Psychological Bulletin
January 1, 2005
Dieter Vaitl, Niels Birbaumer, John Gruzelier et al.
446 citations
Altered states of consciousness (ASC) can occur spontaneously, be evoked by physical or physiological stimulation, induced by psychological means, or caused by diseases. Psychological and neurobiological approaches reveal four dimensions characterizing ASC: activation, awareness span, self-awareness, and sensory dynamics. Neurophysiologically, different states of consciousness arise from compromised brain structure, transient changes in brain dynamics (disconnectivity), and neurochemical and metabolic processes. Environmental stimuli, mental practices, and self-control techniques can also temporarily alter brain functioning and conscious experience.
American Journal of Psychiatry
October 1, 2001
Rodney J. Croft, A. Klugman, Torsten Baldeweg et al.
100 citations
Serotonin (5-HT) dysfunction is present in people who use MDMA, is linked to the amount of MDMA they have consumed, and is not explained by cannabis use. The deficit relates to total lifetime MDMA consumption rather than how often the drug is taken, which argues against the idea that users are self-medicating a pre-existing condition. The findings are consistent with MDMA consumption causing serotonin impairment in humans.
Psychology of Consciousness Theory Research and Practice
August 1, 2013
Dieter Vaitl, Niels Birbaumer, John Gruzelier et al.
43 citations
No Summary
Contemporary Hypnosis
March 1, 2005
John Gruzelier
43 citations
A survey of contemporary perspectives on altered states of consciousness introduces commentaries on Kallio and Revonsuo's lead article. The study of consciousness, unconscious processing, and altered states is central to neuroscience, offering fresh approaches to understanding hypnosis, including combining new neurophysiological methods with phenomenological reports. Research on alterations in anterior brain processes, particularly the anterior cingulate cortex and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, is productive. The lack of engagement with neuroscientific evidence from theorists with purely social and cognitive orientations to hypnosis is noted, with examples from attention and relaxation research. Unifying the field requires active collaboration between scientists with neurophysiological and social orientations.