Altered States of Altered States of ConsciousnessConsciousness

DefinitionDefinition

• Occurs when there is a distinct Occurs when there is a distinct change in the change in the quality quality and and pattern pattern of a person’s mental activity.of a person’s mental activity.

• In a state of ASC, changes develop In a state of ASC, changes develop in our perceptions, emotions, in our perceptions, emotions, memory, sense of time, thought memory, sense of time, thought processes, feelings of self-control processes, feelings of self-control and suggestibility.and suggestibility.

Conditions for ASCConditions for ASC

• Endless number of Endless number of conditions under conditions under which ASC may which ASC may arise!arise!

• E.g. sensory E.g. sensory overload/ overload/ deprivation, deprivation, illness, sleep illness, sleep deprivation, deprivation, meditation, meditation, hypnosis, drugs, hypnosis, drugs, etc.etc.

Sensory deprivationSensory deprivation• Refers to any major Refers to any major

reduction in external reduction in external stimulation.stimulation.

• Limited or monotonous Limited or monotonous stimulation occurs stimulation occurs when prisoners are when prisoners are placed in solitary placed in solitary confinement, confinement, experienced by arctic experienced by arctic explorers, single-explorers, single-handed ocean handed ocean yachtsmen and long-yachtsmen and long-distance truck drivers.distance truck drivers.

• Effects: dangerous Effects: dangerous lapses in awareness lapses in awareness and wildly distorted and wildly distorted perceptionsperceptions

Jose Padilla, held in a solitary confinement for three and a half years on suspected terrorist charge

Jose Padilla, held in a solitary confinement for three and a half years on suspected terrorist charge

1950s - Donald O. Hebb1950s - Donald O. Hebb• Hebb paid volunteers Hebb paid volunteers

$20 to undergo $20 to undergo sensory deprivation sensory deprivation under controlled under controlled conditioned.conditioned.

• Subjects spent days Subjects spent days lying on their backs lying on their backs in a small cubicle.in a small cubicle.

• Subjects wore Subjects wore darkened goggles to darkened goggles to restrict vision and restrict vision and gloves and cardboard gloves and cardboard cuffs to restrict cuffs to restrict touch. touch.

• Background noise Background noise was masked by a was masked by a hissing noise.hissing noise.

DURINGDURING

• Many slept for a whileMany slept for a while• After a few hours of After a few hours of

sensory-deprived sensory-deprived wakefulness, most wakefulness, most felt bored and felt bored and irritableirritable

• Many grew more Many grew more uncomfortableuncomfortable

• Some reported Some reported hallucinations of dots hallucinations of dots and geometric shapesand geometric shapes

AFTERAFTER• After two-three days, After two-three days,

most subjects pushed most subjects pushed the panic button, the panic button, unable to tolerate this unable to tolerate this sensory deprivation sensory deprivation any longer.any longer.

• When released, some When released, some experienced colour experienced colour distortions, distortions, heightened visual heightened visual illusions and slower illusions and slower reactions.reactions.

• Vision, hearing, touch Vision, hearing, touch and taste appear to be and taste appear to be temporarily more temporarily more sensitive.sensitive.

• As a result, some As a result, some report its usefulness in report its usefulness in facilitating creativityfacilitating creativity

Sensory RestrictionSensory Restriction• Although most people find Although most people find

prolonged sensory prolonged sensory deprivation stressful and deprivation stressful and uncomfortable, brief uncomfortable, brief periods of restricted input periods of restricted input of sensations appear to be of sensations appear to be beneficial.beneficial.

• E.g. In a floatation take, E.g. In a floatation take, subjects float in darkness subjects float in darkness and silence. The shallow and silence. The shallow water is at body water is at body temperature and contains temperature and contains large quantities of Epsom large quantities of Epsom salts so that the subject salts so that the subject floats near the surface. An floats near the surface. An hour or two in a floatation hour or two in a floatation tank can cause a tank can cause a significant drop in blood significant drop in blood pressure, muscle tension pressure, muscle tension and other signs of stress. and other signs of stress.

• Research suggests that Research suggests that brief sensory deprivation brief sensory deprivation is one of the most is one of the most effective ways to induce effective ways to induce deep relaxation.deep relaxation.