An altered state of consciousness (ASC), also named altered state of mind, is any condition which is significantly different from a normal waking beta wave state. The expression was used as early as 1966 by Arnold M. Ludwig and brought into common usage from 1969 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. They also can be shared interpersonally and studied as a subject of sociological research.
Read more about Altered State Of Consciousness: States of Consciousness, Typology
Famous quotes containing the words altered and/or state:
“The movies were my textbooks for everything else in the world. When it wasn’t, I altered it. If I saw a college, I would see only cheerleaders or blonds. If I saw New York City, I would want to go to the slums I’d seen in the movies, where the tough kids played. If I went to Chicago, I’d want to see the brawling factories and the gangsters.”
—Jill Robinson (b. 1936)
“The state is a creation of nature and man is by nature a political animal.”
—Aristotle (384–323 B.C.)