Myers Ch 3

1. Myers’ PSYCHOLOGY
(7th Ed)
Chapter 3
States of Consciousness
James A. McCubbin, PhD
Clemson University
Worth Publishers

2. Waking Consciousness
 Consciousness
 our awareness
of ourselves
and our
environments

3. What is the “dual processing” being revealed by
today’s cognitive neuroscience?

4. Dual Processing: The Two-Track Mind
Blindsight

5. Subliminal & blindsight
processing pathway

6. Threat-related signal processing
(fight/flight response)

7. Brainstem activated neural alarm
system (alerting/orienting)

8. Brainstem-amygdala-cortical alarm
system for subliminal signals of fear

9. Selective Attention
Our conscious awareness processes only a
small part of all that we experience. We
intuitively make use of the information we
are not consciously aware of.

10. Inattentional Blindness
Inattentional blindness refers to the inability
to see an object or a person in our midst.
Simons & Chabris (1999) showed that half of
the observers failed to see the gorilla-suited
assistant in a ball passing game.
DanielSimons,UniversityofIllinois

11. Change Blindness
Change blindness is a form of inattentional
blindness in which two-thirds of individuals
giving directions failed to notice a change in the
individual asking for directions.
© 1998 Psychonomic Society Inc. Image provided courtesy of Daniel J. Simmons.

13. Biological Rhythms and Sleep
Circadian Rhythms occur on a 24-hour cycle and include
sleep and wakefulness. Termed our “biological clock,” it
can be altered by artificial light.
Light triggers the suprachiasmatic nucleus to decrease
(morning) melatonin from the pineal gland
and increase (evening) it at nightfall.

14. Sleep & Dreams
Sleep – the irresistible tempter to whom we
inevitably succumb.
Mysteries about sleep and dreams have just started
unraveling in sleep laboratories around the world.

15. 90-Minute Cycles During Sleep
With each 90-minute cycle, stage 4 sleep decreases
and the duration of REM sleep increases.

16. Why do we sleep?
We spend one-third of our
lives sleeping.
If an individual remains
awake for several days,
immune function and
concentration deteriorates
and the risk of accidents
increases.
JoseLuisPelaez,Inc./Corbis

17. Sleep Hours
Bat -> 20 hours
Baby -> 16 hours
Cat -> 12
Dolphin -> 10 hours
Adult -> 8 hours
Cow -> 4 hours
Giraffe -> 2 hours

18. Sleep Theories
1. Sleep Protects: Sleeping in the darkness when
predators loomed about kept our ancestors out
of harm’s way.
2. Sleep Helps us Recover: Sleep helps restore
and repair brain tissue.
3. Sleep Helps us Remember: Sleep restores and
rebuilds our fading memories.
4. Sleep may play a role in the growth process:
During sleep, the pituitary gland releases
growth hormone. Older people release less of
this hormone and sleep less.

19. Children are most prone to:
 Night terrors: The sudden arousal from sleep
with intense fear accompanied by
physiological reactions (e.g., rapid heart rate,
perspiration) which occur during Stage 4 sleep.
 Sleepwalking: A Stage 4 disorder which is
usually harmless and unrecalled the next day.
 Sleeptalking: A condition that runs in families,
like sleepwalking.
Sleep Disorders

20. Night Terrors and
Nightmares
 Night Terrors
 occur within 2 or
3 hours of falling
asleep, usually
during Stage 4
 high arousal--
appearance of
being terrified
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4
3
2
1
Sleep
stages
Awake
Hours of sleep
REM

21. Sleep Disorders
 Insomnia
 persistent problems in falling or staying
asleep
 Narcolepsy
 uncontrollable sleep attacks
 Sleep Apnea
 temporary cessation of breathing
 momentary reawakenings

22. Sleep Deprivation
 Effects of Sleep
Loss
 fatigue
 impaired
concentration
 depressed immune
system
 greater
vulnerability to
accidents

23. Sleep Deprivation
2,400
2,700
2,600
2,500
2,800
Spring time change
(hour sleep loss)
3,600
4,200
4000
3,800
Fall time change
(hour sleep gained)
Less sleep,
more accidents
More sleep,
fewer accidents
Monday before time change Monday after time change
Accident
frequency

24. Why We Dream
3. Physiological
Function: Dreams
provide the sleeping
brain with periodic
stimulation to
develop and preserve
neural pathways.
Neural networks of
newborns are quickly
developing; therefore,
they need more sleep.

25. Why we dream
Satisfy our wishes
Safety valve
File away memories
Information processing
Develop and preserve neural pathways
Physiological function
Make sense of neural static
Reflects cognitive development

26. Dream Theories
Summary

27. Drugs and
Consciousness
 Psychoactive Drug
 a chemical substance that alters perceptions
and mood
 Physical Dependence
 physiological need for a drug
 marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms
 Psychological Dependence
 a psychological need to use a drug
 for example, to relieve negative emotions

28. Dependence and
Addiction
 Tolerance
 diminishing effect
with regular use
 Withdrawal
 discomfort and
distress that follow
discontinued use
Small Large
Drug dose
Little
effect
Big
effect
Drug
effect
Response to
first exposure
After repeated
exposure, more
drug is needed
to produce
same effect

29. Depressants
Depressants are drugs that reduce neural activity
and slow body functions. They include:
1. Alcohol
2. Barbiturates
3. Opiates

30. Stimulants
Stimulants are drugs that excite neural activity and
speed up body functions. Examples of stimulants
are:
1. Caffeine
2. Nicotine
3. Cocaine
4. Ecstasy
5. Amphetamines
6. Methamphetamines

31. Why Do People Smoke?
3. Nicotine takes away
unpleasant cravings
(negative
reinforcement) by
triggering
epinephrine,
norepinephrine,
dopamine, and
endorphins.
4. Nicotine itself is
rewarding (positive
reinforcement).

32. Psychoactive Drugs
 Ecstasy (MDMA)
 synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen
 both short-term and long-term health risks
 LSD
 lysergic acid diethylamide
 a powerful hallucinogenic drug
 also known as acid
 THC
 the major active ingredient in marijuana
 triggers a variety of effects, including mild
hallucinations

33. Psychoactive Drugs

34. Influences on Drug Use
The use of drugs is based on biological,
psychological, and social-cultural influences.

35. Influence for Drug Prevention and
Treatment
1. Education about the long-term costs
2. Efforts to boost people’s self-esteem
and purpose
3. Attempts to modify peer
associations and teaching refusal
skills