Cooler colors (blue) indicate a decrease in activity when comparing the two recordings. An altered state of consciousness (ASC) may be defined as a temporary change in the overall pattern of subjective experience, such that the individual believes. For example, the image below is a comparison of alpha brainwave activity before and after the SoundSelf VR experience. In all of our preliminary studies, this is precisely what we found. Initially, we were interested in the likelihood of decreased DMN activity, similar to that observed during the use of psychedelics and meditation as discussed above. These trials include examinations of Soma breathwork, Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT), SoundSelf Virtual Reality meditation, and cannabis used in a psychedelic therapeutic setting (Medicinal Mindfulness).
ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS SERIES
In a series of pilot studies, our team examined brain changes in relation to a variety of altered state interventions that did not involve the use of psychedelic medicines. However, not everyone interested in gaining cognitive/psychological flexibility is interested in working with psychedelic medicines. Not surprisingly, research with psychedelics has consistently demonstrated greater entropy during psychedelic states (see Schartner, et al., 2017). This temporary difference could be due to a medical condition, drugs or other mind. Neuroscientists have figured out a variety of methods to measure the amount of entropy in the brain, allowing us to examine what types of psychological interventions can be used to increase brain flexibility. An altered state of consciousness is any state in which a person's sense perceptions are different than normal. Essentially, higher entropy equals greater flexibility. You can see why this concept makes sense in the context of psychological flexibility. Low levels of entropy exist in systems that are rigid and have less energy for change. By 1892, the expression was in use in relation to hypnosis although an ongoing debate about hypnosis as an ASC based on modern definition exists. So, higher levels of entropy imply more energy, which includes less structure and greater uncertainty. An altered state of consciousness ( ASC ), also called altered state of mind or mind alteration, is any condition which is significantly different from a normal waking state. Technically, it is a measure of the amount of energy available to do work. The term entropy originally comes from the field of thermodynamics to describe the direction of change in a system. Studying altered states of consciousness leads us directly to the heart of the matter: time and self, the foundations of consciousness.This psychological/cognitive flexibility (or lack thereof) can be described in terms of entropy. If we want to understand our consciousness, our subjectivity, Wittmann argues, we must not be afraid to break new ground. Wittmann describes new studies of psychedelics that show how the brain builds consciousness of self and time, and discusses pilot programs that use hallucinogens to treat severe depression, anxiety, and addiction. Dostoyevsky reported godly bliss during epileptic seizures neurologists are now investigating the phenomenon of the epileptic aura. He considers the emergence of the self in waking life and dreams how our sense of time is distorted by extreme situations ranging from terror to mystical enlightenment the experience of the moment and the loss of time and self in such disorders as depression, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. Wittmann explains that the relationship between consciousness of time and consciousness of self is close in extreme circumstances, the experiences of space and self intensify and weaken together.
In this book, neuropsychologist Marc Wittmann shows how experiences that disturb or widen our everyday understanding of the self can help solve the mystery of consciousness.
Recent research, however, has located the neural underpinnings of these altered states of mind. These experiences have long been ignored by mainstream science, or considered crazy fantasies. What altered states of consciousness-the dissolution of feelings of time and self-can tell us about the mystery of consciousness.ĭuring extraordinary moments of consciousness-shock, meditative states and sudden mystical revelations, out-of-body experiences, or drug intoxication-our senses of time and self are altered we may even feel time and self dissolving.
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