STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

 Consciousness is a person’s awareness of the sensations, thoughts, and feelings

at a given moment. Waking consciousness can vary from more active to more
passive states. Altered states of consciousness include naturally occurring sleep
and dreaming, as well as hypnotic and drug-induced states.

SLEEP
 A naturally recurring state of mind and body, characterized by altered
consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity, reduced muscle activity and
inhibition of nearly all voluntary muscles during rapid eye movement sleep, and
reduced interactions with surroundings.
 The brain is active throughout the night, and sleep proceeds through a series of
stages identified by unique patterns of brain waves.

STAGES OF SLEEP
 stage 1 sleep the state of transition between wakefulness and sleep,
characterized by relatively rapid, low-amplitude brain waves.
 stage 2 sleep A sleep deeper than that of stage 1, characterized by a slower,
more regular wave pattern, along with momentary interruptions of “sleep
spindles.”
 stage 3 sleep A sleep characterized by slow brain waves, with greater peaks and
valleys in the wave pattern than in stage 2 sleep.
 stage 4 sleep the deepest stage of sleep, during which we are least responsive
to outside stimulation.

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep

 Sleep occupying 20% of an adult’s sleeping time, characterized by increased
heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate; erections; eye movements; and
the experience of dreaming.

IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP
 sleep restores and replenishes our brains and bodies.

 Sleep assists physical growth and brain development in children. For example,
the release of growth hormones is associated with deep sleep.
DREAMS
 Unconscious Wish Fulfillment Theory

According to Freud’s psychoanalytic approach, dreams have both a manifest content

(an apparent story line) and a latent content (a true meaning). He suggested that the
latent content provides a guide to a dreamer’s unconscious, revealing unfulfilled wishes
or desires.
 dreams-for-survival theory

The theory suggesting that dreams permit information that is critical for our daily survival
to be reconsidered and reprocessed during sleep.
Dreaming is considered an inheritance from our animal ancestors; whose small brains
were unable to sift sufficient information during waking hours. Consequently, dreaming
provided a mechanism that permitted the processing of information 24 hours a day.
 activation-synthesis theory

Hobson’s theory that the brain produces random electrical energy during REM sleep
that stimulates memories stored in the brain.
the brain takes these chaotic memories and weaves them into a logical story line, filling
in the gaps to produce a rational scenario.

SLEEP DISTURBANCES
 INSOMNIA A sleeping disorder characterized as difficulty to sleep.

 SLEEP APNEA is a condition in which a person has difficulty breathing while

sleeping.
 NIGHT TERRORS are sudden awakenings from non-REM sleep that are
accompanied by extreme fear, panic, and strong physiological arousal.
 NARCOLEPSY is uncontrollable sleeping that occurs for short periods while a
person is awake.
 SLEEPTALKING AND SLEEPWALKING two sleep disturbances that are usually
harmless. Both occur during stage 4 sleep and are more common in children
than in adults.

CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS: LIFE CYCLES

 (from the Latin circa diem, or “about a day”) are biological processes that occur
regularly on approximately a 24-hour cycle. Sleeping and waking, for instance,
 occur naturally to the beat of an internal pacemaker that works on a cycle of
about 24 hours. Several other bodily functions, such as body temperature,
hormone production, and blood pressure, also follow circadian rhythms

DAYDREAMS
 Fantasies that people construct while awake. Unlike dreaming that occurs during
sleep, daydreams are more under people’s control. Therefore, their content is
often more closely related to immediate events in the environment than is the
content of the dreams that occur during sleep.

PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS AND USAGE

WHAT ARE PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS?
These are drugs that influence a person’s emotions, perceptions, and behaviour.
It alters brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood,
consciousness and behaviour.
This category of drugs is common in most of our lives.
Four Psychoactive Drug Categories
 Depressants

 Narcotics/ Opiates

 Stimulants

 Hallucinogens

DEPRESSANTS
Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functioning. Includes alcohol and
sedatives.
 Alcohol (ethyl alcohol)

Found in beer, wine, and liquor. The second most used psychoactive drug (caffeine first)
Slows thinking, and impairs physical activity
Alcohol impairs the parts of the brain responsible for controlling inhibitions and making
judgments
Results in less self-control and sometimes more aggressive behavior. Also depends on
environment and expectations
 Sedatives
Barbiturates -Drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system and thereby
reduce anxiety
Impair both memory and judgment
Inhalants- Chemicals that are inhaled to alter consciousness. Paint, glue, gasoline,
nitrous oxide & aerosol sprays.
High doses can cause hallucinations and loss of consciousness.

NARCOTIC/OPIATES
Drugs that depress neural activity, temporarily lessen pain and anxiety and produce
feelings of euphoria.
 Endorphins

Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure. Body’s

natural pain killers
 Morphine

Strong sedative and pain-relieving drug derived from opium

Works by preventing pain neurons from firing or releasing pain-signaling
neurotransmitters into the synapse.

STIMULANTS
Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions . Include: caffeine,
nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine. All are at least mildly addictive.
 Caffeine

Stimulant found in coffee, chocolate, tea, and some soft drinks.

Provides user with a sense of increased energy, mental alertness, and forced
wakefulness
 Cocaine

Dependency is quick and severe; places extreme strain on cardiovascular system

Can cause cocaine psychosis – schizophrenia-like symptoms including auditory
hallucinations & paranoia, “cocaine bugs” or tactile hallucinations.
 Nicotine
Stimulant found in tobacco Effects similar to those of caffeine – reduces fatigue &
drowsiness and increases mental alertness.
Affects various areas in the brain affecting mood, attention & arousal.
Very addictive and does not stay in the body very long.

HALLUCINOGENS
Drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory
input.
 Marijuana

Leaves, stems, resin, and flowers form the hemp plant When smoked, lower inhibitions
and produce feelings of relaxation and mild euphoria
Disrupts memory; lung damage from smoke
 “ Club” Drugs (Ecstasy)

Feelings of euphoria, increased well-being.

Produces lower inhibitions, pleasant feelings, and greater acceptance of others
Side effects—dehydration, hyperthermia, tremor, rapid heartbeat.

HYPNOSIS AND MEDITATION

WHAT IS HYNOSIS?
The induction of a state of consciousness in which a person apparently loses the power of
voluntary action and is highly responsive to suggestion or direction. Its use in therapy, typically
to recover suppressed memories or to allow modification of behaviour by suggestion, has been
revived but is still controversial.

DIFFERENT STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Psychologist believe that hypnosis represents a state of consciousness that differ
significantly from other states. In this view, the different state of consciousness are high
suggestibility, increased ability to recall and construct images, and acceptance of
suggestions.
Hypnosis represents a state of divided consciousness, Ernest Hilgard, a hypnosis
researcher states that hypnosis brings about a dissociation, or division of
consciousness into two simultaneous components.
 In one stream of consciousness, hypnotized people are following the commands
of the hypnotist.
And on the other level of consciousness, they are acting as “hidden observers,”
aware of what is happening to them.
For instance, hypnotic subjects may appear to be following the hypnotist’s suggestion
about feeling no pain, yet in another stream of consciousness they may be actually
aware of pain.

What are the benefits of hypnosis?

Hypnosis has been used successfully to solve practical human problems. In fact
psychologist working in many different areas have found hypnosis to be a reliable and
effective tool. It has been applied to a number of areas including the following:
• Controlling pain
Patients suffering from chronic pain may be given the suggestion, while
hypnotized, that their pain is gone or reduced. They also may be taught to hypnotize
themselves to relieve pain or gain a sense of control over their symptoms. Hypnosis has
proved to be particularly useful during childbirth and dental procedures (Accardi &
Milling, 2009; Hammond, 2007; Mehl-Madrona, 2004).

• Reducing smoking
Although it hasn’t been successful in stopping drug and alcohol abuse, hypnosis
sometimes helps people stop smoking through hypnotic suggestions that the taste and
smell of cigarettes are unpleasant (Elkins et al., 2006; Fuller, 2006; Green, Lynn, &
Montgomery, 2008).
• Treating psychological disorders
Hypnosis sometimes is used during treatment for psychological disorders. For
example, it may be employed to heighten relaxation, reduce anxiety, increase
expectations of success, or modify self-defeating thoughts (Golden, 2006; Iglesias,
2005; Zarren & Eimer, 2002).
• Assisting in law enforcement
Witnesses and victims are sometimes better able to recall the details of a crime
when hypnotized. In one often-cited case, a witness to the kidnapping of a group of
California schoolchildren was placed under hypnosis and was able to recall all but one
digit of the license number on the kidnapper’s vehicle. However, hypnotic recollections
may also be inaccurate, just as other recollections are often inaccurate. Consequently,
the legal status of hypnosis is unresolved (Kazar, 2006; Knight & Meyer, 2007;
Whitehouse et al., 2005).
• Improving athletic performance
Athletes sometimes turn to hypnosis to improve their performance. For example,
some baseball players have used hypnotism to increase their concentration when
batting, with considerable success (Barker & Jones, 2008; Grindstaff & Fisher, 2006;
Lindsay, Maynard, & Thomas, 2005).

MEDITATION: Regulating Our Own State of Consciousness

Meditation is a learned technique for refocusing attention that brings about an altered
state of consciousness. Meditation typically consists of the repetition of a mantra - a
sound, word, or syllable - over and over. In some forms of meditation, the focus is on a
picture, flame, or specific part of the body. Regardless of the nature of the particular
initial stimulus, the key to the procedure is concentrating on it so thoroughly that the
meditator becomes unaware of any outside stimulation and reaches a different state of
consciousness.
Benefits of Meditation:
 People become more relaxed after meditation
 They gain new insights into themselves and the problem they are facing
 Improve health because of biological chances in produces
(For example, during meditation, oxygen usage decreases, heart rate and blood
pressure decline, and brainwave patterns change.)

STEPS IN MEDITATING
There are simple procedure to be follow in meditating, it includes sitting in a quiet room
with the eyes closed, breathing deeply and rhythmically, and repeating a word or sound
such as the word one – over and over. It is needed to practice twice a day for 20
minutes to bring an effective technique in bringing about relaxation.