Psychology2016

140 CHAPTER 4

such as caffeine, tobacco, or alcohol is definitely an example of altered states. Over sev-

eral decades, there has been a definite rise in the use of stimulants that would ordinarily

be prescribed for children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

but are also used by college students and older adults who feel that the drugs give them

an “edge” (Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, 2014; Szalavitz, 2009; Zuvekas & Vitlielo,

2012). But the most common altered state people experience is the one they spend about

a third of their lives in on a nightly basis—sleep.

Practice Quiz How much do you remember?

Pick the best answer.

1. A change in the quality or pattern of mental activity, such as
   increased alertness or divided consciousness, is called a(n)
   a. waking consciousness.
   b. altered state of consciousness.
   c. transient state of consciousness.
   d. hallucination.


2. Consciousness can be defined as a set of action potentials occur-
   ring among neurons in which of the following views?
   a. behavioral c. cognitive neuroscience
   b. sociocultural d. evolutionary
   3. Which of the following is an example of an automatic process?
   a. Driving a car. c. Doing math problems.
   b. Talking on a cell phone. d. Brushing your teeth.
   4. Which of the following statements is false?
   a. It is safe to drive and talk on a cell phone as long as it is hands
   free.
   b. Brushing your hair while talking on the phone is easy to do.
   c. Texting while driving is more dangerous than talking on a cell
   phone while driving.
   d. Driving while talking on a cell phone is as risky as driving while
   under the influence of alcohol.

Sleep

Have you ever wondered why people have to sleep? They could get so much more work

done if they didn’t have to sleep, and they would have more time to play and do creative

things.

The Biology of Sleep

4. 3 Describe the biological process of the sleep–wake cycle.
   Sleep was once referred to as “the gentle tyrant” (Webb, 1992). People can try to stay
   awake, and sometimes they may go for a while without sleep, but eventually they must
   sleep. One reason for this fact is that sleep is one of the human body’s biological rhythms,

people's awareness of everything that is going on around

them at any given moment (thoughts, sensations,

and feelings); much of the day is spent in waking

consciousness where these are clear and organized

What Is Consciousness?

altered states of consciousness occur when there is

a shift in the quality or pattern of mental activity as

compared to waking consciousness; alertness,

thought content, and focus can vary greatly

Concept Map L.O. 4.1, 4.2

Interactive

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