Transcript Other Forms of Consciousness

An altered state of consciousness occurs when some
aspect of normal consciousness is modified by mental,
behavioral, or chemical means.
Hypnosis
Hypnos: Greek God of sleep.
Hypnosis is not being asleep
A state of awareness characterized by
deep relaxation, heightened
suggestibility and focused attention.
Hypnotizabilty
Power lies with person
being hypnotized.
Susceptibility: experts
measure it by a person’s
responsiveness to
standard suggestions.
(“your right hand is lighter
than air”)
An Altered state?
Theories:
1. Distinct state of consciousness.
2. A social process: role playing to please
hypnotist.
3. Simply heightened motivation
• Focus attention channels more energy into
suggested activities.
• They are hypnotized because they want or
expect to be.
“Hidden Observer”
Ernest Hilgard proposed hypnosis is a
disassociated state involving a hidden
observer in the person’s mind operating in
parallel with normal consciousness.
Uses for Hypnosis
•Powerful tool for researchers.
•Desensitizing Phobic patients
•Relaxation program to combat stress
•Eliminating unwanted behaviors (smoking)or
diminish a person’s craving.
•Managing pain to avoid anesthesia
Control pain?
•Lamaze for natural child
birth.
•Not for everyone!
•How? No one
understands for sure but
we know that endorphins
are not involved when
hypnotized and it may
have something to do
with the gate control
theory on pain.
Meditation
Focusing on a repetitive
behavior, assuming
certain body positions
and minimizing external
stimulations.
Increase self knowledge
and well being and to
find a form of spiritual
enlightenment
Effects of Meditation
Slow changes in brain wave patterns
Produces frontal lobe changes
associated with positive
emotions.(Davidson et al., 2003)
Positive benefits in blood pressure,
stress hormones.(Seeman et al., 2003)
Cannot scientifically be measured if a
new sense of understanding has been
reached.
Drugs
Psychoactive Drugs: All stimulate
the brain’s “rewards circuits”.
Cocaine, heroin, and
amphetamines all trick the brain
by making the brain think these
substances our good for us.
categories: hallucinogens,
opiates, depressants and
stimulants.
Hallucinogens
Alter perceptions, blur the
boundary between self and
external world.
Act in the brain at specific
receptor sites for serotonin
Mescaline, psilocybin, PCP
LSD, etc
PCP: produces a dissociative
reaction in which user feels
disembodied or removed
from parts of their body.
LSD
Also known as acid
Emotions vary from euphoria to detachment to panic
But hallucinations are similar to near death
experiences. (meaningful images superimposed on a
tunnel or funnel with light at center.
As hallucinations peak people frequently feel
detached from their body and the dream seems so
real they panic.
Hallucinations are also similar to extreme sensory
deprivation
Cannabis
THC-causes the release of
dopamine in the brain.
Difficult to classify
Some research shows that the
brain produces its own THC like
chemicals so cannabis exploits the
natural chemistry in the brain.
Interferes with cognition (learning,
thinking, memory etc.)
In teen brain greater risk of anxiety
or depression
More on marijuana
Disrupts memory formation
Heavy use is associated with shrinkage of the brain areas that process
memories and emotion
In some cases can relieve pain, nausea associated with certain diseases like
cancer.
Depressants
Slow down the mental
and physical activity of
the body by inhibiting
the CNS.
Barbiturates,
benzodiazepines, opiates
and alcohol.
In minor doses can
relieve anxiety or pain.
But overuse impairs
reflexes and judgment.
Opiates
Morphine, heroin, codeine
Highly addictive drug that suppresses
physical sensation and response to
stimulation
Very short term
Brain stops producing endorphins
However no changes in cognitive
abilities.
For reasons unknown, opiates are less
addictive for patients who use for
medical reasons. May affect different
parts of the brain instead of reward
centers.
Methadone-synthetic drug that can be
ingested orally.
•
useful in helping heroine addicts
Barbiturates
Mild tranquilizer
Used in sleeping pills
In large doses can impair memory and
judgement
Dangerous because it reduces REM sleep
time and then causes REM rebound
Overdose can cause loss of consciousness,
coma or death.
Benzodiazepines
Safer, referred to as minor
tranquilizers
Commonly used to treat
anxiety
Valium and Xanax
Almost never taken as
recreational because if you
don’t have anxiety problems
the effects are not so
pleasurable.
Alcohol
Loosening of inhibitions…alcohol
depresses activity in the brain circuits that
normally control self monitoring of our
thoughts and behaviors.
Slowed neural processing
Impairs judgement
Memory disruption: nerve cells die and
new cell growth is reduced.
Suppresses REM sleep
Reduced self awareness
Stimulants
Speed up the CNS
resulting in a boost in
mental and physical
activity levels.
Include caffeine, nicotine,
meth and cocaine
Effects are intense
pleasurable sensations,
increased self confidence,
greater energy and
alertness.
Cocaine
Cocaine-most powerful “reward” thus highly addictive.
Enters bloodstream quickly then wears off within an hour then agitaed
depression follows
Depletes the brain of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine
Leads to emotional disturbances, convulsions, cardiac arrest, respiratory
failure etc.
Meth
Parent drug is amphetamine
Triggers the release of dopamine in brain enhancing
energy and mood for about 8 hours.
Aftereffects: irritability, hypertension, seizures etc.
Tolerance: you need larger and larger doses to get the
same effect as the first time.
Withdrawal: perspiring, nausea, trembling and death
Physical Dependence
Physical dependence: process by which the body adjusts and comes to
need the substance for everyday functioning.
-less sensitive to natural reinforcers such as love and friendship
Body’s cells can’t function without a substance or drug,
you have become physically dependent.
Once the body starts to become depleted of the
substance, painful withdrawal symptoms kick in.
Quickest way to ease the pain is to take more drugs
Some typical withdrawal symptoms brought on by a
physical addiction can include tremors or “shakes,”
nausea, diarrhea, chills and body aches.
typically addressed through a medically supervised
detoxification that can last anywhere from a few days
to a week
Psychological Dependence
Psychological dependence: a desire to use the drug even
when there is no physical dependence.
a compulsion or perceived need to use.
thoughts become all-consuming.
Without help, a psychological dependency can transform a
drug of choice into your central focus of life.
inpatient treatment programs are recommended in order
to learn how to handle the inevitable temptation to
relapse.
Treating addiction
Disease or a weakness of character?
It can effect a person’s treatment
especially when we focus on the
biological and medical treatment
while ignoring the social aspect.
Vietnam veterans –had a higher
success rate in beating their addiction
than people who became addicted on
the street.
Conclusion
Alters the functioning of your brain
Temporarily changes your consciousness
Mimics the neurotransmitters, enhances or
dampen their effects at the synapses.