MODULE 37 – ANXIETY, DISSOCIATIVE AND PERSONALITY …



CONSCIOUSNESSWaking & Sleeping RhythmsConsciousness – our awareness of self & environmentInattentional BlindnessWe see very little when we are not paying attentionIs it failure of perception or inattentional blindness?Conscious processing = sequentialSubconscious processing = many levels simultaneouslySelective attention – focus attention on a particular stimulusCocktail party effect (cell phone & driving)Change BlindnessChoice BlindnessPop-out phenomenonLevels of Information ProcessingWe process tons of info outside of our awarenessEver find you are in a certain mood without knowing why? (scents, colors we casually pass by are processed subconsciously…. And these can be associated with certain emotions, like love, hate, fear, etc….)Everyday behaviors, prejudices & feelings may be controlled by automatic processes that we are not conscious of.Sleep and DreamsDistribute National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep IQ Test (complete & discuss during class)Circadian Rhythm – biological clockTemp rises as morning approaches – peaks during day – dips in early afternoon – then drops before going to sleep.Distribute Morning vs. Evening People survey (complete & discuss)Owl vs. Lark Why do we Sleep?Sleep deprivationSleep DebtDistribute “How large is your Sleep Debt” survey (complete & discuss)Increase in accidentsDecrease in immune systemSleep DisordersInsomnia – persistent problems in falling or staying asleepNarcolepsy – “sleep attacks”Sleep Apnea – “cessation of respiration”Sleep Walking / Night Terrors (primarily children) – non-REM disorderDreams“Hallucinations of the sleeping mind”Manifest Content – Freud – remembered storyline of dreamLatent Content – Underlying meaning of dreamDreams as Information ProcessingDifference between mammals & animalsMammals = behavior is influenced by learningAnimals = instinctsPSYCHOACTIVE DRUGSPsychoactive drugs affect the brain, changing consciousness and other psychological processes. Psychopharmacology is the study of psychoactive drugs. SEQ NLA \r 0 \h seq NLA \* ALPHABETIC A seq NL1 \r 0 \h PsychopharmacologyMost psychoactive drugs or substances influence the interaction between neurotransmitters and receptors. These drugs get into the brain through the blood supply when they pass the blood-brain barrier. seq NLA \* ALPHABETIC B seq NL1 \r 0 \h .The Varying Effects of DrugsPredicting a drug’s effects is complicated because most psychoactive drugs interact with many neurotransmitter systems. Drugs have desirable main effects, but many also have undesirable side effects. seq NL1 1 seq NL_a \r 0 \h .Substance AbuseSubstance abuse is the pattern of use that causes serious social, legal, or interpersonal problems for the user. seq NL_a \* alphabetic a seq NL_1_ \r 0 \h )Psychological dependence occurs when a person continues to use the drug to gain a sense of well-being, even when the drug produces adverse consequences. However, the person can still function without the drug. seq NL_a \* alphabetic b seq NL_1_ \r 0 \h )Physical dependence or addiction is a physiological state in which continued use of the drug is required to prevent the onset of an unpleasant withdrawal syndrome. Tolerance is a condition in which increasingly large drug doses are needed to produce the same effect. It may develop with prolonged use of a drug. seq NL_a \* alphabetic c seq NL_1_ \r 0 \h )By affecting the regulation of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the brain’s “pleasure centers”, addictive drugs have the capacity to create tremendously rewarding effects in most people. The changes created in the brain by drug addiction can remain long after drug use ends, increasing the chance for relapse months or even years later. seq NL1 2 seq NL_a \r 0 \h .Expectations and Drug EffectsDrug effects are not determined by biochemistry alone. Learned expectations also play a role. People who think they have taken a drug but really haven’t may display the effects of the drug because they expect to be affected by it. Learned expectations regarding drug effects vary from culture to culture.ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION SURVEY (possibly controversial at the HS level, but can be revised to read, “I THINK this would be true, if I DRANK alcohol”Every 5 items on the survey measure a different expectancy – see EXERCISE handout for details. seq NLA \* ALPHABETIC C seq NL1 \r 0 \h .DepressantsDepressants reduce central nervous system activity, partly by affecting the neurotransmitter GABA. SEQ NL1 \r 0 \h seq NL1 1 seq NL_a \r 0 \h .Alcohol seq NL_a \* alphabetic a seq NL_1_ \r 0 \h )Alcohol affects the neurotransmitters dopamine, endorphins, endocannabinoids, glutamate, serotonin, and GABA. seq NL_a \* alphabetic b seq NL_1_ \r 0 \h )Alcohol affects specific brain regions. It reduces activity in the locus coeruleus and suppresses the hippocampus, cerebellum, and hindbrain mechanisms. seq NL_a \* alphabetic c seq NL_1_ \r 0 \h )Biological effects depend on the amount of alcohol the blood carries to the brain. Effects increase with faster drinking or drinking on an empty stomach, which speed the absorption of alcohol into the blood. Men tolerate higher amounts of alcohol than women. There are no effective measures to prevent or relieve the unpleasant hangover effects of overindulgence. seq NL_a \* alphabetic d seq NL_1_ \r 0 \h )Genetics also plays a role in determining the biochemical effects of alcohol and influences people’s tendency toward alcohol dependency. seq NL1 2 seq NL_a \r 0 \h .BarbituratesAlso called downers or sleeping pills, barbiturates are extremely addictive. Small doses cause relaxation, some euphoria, and diminished attention, among other effects. Higher doses cause deep sleep but can distort normal sleep patterns. Overdoses can be fatal. seq NL1 3 seq NL_a \r 0 \h .GHBGamma hydroxybutyrate or GHB, also known as “G” is a naturally occurring substance similar to the neurotransmitter GABA. “G” has become a popular recreational drug. It is known for inducing relaxation, elation, loss of inhibition, suggestability, and increased sex drive. It can cause severe negative reactions, especially when combined with other drugs. seq NLA \* ALPHABETIC D seq NL1 \r 0 \h .StimulantsStimulants increase central nervous system activity. SEQ NL1 \r 0 \h seq NL1 1 seq NL_a \r 0 \h .AmphetaminesCommonly known as uppers or speed, amphetamines increase norepinephrine and dopamine activity and decrease GABA activity. Amphetamines stimulate the brain and sympathetic nervous system, raising heart rate and blood pressure and constricting blood vessels. Continued use results in a variety of mental and physical problems. seq NL1 2 seq NL_a \r 0 \h . seq NL_a \r 0 \h CocaineThis drug’s effects are similar to but more rapid than those of amphetamines. Additionally, the effects of cocaine are short-lived, which may help explain why this drug is especially addictive both psychologically and physiologically, particularly crack, a purified, highly potent form of cocaine. Cocaine stimulates self-confidence and optimism. Continued use results in a variety of mental and physical problems and overdoses can be deadly. Ending a cocaine addiction is difficult. Numerous pharmacological and psychological treatments have been tried with mixed results, particularly over the long term. seq NL1 3 seq NL_a \r 0 \h .CaffeineCaffeine is the world’s most popular drug. This drug reduces drowsiness and can enhance cognitive performance and vigilance. It improves problem-solving, increases physical work capacity, and raises urine production. Caffeine can cause physical dependence. seq NL1 4 seq NL_a \r 0 \h .NicotineOunce for ounce Nicotine is the most harmful drug known to man. This drug stimulates the autonomic nervous system. It enhances the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, increases the release of glutamate, and activates the dopamine-related pleasure system. It can improve mood, memory, and attention. Regular nicotine use can cause psychological and/or physiological dependence. Smoking is a major risk factor for cancer, heart disease and respiratory disorders. seq NL1 5 seq NL_a \r 0 \h .MDMAAlso called “Ecstasy,” MDMA increases the activity of dopamine neurons and is a serotonin agonist. It leads to some of the same effects as those produced by cocaine and amphetamines. With continued use, MDMA’s positive effects decrease, but its negative effects persist. Although MDMA does not appear to be physically addictive, it does cause permanent brain damage. seq NLA \* ALPHABETIC E seq NL1 \r 0 \h .OpiatesOpiates, which include opium, morphine, heroin, and codeine, cause sleep and pain relief. Opiates depress activity in wide areas of the cerebral cortex, they act as agonists for endorphins, and they appear to stimulate the endocannabinoid system, which may explain their euphoric effects. They are highly addictive partly because they stimulate a type of glutamate receptor that can physically change a neuron’s structure. seq NLA \* ALPHABETIC F seq NL1 \r 0 \h .HallucinogensHallucinogens, also called psychedelics or psychotomimetics, cause a loss of contact with reality and induce changes in emotion, perception, and thought. SEQ NL1 \r 0 \h seq NL1 1 seq NL_a \r 0 \h .LSDLysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is one of the most powerful psychedelics. LSD stimulates serotonin receptors in the forebrain. Unpleasant hallucinations and delusions can occur unpredictably. LSD is not addictive, but tolerance does develop. It can cause paranoia, panic attacks, and flashbacks. seq NL1 2 seq NL_a \r 0 \h .KetamineVeterinarians use ketamine as an anesthetic and physicians use it for critically ill patients or for suppressing dangerous seizure activity. People steal it to use as a recreational drug called “Special K.” It causes dissociative feelings that people describe as an “out of body” experience, but it causes memory damage. seq NL1 3 seq NL_a \r 0 \h .MarijuanaThe active ingredient in the hemp plant Cannabis sativa is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC alters the blood flow to many brain regions. Low doses cause restlessness and hilarity, followed by carefree relaxation, vivid sensations, and food cravings. THC collects in the brain and reproductive organs. The brain contains several receptors for THC and produces a number of natural “endogenous cannabinoids” whose receptors respond to THC. ................
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