What Is the Nature of Consciousness?

CHAPTER 3

What is the Nature of Consciousness? Brain’s awareness of internal and external stimulation Consciousness, for some, seems like a theatre inside the head. Freud believes the ego is the center of consciousness. Behaviorists believe that consciousness is a byproduct of behavior.

* Consciousness arises as the brain forms a model of the world that combines external stimulation with internal experience.

What does Consciousness do for us? Restricts what we notice and pay attention to Interpretation of the world—personal perception Helps us to select and store personally meaningful stimuli Allows us to draw actively on lessons stored in memory

Levels of Consciousness Preconscious—Information not currently in consciousness but can be recalled to consciousness after something calls attention to them Subconscious—Nonattended stimulation that gets registered and evaluated below the level of consciousness Unconscious—fainting, comatose, under anesthesia/ Freudian—part of the mind that houses memories, desires, and feelings that would be threatening if brought to consciousness.

Daydreaming Daydreaming is a mild form of consciousness alteration/ shift of attention away from the immediate situation or task to other thought. Fantasy used to work out difficulties or wonder about their world Escape from tedious, boring or frightening situations

Sleeping and Dreaming Main Events of Sleep Rapid Eye Movement (REM) – quick eye movements under the eyelids that appear at periodic intervals during sleep Sleep paralysis, during REM, is a condition in which a sleeper is unable to move any of the voluntary muscles, except those controlling eyes.

Need for Sleep Sleep time varies with personality Sleep duration and the sleep cycle change over one’s lifetime

Why we Dream Freud—dreams represent the “royal road to the unconscious”, operates on 2 levels-manifest content (superficial and obvious meaning of dream) and latent content (real and hidden meaning of a dream disguised by symbolism). Dreams begin with random electrical activation coming from the brain stem and the brain’s attempt to make sense of this random activity. Dreams provide the brain with an internal source of needed stimulation.

Sleep Disorders Insomnia—Insufficient sleep, inability to fall asleep, frequent arousals, or early awakenings Sleep Apnea—Person intermittently stops breathing while asleep Narcolepsy—Sudden REM-sleep attacks accompanies by a sudden loss of muscle control

Hypnosis Induced altered state of awareness characterized by deep relaxation, heightened suggestibility, and highly focused attention Diminished sensitivity to pain, heightened motivation to focus attention and channel energy into suggested activities Medical use includes pain control for procedures in which the patient may be hypersensitive to usual anesthesia Psychological use can help desensitize phobic patients to fear- producing stimuli, relaxation training program to combat stress

Meditation Induced by focusing on a repetitive behavior, assuming certain body positions, and minimizing external stimulation. Enhances self-knowledge and well being by losing self-awareness. Hallucinations False perceptions that occur in the absence of objective external stimulation. May be s sign of drug states or of severe mental disorders Deprivation of Stimuli Brain may manufacture its own

Children’s imaginary friends Overstimulation can create hallucination—high fever, epilepsy, and migraine headaches

Psychoactive Drug States For millennia, drugs have been used by our ancestors to alter their perceptions of reality. All psychoactive drugs impair the emotion-based brain mechanisms that help us make good decision.

Hallucinogens—alter perceptions of reality Cannabis—alter perception, sedate, pain relief and mild euphoria Opiates—suppress physical sensation and response to stimulation Depressants—slow down the mental and physical activity of the body by inhibiting central nervous system activity. Stimulants—increase central nervous system activity, speeding up both mental and physical rates of activity.