PSYC 107 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Circadian Rhythm, Optic Chiasm, Prefrontal Cortex
15 May 2016
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Modern sci. psych. originated w/goal of understanding consciousness: goal not reached but > known about relationship b/w brain and consciousness. Internal brain activity: observable and measurable bc brain=electronic device. Eyes detect photons and change them into electricity. Electric fields easily detected and measured by brain=way to measure brain activity : measured using electroencephalography (eeg detectors) Individual electrodes place on head @ specific locations and electric field activity @ each electrode is captured on output recorder (ex: paper) How much/little brain activity measured can be used to identify levels of consciousness. Coma: low level of measurable brain activity but no variation when stimuli presented including normally pain-inducing stimuli. Consciousness=subjective experience of perceiving 1self and 1"s surroundings: subjective experience=consciousness itself, operational definition=you"re conscious of something if you can report it in words. Levels of consciousness: brain death: brain shows no activity and no response to stimulus.
