Module 5 Discussion COURSE MATERIALS: CHAPTER 5–STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS Understanding Consciousness 1. consciousness is the personal awareness of thoughts, sensations, memories, and the external world 2. William James likened consciousness to an ever-changing ″stream″ that still appears to be unbroken (daydreaming then jolted back) Levels of Awareness 1. controlled process–here and now; focused attention 2. automatic process–minimal attention..walking and talking on a cellphone; includes ″blindsight″–we walk around not banging into things; we drive and wonder that we don′t recall having driven the past mile) 3. subconscious–sleeping and dreaming 4. no awareness–in a coma or under anesthesia Sleep: Circadian Rythyms–physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle (24 hours). They respond primarily to light and darkness ( we sleep at night because our early predators were better night hunters..we are pack animals and hunt better in groups (this is our prehistory, not 21rst century) * be sure to go over the SCN in your readings* Note how our body produces melatonin to ease us into sleep and then into wakefulness as it decreases * be sure to go over Stages of Sleep. Know the difference between REM and NREM sleep Theories of Sleep: 1. Restoration Theory 2. Adaptive Theory Why We Dream: 1. Freudian Theory 2. Activation-Synthesis * be sure to go over Psychoactive Drugs ASSIGNMENT: 1. Research a sleep disorder–write a minimum 300-WORD report indicating the cause(s), symptoms and possible cures 2. Research the difference between agonistic and antagonistic in regards to psychoactive drugs..please explain them, with examples, as if you were teaching them. https://youtu.be/jReX7qKU2yc Watch the above video for a better understanding of consciousness.
