Intro to Psychology - #3

Levels of analysis for drug and alcohol use

*Biological Influences*: known as the bio psychosocial approach. The hypothalamic centres in the brain monitoring appetite, appetite hormones, Stomach pangs, Weigh set/settling point, attraction to sweet and salty tastes, and adaptive wariness toward novel foods.

opiates

A category of psychoactive drugs that are chemically similar to morphine and have strong pain-relieving properties.

stimulant

A drug that increases the action of the central nervous system, the heart, and other organs

addiction

A physiological or psychological dependence on a drug

dream

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind. Dreams are notable for their hallucinatory imagery, discontinuities, and incongruities, and for the dreamer's delusional acceptance of the content and later difficulties remembering it.

narcolepsy

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

ecstasy

A strong feeling of emotion, especially joy and happiness

depressants

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

hallucinations

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

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.

tolerance

The acceptable amount of dimensional variation that will still allow an object to function correctly.

withdrawal

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

selective attention

The focus of attention on one particular stimulus or task at the exclusion of other stimuli.

parallel processing

The processing of several aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. Contrasts with the step-by-step (serial) processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving.

alcohol

a depressant that decreases sympathetic nervous system activity and decrease self awareness

drug tolerance

a diminished effect from the drug at its usual dosage range, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug effect

LSD

a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid (lysergic acid diethylamide)

methamphetamine

a powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels

night terrors

a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during Stage 4 sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered

sleep apnea

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

cocktail party effect

ability to attend to only one voice among many

depressant drugs

alcohol, tranquilizers, and opiates that calm brain activity and slow body functions

substance use disorder

continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk

barbiturates

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

physical dependence

evident when withdrawal symptoms, those of discomfort and distress follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior

inattentional blindness

failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

consciousness

our awareness of ourselves and our environment

sleep

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

circadian rhythm

regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle

cognitive neuroscience

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)

THC

the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations

dual processing

the principle that a large amount of mental activity occurs is processed outside of our awareness