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AP Psychology: Consiousness Flashcards

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8784963225Consciousnessthe brain's model of internal & external experience 1. sensory awareness 2. direct inner awareness 3. sense of self0
8784963226Levels of Consciousness-conscious -preconscious -unconscious/subconscious -non conscious -altered states of consciousness1
8784963227Conscious levelawareness: the information about yourself and your environment you are currently aware of example: your conscious level right now is probably focusing on these words and their meanings2
8784963228Preconscious levelmemories and stored knowledge: information about yourself or your environment that you are not currently thinking about (not in your conscious level) but you could be example: if asked to remember your favorite toy as a child, you could bring that preconscious memory into your conscious level3
8784963229Unconscious/Subconscious levelcognition without awareness: information that we are not consciously aware of but we know must exist due to behavior example: research participants respond more quickly and/or accurately to questions they have seen before, even if they do not remember seeing them4
8784963230Non-conscious levelautomatic processes: body processes controlled by your mind that were are not usually (or ever) aware of example: right now, your non conscious is controlling your heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and so on5
8784963231Circadian rhythmthe daily biological rhythms that occur in a 24-hour period and controsl: -sleep/wake cycle -body temperature -hormone levels -heart rate6
8784963232EEGmeasures brain activity7
8784963233EMGmeasures muscle tension8
8784963234EDGmeasures eye movement9
8784963235sleep onsetthe period when we are falling asleep (stage between wakefulness and sleep)10
8784963236Why do we sleep?-recuperate and remember 1. restore body tissue 2. increase production of immunity cells 3. reorganize & consolidate memories -growth 1. pituitary releases growth hormone 2. babies sleep 16 hours a day, adults 8 hours11
8784963237Stage 1 of sleep-transition (half awake) -hypnic jerk -hypnagogic hallucinations12
8784963238Stage 2 of sleep-onset of true sleep -respiration: slow --> regular --> deep -heart rate and body temperature decrease -eyes move slowly side to side -appearance of sleep spindles13
8784963239sleep spindlesshort bursts of rapid brain waves14
8784963240Stage 3 + 4 of sleep-slow wave sleep: delta waves (low-frequency) -deepest sleep -restorative sleep --growth hormones released --immune cell reproduction15
8784963241Stage 4 of sleep-sleep walking, talking, eating, and texting -night terrors - screaming (sit bolt upright) --highly active sympathetic arousal --developing nervous system16
8784963242NREM (non-REM sleep)non-rapid eye movement sleep: encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep -stages 1-417
8784963243Alpha Wavesthe relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state18
8784963244Delta Wavesthe large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep19
8784963245REM Sleep-rapid eye movement sleep -brain waves same as active alert -heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration increase -muscles paralyzed by the pons -"paradoxical sleep" -sleep paralysis -most, but not all dreams -- vivid and colorful -memory consolidation -REM sleep deprivation: REM rebound + interferes with memory20
8784963246REM rebound effect-will experience more and longer periods or REM21
8784963247sleep chart22
8784963248pineal glandproduces melatonin23
8784963249melatonina hormone manufactured by the pineal gland that produces sleepiness24
8784963250Insomnia-by far the most common sleep disorder -persistent problems getting to sleep or staying asleep25
8784963251Insomnia treatment-decrease coffee intake -don't exercise before bed -consistent sleep pattern -sleeping pills (with caution)26
8784963252Narcolepsy-suffer from periods of intense sleeping and may fall asleep at unpredictable an inappropriate times -may fall into REM sleep regardless of what they are doing at the time27
8784963253Narcolepsy treatment-medication -changing sleep patterns (naps multiple times a day)28
8784963254Sleep Apnea-causes a person to stop breathing for short periods during the night -causes someone to wake up slightly for air, then keep sleeping -robs a person of deep sleep -leads to tiredness and memory trouble -can be fatal -most often during REM sleep29
8784963255Sleep Apnea treatment-respiration machine30
8784963256Night Terrors-causes someone to scream in the middle of the night (usually just in children) -happens between stages 3 and 431
8784963257Night Terrors treatment-age (time)32
8784963258Somnambulism-sleepwalking or sleep talking -occurs during stage 4 sleep33
8784963259Lucid Dreaming-where we are aware that we are dreaming and can control the storyline of the dream34
8784963260anatomy of a dream-body and movement suppressed by pons -memory, emotion, auditory, and visual areas activated -external stimuli can be woven into a dream35
8784963261Psychoanalytic Dream Theory (Freud)-emphasizes dream interpretation as a method to uncover the repressed information in the unconscious mind -says that dreams were wish fulfilling - we act out our unconscious desires -sexual and aggressive instincts motivate behavior -repressed urges and wishes surface in dreams (psychic outlet) -*manifest content* -*latent content*36
8784963262Manifest Content (part of Freud's Psychoanalytic Dream Theory)-the surface storyline - contains symbols from the unconscious -the literal content of our dreams37
8784963263Latent Content (part of Freud's Psychoanalytic Dream Theory)-the underlying meaning of the symbols, usually sexual in nature -the unconscious meaning of the manifest content38
8784963264Current uses in psychoanalysis-reflects symbolism -dreams do reflect a deeper meaning and can reveal inner conflicts, fears and desires39
8784963265Information Processing Theory-dreams help to sift, sort, and fix the day's experiences in our memory (skiing example) -evidence: --we spend more time in REM while learning new material --if awakened before REM, perform worse on memory tasks40
8784963266Physiological Function of Dreams-develop and preserve neural pathways -fosters brain mapping -time spent in REM decreases with age41
8784963267Cognitive Development of Dreams-dreams reflect growing concept and knowledge -dreams help our brain to mature and develop -"practice" responses to potential threats42
8784963268Activation-Synthesis Theory---origin of dreams: activation of brainstem circuits --> random activation of more sophisticated brain areas ---function of dreams: synthesis of memories emotions, and sensations triggered by activation - brain creates order out of chaos ---meaning: the way the brain weaves a story reveals something about the dreamer43
8784963269HypnosisA systematic procedure that produces a heightened state of suggestibility with changes in perception, memory, and behavior44
8784963270Social Role Theory-subjects willingly comply with a social role --they WANT to be hypnotized and EXPECT that it will work -says that hypnosis is not an alternate state of consciousness at all (just that some people are more easily hypnotized than others)45
8784963271Divided Consciousness/Dissociation Theory-consciousness has divided into two streams --one hypnotized: responding to hypnotist suggesting --second: "hidden observer": still receives sensory input but blocks our attention to it46
8784963272Hypnosis applications (effective)-pain control --surgery --skin conditions --dental work -behavior control --weight loss --anxiety47
8784963273Psychoactive Drugssubstances that alter consciousness, mood, behavior, and perception by altering neurotransmitter activity (agonists & antagonists)48
8784963274Drug Abusedrug use for other than intended purpose -prescription abuse (licit drugs) -illicit drugs (illegal)49
8784963275brain reward pathwayVTA <---> nucleus accumbens <---> prefrontal cortex -most drugs: 2-10 times Dopamine (acts as reward)50
8784963276Drug Categories-anti-psychotics -stimulants -depressants -hallucinogens51
8784963277Depressants-decrease activity of the central nervous system (can't form memory)52
8784963278Depressants examples-Barbiturates: downers "chill pill" -Benzodiazepines: Valium, Xanax -club drugs: Rohypnol ("roofies", GHB) date rape -alcohol -opiates53
8784963279Alcohol brain effects (Depressant)-GABA agonist (slows nervous system) -memory effects -glutamate-> antagonist -smaller hippocampus -impaired adolescent memory function by 10%54
8784963280Opiates (depressant)drugs derived from the poppy plant -agonist for endorphins55
8784963281Opiates examples-opium -morphine -heroin -codeine -synthetic opiates: vicodin, oxycontin56
8784963282Opium short term effects-relieves pain, relaxation, and euphoria57
8784963283Opium long term effects-high potential for physical and psychological addiction --oxycodone, vicodin, gateway to heroin --difficult withdrawal (all deressants) --high risk for HIV infection58
8784963284Stimulantsincrease nervous system activity, heart rate, blood pressure, muscular tension59
8784963285Stimulants examples-cocaine -MDMA (ecstasy)Molly -"bath salts" -Amphetamines: speed, meth60
8784963286Cocaine / Crack short term effects-Euphoria -self-confidence -optimism61
8784963287Cocaine / Crack long term effects-nausea -paranoia -cardiac arrest -stroke -blocks Dopamine reuptake - destroys dopamine receptors -high risk for physical and psychological addiction62
8784963288MDMA-Ecstasy -Molly (less pure form of Ecstasy)63
8784963289MDMA short term effects-dehydration -visual hallucinations -tactile sensitivity -empathetic feelings -jaw-clenching64
8784963290MDMA long term effects-low potential for physical and psychological dependence -development of depression or panic disorder due to destruction of serotonin terminals65
8784963291"bath salts"-chemical version of the Khat plant66
8784963292"bath salts" effects-euphoria -increased sociability and sex drive -violence -increased visits to the ER - cardiac & psychiatric symptoms67
8784963293Hallucinogens/Psychedelicsdrugs that distort perception and evoke sensory images68
8784963294Hallucinogens/Psychedelics examples-LSD -PCP -Salvia Divinorum -Marijuana -Mushrooms69
8784963295Marijuana-dope, ganja, grass, Mary Jane, reefer, joints, pot, weed, blunt -current THC concentration 4 to 8x more than 20 years ago -location of the THC binding sites: hypothalamus, hippocampus, frontal lobe, parietal lobe, cerebellum70
8784963296Marijuana long term risks-addiction: increased concentration of THC may lead to dependence -anxiety: 20-30% report anxiety & panic attacks, paranoia -mood disorder: can bring on manic episodes, may trigger depression -psychosis: intensifies psychotic symptoms or increases risk of developing psychosis -drop IQ by 8 points -possible link to Schizophrenia71
8784963297Synthetic Marijuana-"spice" -"K2" -various plants mixed with chemicals72
8784963298LSD (Hallucinogen)-acid, boomers, cubes73
8784963299LSD short term effects-hallucinations -"bad trips"74
8784963300LSD long term effects-possible nightmares and flashbacks -risk of drug induced psychosis75
8784963301Tolerance-the brain will produce less of a specific neurotransmitter if it is artificially supplied by a psychoactive drug -this physiological change produces tolerance, a need for more of the same drug in order to achieve the same effect76
8784963302Withdrawal-occurs as consequence of drug use -dependence can be psychological, physical, or both77
8784963303Psychologically dependent-feel an intense desire for the drug -convinced that they need it in order to perform or feel a certain way78
8784963304Physically dependent-have a tolerance for the drug -experience withdrawal symptoms without it and need to drug to avoid those symptoms (vary from drug to drug)79
8784963305Stimulants vs DepressantsStimulants: speed up body processes Depressants: slow down body processes80
8784963306Contributing Factors1. Nature of the drug -smoked or injected, faster acting, more addictive 2. Psychological factors -to feel good or better, curious, stress 3. Social factors -peer pressure, availability, family use 4. Biological factors - genetic factors, people with mental disorders. The brain "rewards" drug use so we "learn" to continue.81

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