MTC Psychology1120A Chapter 4 Review

Our awareness of various cognitive processes, such as sleeping, dreaming, concentrating, and making decisions.

Mental state that encompasses the thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that occur when we are awake and reasonably alert.

Changes in consciousness or being detached from our external environment…Mental states that differ noticeably from normal waking consciousness.

• **A Natural ASC**
• Effortless and spontaneous shifts in attention away from the here and now into a private world of make believe.

--Usually come in waves surging about every 90 minutes and peaks between 12:00 and 2:00. One half of a persons waking hours are filled with fantasies.

• A Natural ASC
• One third of our lives are spent sleeping – a natural state of rest characterized by a reduction I voluntary body movement and decreased awareness of the surroundings.
• Functions of Sleep – do we really know?
• Serves a restorative function, physically and mentally.
• boosts our immune response
• provides insightful solutions to problems
• conserve and restore energy

• Regular biological rhythm that operates according to a 24 hour schedule of chemicals, hormones, temperatures, metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and alertness. Sleep – wake cycle
• Epinephrine and other hormones
• Body temperature
• High temp corresponds to high level of alertness
• Low temp corresponds to reduced alertness and motivation.
• Heart rate
• Important for detecting disease
• Problems with Circadian Rhythms

• Difficult when done too often.
• Should go from days to evenings to nights, gradually
• What happens to you when you are deprived of sleep? Mistakes and accidents increase because attention span decreases.

Temporary maladjustment that occurs when a change of time zones causes biological rhythms to be out of step with logical time.

Chemical produced by the pineal gland. Bright light suppresses the release of the chemical and darkness triggers the release of the chemical.