ALTERED SENSORY ENVIRONMENTS, ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND ALTERED-STATE COGNITION

The concept of an altered state of consciousness (ASC) may be clarifie d when three major issues are discussed: (a) the phenomenon, (b) its m ethod of induction, and (c) criteria for evaluating the phenomenon. An ASC is a mental state, but it is not clear how such a mental state is related to subjective experience and cognitive functioning. The relat ionship between the method of induction and the resulting ASC is also unclear at present. Finally, criteria for determining and evaluating t he ASC are indistinguishable from the phenomenon itself, leaving the l atter ill-defined. These are the basic issues which are addressed in t he theoretical formulation here presented. I propose that the cognitiv e mode distinguishing the normal waking state from an ASC is the mode of meaning employed.