Research Paper: *This paper should be based on one of the first 6 chapters in the book. · This should be a subject in which you are interested and in which you want to demonstrate knowledge and...

Running Head: RESEARCH PAPER ON CONSCIOUSNESS & SLEEP     1
RESEARCH PAPER ON CONSCIOUSNESS & SLEEP     6
RESEARCH PAPER ON CONSCIOUSNESS & SLEEP
Table of Contents
Introduction    3
Conscious, Consciousness and its Altered State    3
Sleep    4
Types and Stages of Sleep    4
Hypnosis and Meditation    5
Conclusion    5
References    6
Introduction
    Sleep and consciousness are tied together since long. Psychologist had given various theories and still conducting research on level of consciousness while sleeping. Before going deep into the relationship between sleep and consciousness, it is necessary to know about consciousness. Many philosophers, neuroscientists and psychologist attempted to define the term in their own way. In simpler terms, one can define consciousness as state of being aware of internal and external environment. This essay is an attempt to develop relation between consciousness and sleep. It also tries to describe stages of sleep.
Conscious, Consciousness and its Altered State
    Conscious term can be defined as being aware of surroundings and respond to it. As suggested by Berkovitch, Dehaene and Gaillard (2017), conscious is an inner sense of what is right on wrong while conducting any action. It is a cognitive process that shows emotions based on person’s morality and philosophy. As mentioned by Kondziella, Friberg, Frokjaer, Fabricius and Moller (2016), presence of conscious mind give rise to the consciousness.
    There are many variations in consciousness. These variations are called altered state of consciousness. As suggested by Dietrich and Al-Shawaf (2018), an altered state occur when there is a shift in the mental state. Thoughts become disorganized and person sees the different angle of life. Sometimes it increases the alertness, or sometime it reduces alertness drastically. It can occur anywhere from childbirth to meditation class.
For example, one level of consciousness is driving, when you drive and suddenly wonder how you reach to the certain place. Altered state divide the consciousness, which sometimes can be dangerous. In this situation mind is aware but not wakeful situation such as trance, hallucination,...