and sometimes uncontrollable cravings and compulsive behaviors to obtain the substance.

Opiates

opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.

Examples of opiates

opium, heroin, codeine and morphine

Sleep

periodic, natural loss of consciousness- as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation.

A drug's overall effect depends on what two things?

physical dependence and psychological dependence.

REM Sleep

rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active.

Insomnia

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.

Endorphins

reduce perception of pain and can cause a euphoric feeling (like after a lot of exercise)

Night Terrors

sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during stage 3 sleep, within 2-3 hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered.

Sleep Apnea

sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings.

What are the quick fixes for insomnia? Do they work?

sleeping pills and alcohol-- don't work

Circadian Rhythm:

the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24 hour cycle.

Tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect

Withdrawal

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug.

Alpha Waves

the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state.

REM rebound

the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation (created by repeated awakening during REM sleep).

What are barbiturates commonly used for?

to induce sleep or reduce anxiety.

What do people use stimulants for?

to stay awake, lose weight, boost mood or athletic performance. increase heart rate and breathing rate. pupils dilate. appetite diminishes

neuroadaption

when the body becomes able to offset drug's affect leading to tolerance.

When you stop taking opiates

your body stops replenishing your endorphines

How much do most adults sleep per night?

1/3 of day

How much do newborns sleep per night?

2/3 of day

How much of an average night's sleep do we spend in REM?

20-25% of night's sleep.

During what stage of sleep do night terrors happen?

3

How long does a full sleep cycle last?

90 minutes

Hypnosis

A social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur. You have to believe in hypnosis to be hypnotised. The people who are most susceptible have good imaginations, those who get immersed in movies and books.

Brain waves when awake

Alpha waves

How does Alcohol effect your self-control?

Alters judgement and self awareness. Makes you not consider long term effects of actions. Focuses attention on immediate situation.

two similar drugs on test

Amphetamines and cocaine similar

What neurotransmitters are effected by cocaine?

Causes rush of euphoria that depletes the brain's supply of the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and nor-epinephrine.

What are the causes/warning signs of sleep apnea?

Complaints of sleepiness and irritability. Loud snoring. Possibly has high blood pressure

The eye

Cornea pupil iris lens retina

What is the long term price of opiate?

Craving for another fix, need for larger doses, extreme discomfort of withdrawals.

Stage 3 (NREM-3):

Deep sleep. Bed wetting and sleep walking

NREM 3 brain waves

Delta Waves stage 3: The large, slow brainwaves associated with deep sleep

To reflect cognitive development

Dream content reflects dreamers' cognitive development- their knowledge and understanding.

To satisfy our own wishes

Dreams discharge otherwise unacceptable feelings. To live through drives that would be threatening if expressed.

What machine do they use to study sleep?

EEG

Cocaine

Fast track from euphoria to crash (15-30 mins). Crash to agitated depression. Leads to emotional disturbances, suspicousness, convulsion, cardiac arrest or respiratory failure.

REM Sleep characteristics:

For 10 minutes brain waves become sharp toothed like stage 1. Heart rate rises Breathing becomes rapid and irregular Every 30 seconds your eyes dart around with lids closed. Arousal often occurs. Muscles relax; paralyzed accept for slight twitching. Hard to wake up. Called paradoxical sleep because externally calm and internally aroused. Dreaming occurs.

What is the cause of narcolepsy?

Genetic brain disease. Absence of a hypothalamic neural center that makes orexin.

What happens to NREM-3 sleep as the night goes on?

Gets briefer then disappears.

What makes insomnia worse?

Getting off of sleeping pills and stress.

Stage 1 (NREM-1)

Hypnagogic state. Hallucinations; sensation of falling or floating

What is the effect of large doses

Impaired memory and judgement, even death (especially if paired with alcohol)

What effect does alcohol have on memory?

It keeps things from being stored in long term memory. It can affect cognition in the long term.

Consciousness

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

What does Ecstasy physically do to your brain?

Releases dopamine. Releases stored serotonin and blocking re-absorption, thus prolonging serotonin's feel-food flood (3-4 hours long)

List the 5 reasons that sleep may have evolved:

SLEEP PROTECTS keeps us away from dangers of the night SLEEP HELP US RECUPERATE restore brain tissue SLEEP IS FOR MAKING MEMORIES restoring and rebuilding fading memories SLEEP FEEDS CREATIVE THINKING SLEEP MAY PLAY A ROLE IN THE GROWTH PROCESS the pituitary gland releases a growth hormone while we sleep

NREM 2 brain waves

Sleep Spindles: bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain wave activity.