States of Consciousness, Sleep Disorders & Drugs

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States of Consciousness 

  • Sleep 
  • Hypnosis 
  • Drugs 
In a state of consciousness- our awareness of ourselves and our surroundings 

Conscious

  • Daydream 
  • Fancies 

why do we daydream?

  • They help us prepare for future events 
  • They can nourish our social development 
  • Can substitute for impulsive behavior 

Biological Rhythms 

Annual cycle: seasonal variations (bears hibernate, seasonal affective disorder)
28 day cycle: Menstrual cycle
24 hour cycle: our circadian rhythm 
90 minute cycle: sleep cycle 

Circadian rhythm 

  • Our 24 hour biological clock 
  • Our body temperature and awareness changes throughout the day 
  • It is best to take a test and study during your circadian peaks 

Sleep

Sleep stages 

  • There are 5 identified stages of sleep 
  • It takes about 90-100 minutes to pass through the 5 stages 
  • The brain waves will change according to the sleep stage you are in 
  • The first four stages are known as the NREM sleep 
  • The fifth stage is called the REM sleep 

Stage one 

  • This is experienced as falling to sleep is a transition stage between wake and sleep 
  • It is usually lasts between 1 and 5 minutes and occupies approximately 2-5% of a normal might of sleep 
  • Eyes begin to roll slightly 
  • consists most of theta waves (high amplitude, low frequency (slow)) 
  • Brief periods of alpha waves similar to those present while wide awake  

Stage two 

  • This follows stage 1 sleep and is the "baseline" of sleep
  • This stage is part time the 90 minute cycle and occupies approximately 45-60% of sleep 

Stage three and four 

  • Stages three and four are "Delta" sleep of "slow wave" sleep and may last 15-30 minutes 
  • It is called "slow wave" sleep because brain activity slows down dramatically from the "theta" rhythm is stage 2 to a much slower rhythm called "delta" and the height of amplitude of the waves increases dramatically 
  • Contrary to popular belief, it is delta sleep that is the "deepest" stages of sleep (not REM) and the persons most restorative 
  • It is delta sleep (not REM) and the persons most restorative 
  • It is delta sleep and that a sleep- deprived persons crave the first and foremost 
  • In children, delta sleep can occupy up to 40% of all sleep time and this is what makes children awakeable of "dead asleep" during the night 

Stage five: REM Sleep 

  • REM: rapid eye movement 
  • This is a very active stage of sleep 
  • composes 20-25% of normal night's sleep 
                               


Sleep Disorders 

Insomnia 

  • Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep 
  • Not your once in a while (I have a test tomorrow) having trouble getting to sleep episodes 
  • Insomnia is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night 

Narcolepsy 

  • Characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks 
  • Lapses directly into REM sleep (usually during time of stress or joy) 
Want to learn more about Narcolepsy? click here

Sleep Apnea 

  • A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and consequent momentary reawakening 

Night Terrors 

  • A sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified 
  • Occur in stage 4, not REM, and are not often remembered 

Sleepwalking (somnambulism) 

  • Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder affecting an estimated 10 percent of all humans at least once in their life 
  • Sleepwalking mostly occurs during deep non-REM sleep (stage 3 and 4) early in the night 

Dreams 

  • A sequence of images, emotions, be thoughts passing through sleeping person's mind 
  • Manifest content: the remembered storyline of a dream 
  • Latent content: the underlying meaning of a dream 



Drugs 


Drug tolerance 

  • The diminishing effect with regular dose of the same dose 

Drugs Are Either 

  • Agonist 
  • Antagonist 
  • Reuptake inhibitors 
If a drug is often used, a tolerance is created for the drug. Thus you need more of the drug to feel the same effect. If you stop using a drug you can develop withdrawal symptoms 

Psychoactive drugs

Depressants: slow down body functions 
Stimulants: arouse body functions 
Hallucinogens: distort perceptions or evoke sensations without sensory input 

Depressants
Alcohol
  • Slows down sympathetic system 
  • Disrupts memory processing 
  • Reduced self-awareness 
  • Involved in up to 60% of all crimes 
  • The worst drug from macro perspective out there 

Barbiturates


  • Tranquilizers 
  • Taken to sleep (but reduce REM sleep) 
  • Taken with other drugs- you can get a synergistic effect  

Opiates 

  • Has depressive and hallucinogenic qualities 
  • Agonist for endorphins 
  • Deprived from poppy plant 
  • Morphine, Heroine, Methadone, and Cocaine

Stimulates 

  • Speed up body processing 
  • More powerful ones (like cocaine) give people feelings of invincibility 
  • Amphetamines (speed) 
  • Cocaine 
  • Crack 
  • "The Crash" 

Hallucinogens


LSD (Acid) 

  • Hallucinogens caused distorted perception of the environment 
  • Small amounts change how the brain functions (Brain functions fire at random, causing confusion and distorted perception and reality) 

Marijuana

  • THC 
  • Difficult to classify 
  • can amplify sense 





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