States of Consciousness

Consciousness is defined as the awareness someone has of the world surrounding them. As humans, there are a few different states of consciousness that we can enter. There are naturally occurring states, such as dreaming and sleeping. Then there are drug induced states that we can reach, however with severe risks and extreme danger involved. Follow closely and you will learn about these intriguing aspects of your mind.

Sleep

1/3 of your life is spent in a quiet mental state, where your eyes are closed, and your body is in a type of small-scale paralysis. Yes, that’s right. 1/3 of your life is spent asleep. Quite a few of you are probably thinking, "Hey! What a waste!" but wait until you learn about how sleep adds a lot more than just energy to your life.

The sleep gurus have two big theories as to why our bodies demand sleep. One claims that sleep is a restorative process, replenishing the body and its processes. There is no set amount of sleep everyone requires. The amount of sleep necessary varies from person to person based on genetics, personality, diet, hormonal levels, and life demand. Generally, however, a person requires from 4 to 10 hours of sleep. A second theory, the adaptive non-responding theory, suggests that sleep is a survival tactic which allows us to continue on living with more vigor and persistence. Whether you believe one of the theories, or both, one thing holds true: our bodies demand sleep and without it, we function less effectively.

The sleep gurus haven’t just been theorizing. They have been experimenting. They have been attaching electrodes, recording brain waves, and reaching some astounding conclusions about what goes on when we drift off into sleep. During the first stage of sleep, a critical occurrence first appears, REM sleep. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movements. While our eyes are shut, they wander back and forth. George T. Ladd, in 1892, observed these eye movements and suggested that they might be linked to dreaming. It was in the 1950s that a man named Kleitman and his associates E. Aserinsky and W.C. Dement tested this hypothesis. They soon discovered that when the eyes drift in REM they are trying to view the images that a dream presents. During the REM period, there is a tremendous amount of activity occurring in the body. Respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood flow all increase during this stage of sleep. Periods lacking REM are simply known as NREM periods.

Electrical activity can be recorded through the skull directly from the brain with electronic equipment. The records produced are called electroencephalogram or EEG. These records indicate fluctuations in the voltage of neural cells. EEG records are an excellent method of identifying the brain’s state of arousal. Low arousal levels produce very regular EEG waves while higher arousal levels show waves that have short, abrupt cycles.

Just as on the subject of sleep, the subject of dreams also possesses numerous theories on why dreams occur and whether or not they are of any purpose. From the psychoanalytical perspective and also Sigmund Freud’s perspective, dreams offer valuable problem solving and psychological adjustment to the mind. Biologically, sleep allows time for the brain’s neurons to be repaired. Cognitively, dreams are a means of processing the day’s information and then storing it away.

The previously mentioned Kleitman and fellow associates performed studies on dreams which consisted of waking up sleepers once they reached the REM stage. The sleepers had been dreaming vivid dreams full of imagery. The REM stage is the fertile frame of mind where dreams occur. The mental activity during NREM is less vivid and resembles passing thoughts with less emphasis.

Dreams are not necessarily bound by logic or reality. Time, color, and emotions are usually very distorted. There has been much debate over whether dreams can be interpreted. You may have seen "dream dictionaries" that claim to define any dream on the basis of an object or symbol found in the dream. Dream experts seem to frown upon this, as they perceive dreams to be unique to each person.

When you think of hypnosis, what is the first thing that you think of? The swinging of a gold plated watch on a chain? TV and movies have featured this clinical technique in a queer and eerie fashion, portraying it as a type of mystery. Thanks to the work of psychologists this technique is less of an enigma.

Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness that a person must voluntarily enter with the aid of another person. In hypnosis, the subject is not asleep but is actually awake, relaxed, and alert. And they are in full control of the situation. Not everyone can be placed in a hypnotic state, however. Susceptibility to hypnosis is based on heredity and environment. Only 5 to 10% of people are highly susceptible to it. Hypnosis is a theraputic practice. Its use in pain control, hypnotic analgesia, has a direct effect on susceptible subjects. It affects them on a sensory, physiological, and primary level. It also has much use in counseling in the treatments of schizophrenics and people who have survived traumatic events, such as plane crashes or molestation.

And now for what has made hypnosis famous: the phenomena surrounding the practice. Here’s the scenario: Shirley is frightened by dogs, a case of cynophobia, and she goes to her psychologist for help. He suggests hypnosis. Shirley agrees, with some skepticism, and while under hypnosis, Dr. Peters plants a post-hypnotic suggestion in her mind to take three deep breaths whenever in contact with a canine. At the close of the session, Dr. Peters tells her that she will recall nothing of the session when she "wakes up" out of the hypnosis. You may be thinking, "Wow, total mind control!" but Dr. Peters cannot be accredited with such. While Shirley is in a hypnotic state, she is still in full control of her decisions, thanks to the hidden observer in her mind. The hidden observer is a part of everyone’s consciousness. While under hypnosis, it monitors what is going on, and it becomes asssertive when it deems necessary. Sure enough, the next time Shirley sees a dog, she will take deep breaths, and more than likely become calmer when around one.

You have most likely heard a great deal of the hazardous effects drugs (both legal and illegal) pose but you may not always learn of their effects on a person’s mental state. Drugs are divided into the categories of: depressants, stimulants, narcotics, and hallucinogens. All types of drugs can be addictive. Physiological addiction includes bodily changes that require drug withdrawal.

Depressants- Cause drowsiness and in high doses, sleep. Typical uses are for insomnia and high anxiety. Overuse of depressants or sedatives are likely to produce physical and psychological addiction. Withdrawal does not occur easily and in some cases results in severe convulsions or even death. Example: sleeping pills.

Stimulants- increase excitement, talkativeness, and alertness. Common misuses: as energy boosters for students and middle-aged adults. Examples: caffeine, speed, and nicotine.

Narcotics- used as an escape from problems, to experience a "high". Withdrawal continues for a period of several days including severe nausea. Examples: heroin, morphine, and codeine.

Hallucinogens- produce exaggerated mental effects, usually in cognition and perception, stir intense imaginative thought patterns. Examples: LSD (known for its "trips" and odd sensations the user feels—triggers flashbacks later) and DMT (dimethyl-ryptamine).