Introduction to Psychology 1/IPSY103/Consciousness/Overview

“	How can a three-pound mass of jelly that you can hold in your palm imagine angels, contemplate the meaning of infinity, and even question its own place in the cosmos?	”
—V.S. Ramachandran

Objectives

By the end of this learning pathway you should be able to:

What is consciousness

• Understand what is meant by consciousness
• Explain how circadian

Sleep and why we sleep

• Describe areas of the brain involved in sleep
• Understand hormone secretions associated with sleep
• Describe several theories aimed at explaining the function of sleep

Stages of sleep

• Differentiate between REM and non-REM sleep
• Describe the differences between the four stages of non-REM sleep
• Understand the role that REM and non-REM sleep play in learning and memory

Sleep problems and disorders

• Describe the symptoms and treatments of insomnia
• Recognize the symptoms of several parasomnias
• Describe the symptoms and treatments for sleep apnea
• Recognize risk factors associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and steps to prevent it
• Describe the symptoms and treatments for narcolepsy

Substance use and abuse

• Describe the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders
• Identify the neurotransmitter systems affected by various categories of drugs
• Describe how different categories of drugs effect behavior and experience

Other states of consciousness

• Define hypnosis and meditation
• Understand the similarities and differences of hypnosis and meditation