Module Introduction

Topics Covered:

• Consciousness
• Sleep
• Dreams

With all of the current study that is currently being done to better understand the brain and central nervous system, one simple question is still being debated. What is consciousness? We can define consciousness in a somewhat simplistic fashion, yet a more scientific definition and explanation seems to elude us. In face, consciousness it often referred to as the hard problem. Our text defines consciousness as “an awareness of internal and external stimuli. ⁽²⁾ For our purpose we will not go into the philosophical approach to understanding consciousness, we will approach the state of consciousness from human experience and awareness.

To gain an understanding of consciousness and how it fits into the study of psychology, we look and topics of sleep and wakefulness, their characteristics, and how we exhibit and feel altered states of consciousness. We will study the biological rhythms of the human body, the circadian rhythm, in order to understand our sleep-wake cycle. We will also learn how certain body functions, such as temperature, blood pressure, and glucose levels, change throughout the 24 hour cycle known as the circadian rhythm.

Understanding the sleep cycle is important, not only as part of our circadian cycle, but also because of the connection of sleep to information processing as well as learning and memory processes. The study of sleep from a physiological point of view is a relatively new area of study as it began in the late 1920’s. The electroencephalogram (EEG) was developed in 1929. This piece of equipment measured electrical activity in the brain and allowed researchers to record differences in brain waves during sleep and wakefulness. These sleep studies expanded our knowledge of brain activity long before the advent of the PET scan, MRI, and fMRI. Today, scientific research is expanding our understanding of the physiology of sleep. Several new theories propose reasons for sleep, among them a theory that proposes sleep as a process of “cleansing” fluid in the brain and spinal cord. You will want to access the Links to Learning in Chapter 4 to better understand many implications of sleep and sleep deprivation.

The text will take you through an introduction and understanding of sleep disorders. Sleep disorders have been linked to health and wellness as well as safety issues. Some sleep disorders are widely recognized as being related to physical health and we are now discovering the relationship of sleep disorders to workplace accidents as well as automobile and other transportation accidents. You will learn about something known as “mini sleeps” which are minute periods of time when we actually fall asleep and become distracted from our activities.

Students studying psychology find the topic of dreams interesting and want to know more about this state that we all experience. Even if we think we do not dream or do not remember our dreams, our brain is alive, transferring information and trying to make sense of people and events we were exposed to during the day. When we measure brain activity during sleep, we find the brain to be as active, and at times more active, than the brain during wakefulness. To find out more about dreams, refer to the supplemental material listed below for interesting readings and videos on dreams.

In the study of consciousness, we also learn about altered states of consciousness. You will learn about substance use disorders and how substances affect the brain’s neurotransmitters and therefore alter behavior and experiences. You will also learn about hypnosis and meditation, altered states of consciousness that can have positive effects on mental and body processes. ⁽²⁾