Units 5+7

Units 5+7

• 1.
  Consciousness and Drugs
• 2.
  Consciousness Selective AttentionFocusing/conscious awareness on a particular stimulus “ Cocktail party phenomenon” Selective Inattention “ Inattentional blindness” (or, ‘gorillas in the midst’) We also divert our attention from information that (while relevant) might be emotionally upsetting
• 3.
  Sleep Circadian rhythmCyclical biological process revolving around daily cycles of light and dark During periods of darkness, pineal gland produces sleep-inducing hormones (melatonin) that diminish during the day
• 4.
  Sleep Stages
• 5.
  Sleep Sleep patternsInfants sleep 2/3 of every day; Adults sleep about 1/3 Sleep deprivation Reduces functioning of immune system and concentration Increases production of stress hormones (cortisol) which create body fat Rats deprived of sleep die after two weeks
• 6.
  Sleep Common sleepdisorders Insomnia Narcolepsy Sleep apnea Night terrors Sleepwalking, sleepeating Teeth grinding
• 7.
  Sleep Insomnia Chronicinability to fall asleep, stay asleep, or feel fully rested Affects ~6% of men and ~15% of women “ Treatments” Many sleeping pills significantly disrupts sleep patterns Modify sleep schedule so that you get up and go to sleep at roughly the same times each day Maintain exercise regime, relax half an hour before bed, avoid bright lights         
• 8.
  Sleep Narcolepsy Excessivedaytime sleepiness and/or sudden, uncontrollable lapses into sleep during the day Sudden loss of muscle tone, can lead to collapse, and REM sleep Currently no known cure
• 9.
  Sleep Sleep apneaRepeatedly choking and gasping during sleep Can occur 300-500 times per night, often with no recollection of waking up Soft tissue in the back of the throat relaxes, causing airway blockage Disrupts sleep rhythms, less time in deep, restorative sleep (lack of REM sleep), leads to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, weight gain Treatments Surgery to remove sagging or excess tissue in throat Pressurized oxygen mask (CPAP) to keep airway open
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• 12.
  Sleep Lifestyle changesthat can help sleep apnea Lose weight. Even a small amount of weight loss can open up throat and improve apnea symptoms Quit smoking. Smoking increases inflammation and fluid retention in throat and upper airway Avoid alcohol, sleeping pills, and sedatives as they relax muscles in the throat and interfere with breathing Maintain regular sleep hours.   Apnea episodes decrease with plenty of sleep.
• 13.
  Sleep Night terrorsSit up in bed with terrified screams and thrashing around Ends abruptly and individual returns to sleep often with no recollection of what happened Usually occurs during Stage 4 sleep Note: nightmares occur during REM sleep Typically affects children As we grow older and spend less time in Stage 4 sleep, night terrors diminish
• 14.
  Sleep Sleepeating Individualis unaware of their behavior Roaming the house, particularly the kitchen, eating large quantities of food (as well as non-food items) Food consumed tend to be high in sugar/fat Odd combinations (potato chips with peanut butter, butter and hot dogs) Affects ~1-3% of population
• 15.
  Sleep Sleepeating Oftena symptom of a larger underlying issue High correlation with eating disorders and other anxiety disorders Treatments Stress management Therapy Limit caffeine and alcohol consumption Benzodiazapines (to reduce motor function at night)
• 16.
  Altered States Morealtered states of consciousness Meditation Hypnosis Drug-induced states
• 17.
  Drugs Definitions Tolerance Dependence Physical and psychological Withdrawal
• 18.
  Drugs Depressants Alcohol,barbiturates/tranquilizers, morphine/heroin (opiates) Creates disinhibition, slows neural processing, interferes processing of STM to LTM Stimulants Methamphetamine, caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, ecstasy Temporarily excite neural activity Hallucinogens LSD, marijuana Distort perceptions and evoke sensory images