Psychology 100: Chapter 4 – Flashcards
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Psychoactive drugs: Basic Definition
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Mind altering substances that change the brain's neurochemistry (marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, opiates)
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Drug effects
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-The effects of a particular drug depends on which neurotransmitter system it activates (e.g., methamphetamine acts on the dopamine system)
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Stimulants
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-Increase behavioral and mental activity -Neurotransmitter: Dopamine (examples: amphetamines, nicotine, caffeine, and cocaine)
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Depressants
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-Reduces behavioral and mental activity by depressing the CNS -Interacts with the GABA systems within the brain to inhibit a variety of emotional reactions -Neurotransmitter: Gaba (examples: anti-anxiety drugs, alcohol)
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Narcotics/Opiates
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-Reduces pain -Can have a negative affect on memory and attention span with long-term use -Neurotransmitter: Endorphins (examples: heroin, codine, morphine)
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Hallucinogens/Psychedelics
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-Alters thoughts or perceptions -Neurotransmitter: Serotonin (examples: LSD)
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Combination
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-Mixed effects -Neurotransmitter: Serotonin, MDMA (examples: marijuana)
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Marijuana
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-Mild hallucinations -Greatest effects on thought processes and emotional perception of events (heightened sensory perception, sense of well-being) -Interacts with dopamine inherent to the reinforcement centers of the brain -Does not appear to be physically addictive -Most WIDELY used illicit drug -When used medically, can reduce side effects of chemotherapy, treat glaucoma, chronic pain and traumatic brain injury
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LSD
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-Blocks receptors for serotonin in the brain, leading to the disinhibition of Central Nervous System function -Alters perception of sensory stimuli -Causes insomnia in users
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THC
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-CB1 receptors mediate effects of THC (psychoactive compound in marijuana) and endocannabinoids -Endocannabinoid receptors are distributed throughout the brain, with highest concentration in the basal ganglia and the hippocampus -Long term use of marijuana causes the hippocampus and amygdala to shrink
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Cocaine
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-Users experience increased alertness, increased confidence and sociability -Increases dopamine levels at synapses -Habitual use of cocaine in large quantities can lead to paranoia, psychotic behavior, and violence
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Amphetamines and Methamphetamine
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-Long history of use for weight loss and staying awake -Seldom used for legitimate medical purposes -Damages brain structures responsible for cognition, memory and emotion -Causes considerable physical damage
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Addiction: Physical and Psychological Dependence
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-Drug use that remains compulsive despite its negative consequences -Physical dependence involves: 1. Tolerance: Increasing amounts of a drug is needed to achieve the intended effect 2. Withdrawal: Physiological and psychological state characterized by feelings of anxiety, tension, and cravings for the addictive substance -Psychological dependence involves: Drug cravings without tolerance or withdrawal
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Addiction's Psychological and Physiological Causes
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Psychological: -The "sensation-seeking" personality trait -Social learning (e.g., "modeling" of drug use by significant others) -Social and environmental context Physiological: -Activation of brain dopamine systems that play a role in the pleasurable experience drugs create and regions (the insula) that govern cravings -Heredity may play a role (e.g., alcoholism)
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Activation-Synthesis Theory
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-The theory that the brain tries to make sense of brain activity while you sleep by synthesizing that activity with your stored memories -Emotion centers (limbic system) are open during sleep, which explains the intense emotions you can have while you sleep -The Frontal Cortices are not active, which is why people are so wiling to believe their dreams while they're having them -Critics argue that dreams are not as chaotic as this theory suggests and that they more likely resemble events in daily life
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Sleep Disorders
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea -A disorder that causes you to stop breathing while you sleep -This can happen several times during the night REM Behavior Disorder -When you act out you dreams Somnabulism -When you sleep walk Night Terrors -When you wake up in the night in a complete state of panic
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Stages of Sleep
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-Completely awake=alpha waves -Stage 1=brief, transitional stage of light sleep (Theta Waves) -Stage 2=heart rate and temperature decrease (K Complex and Sleep Spindles) -Stage 3 and 4=deep stages of slow wave sleep (Delta Waves) *Stage 3 and 4 are associated with REM, which is considered deep sleep that include vivid dreams*
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Instruments Used to Measure Sleep
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-There is not one center of the brain that controls all functions, so the different sections must be measured to analyze these functions and their activities EEG=measures brain electrical activity along the scalp EMG=measures muscle activity EOG=measures eye movement
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Biological Clock
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-Located in the SCN and controls Circadian Clock -Located in the Hypothalamus -Responds to light information from the retina -The biological clock signals the pineal gland to secrete melatonin, which affects bodily states related to being tired
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Circadian Rhythms
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-Daily rhythmic changes in physiological behavior and function -Adapted to accommodate sleep, appetite, stress -Synchronizes to light/dark cycle -Free running period of cycle (no environmental stimuli) is 25 hours -Can also be affected by meal times, ambient temperature, exercise, and stress
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Sleep
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-An altered state of consciousness -Sleep is biologically regulated -Sleep is adaptive -Sleep is active -Sleep architecture -Brain wave activity -Sleep patterns change as we age
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The Smart Unconscious
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-Unconscious processing of problems can lead to better solutions -Sometimes, better decisions are made by the unconscious mind than by the conscious mind -Sleep helps solidify what you learned during the day
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Unconscious Behaviors
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-Stereotype Unconsciousness=when you unconsciously act by a stereotype -Freudian Slip=when you accidentally voice unconscious thoughts at inappropriate moments -Subliminal Perception=when your sensory systems process information without your consciously realizing it
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Consciousness in a Coma
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-People have realized that those in a coma have more consciousness than originally realized -Some people in a coma can hear conversations and perfectly understand what's happening around them, even if they can't verbalize or make their unconsciousness known in another way
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Conscious Experience Variations
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-Continuous stream of thoughts from one to the next -Unified and coherent experience: limited to how many things you can be conscious of at one time -Sleep/Wake Cycle -Automatic Tasks -Driving, walking, etc. come second nature -Controlled Processing -Help us without complex or novel tasks at do not come as second nature to us
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Meditation
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-A mental procedure that focuses attention on an external object or on a sense of awareness -People who meditate, but experience sad things are generally less sad than those who don't meditate according to certain studies -Greater stress reduction and attention from people who meditate according to a study than from those who don't
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Hypnosis for Pain
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-Some people use hypnosis to cure chronic pain -Technically, hypnosis can't cure pain, but psychologically, hypnosis tricks people into believing the pain is gone, and thus when they stop focusing on it, it's not longer felt as much -Good way to recover from surgery
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Sleep Importance
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Importance: -Helps with energy conversation and allows the body to repair itself -Heart rate decreases, giving the body time to relax -Helps solidify thoughts and learning -Growth hormones are secreted during sleep, which is necessary for general growth -Predator Avoidance=Circadian Theory Evidence: -Sleep increases after strenuous activity -Strengthens the immune system thereby decreasing illness
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Dreams
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-An altered state of consciousness -There are so many misconceptions and myths about dreams -You usually have 4-5 dreams per night -REM Dreams=dreams that are extremely emotional and vivid -Non-Rem Dreams=dreams that are mundane, like walking to the park
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Brain Regions and REM Dreams
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-The motor cortex, the brain stem, and the visual association areas are activated as are brain regions centered around emotions and reward -The prefrontal cortex is also activated
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Dreams and Their Meaning
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-Freud believed that dreams represented unconscious desires and thoughts Manifest Content=the plot of the dream and the way its remembered Latent Content=what the dream means and the material in a dream that disguises and protects the direct reality -There is no scientific evidence that this is the case though
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Insomnia
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-A disorder where you cannot fall asleep, remain asleep, or wake up earlier than planned consistently Causes: Anxiety, health problems, depression, and emotional problems causes this disorder Effects: Associated with daytime fatigue, reduced productivity, and health problems
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Global Workplace Model
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-Consciousness arises through brain processes that are active at any point in time -No single area of the brain is responsible for general "awareness" -Different areas of the brain control different functions -Different Functions Prefrontal Cortex-planning Frontal Cortex-movement Temporal Lobe-hearing Occipital Lobe-seeing Parietal Lobe-spatial
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Threat Rehearsal Theory
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-The idea that dreams prepare us for life as a survival method -Dreams have adaptive value if they can help us survive and reproduce
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Medical vs. Recreational Drugs
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-Drugs are useful to treat many medical conditions, but recreational drug use can have negative consequences -Regulated and illicit drugs: trigger a lot of debate -Nicotine, caffeine, alcohol and prescription drugs are the most commonly used
