Altered state of consciousness facts for kids
An altered state of consciousness (ASC), or altered state of mind, is any condition which is significantly different from a normal waking state. The expression was used in 1966 by Arnold M. Ludwig, and brought into common usage by Charles Tart. It describes induced changes in one's mental state, almost always temporary. A synonymous phrase is "altered state of awareness".
Altered states of consciousness can be associated with artistic creativity, or different focus levels. They also can be shared between people and studied as a subject of sociological research.
States of consciousness
During an altered state of consciousness, brain waves occupy different frequencies (i.e. Epsilon, Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma). These waves can be measured by electroencephalography (EEG). Also, subjective reports and observer reports of behaviour are used to identify the altered state.
- Anxiety
- Battle trance
- Convulsion
- Daydream
- Delirium
- Derealization
- Dementia
- Ecstasy
- Euphoria
- Fear
- Flow
- Hypnagogia
- Hypnopompia
- Hypnosis
- Hysteria
- Major depressive disorder
- Mania
- Meditation
- Out-of-body experience
- Panic
- Peak experience
- Psychedelia
- Psychosis
- Religious experience
- Syncope
- Trance
Related pages
Images for kids
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A simple classification scheme for ASC. Sleep and dream states are distinguished from waking consciousness since they account for substantially different ways of the ability of memory formation and retrieval. Psychiatric diseases that go along with persistent changes of consciousness, like schizophrenia, are covered with the term "pathological conditions". In contrast, the classification scheme includes intended and induced ASCs as well as general fluctuations of neurotransmission, which are reversible and short-termed. One step further the graph suggests splitting induced ASCs in persistent and reversible states. Translated from German Schmidt & Majic.
See also
In Spanish: Estado alterado de conciencia para niños
