Copyright © 2001 by Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved.

ConsciousnessConsciousness

1.1. OverviewOverview2.2. Sleep & DreamsSleep & Dreams3.3. Drug-Induced Drug-Induced

Alterations Alterations in in ConsciousnessConsciousness

4.4. HypnosisHypnosis5.5. Meditation & Religious Meditation & Religious

ExperiencesExperiences

Copyright © 2001 by Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved.

Consciousness

VisCog DemosVisCog DemosVol 1: SA 1Vol 1: SA 1Vol 1: Parade/CircusVol 1: Parade/CircusVol 2: #2Vol 2: #2

Copyright © 2001 by Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved.

The nature of consciousness

• Properties:– Intentionality: directed to something– Unity: resistant to division – Selectivity: What we select (usually

what is of interest to the person)•cocktail party phenomenon•cell-phones and driving•Stroop task

– http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/java/ready.html

– Transience: tendency to change•Stream of consciousness

Copyright © 2001 by Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved.

4

Levels of Consciousness

• Minimal Full consciousness

• Self-consciousness– mirror self-recognition (in human and non-human

primates)

• Hard to categorize: vegetative states vs. coma vs. minimally responsive – e.g., “Locked-in Syndrome”

fMRI & detecting consciousnessOwen et al. (2006). Detecting awareness in the vegetative state. Science

Copyright © 2001 by Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved.

Do you want to know the Do you want to know the secret of life? secret of life? (go to: sleep dep slides) (go to: sleep dep slides)

Copyright © 2001 by Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved.

ConsciousnessConsciousness

• Consciousness – OverviewConsciousness – Overview• SleepSleep• DreamsDreams• Drug-Induced Alterations in Drug-Induced Alterations in

ConsciousnessConsciousness• Hypnosis and MeditationHypnosis and Meditation

Brief OutlineBrief Outline