The Eight Dimensions of Altered States of Consciousness in Adults and their Convergence with Childhood Consciousness
PsyArXiv February 8, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/zjt8n_v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Qualitative |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Key points | Proposes that early transcendental modes of awareness in children may form an experiential template that mimics adults' pursuit of altered states of consciousness through meditation, psychedelics, and spiritual practices. |
Abstract
Recent research shows that young children frequently report non-ordinary experiences, including extra sensory perceptions, out-of-body experiences, and states of self-transcendence, reflecting relational, pre-linguistic, and weakly individualised forms of consciousness. This paper integrates qualitative studies of children’s experiences with contemporary altered states of consciousness (ASC) classification schemes, applying the eight-dimensional model of altered consciousness (Fort et al., 2025). Phenomenological parallels are identified between childhood experiences and adult ASCs, including vivid imagery, bodily dislocation, self-boundary dissolution, timelessness, heightened affect, and altered cognitive control. We propose that early transcendental modes of awareness may form an experiential template that mimics adults’ pursuit of ASCs through meditation, psychedelics, sensory deprivation, and spiritual practices. Adopting a lifespan perspective, the paper highlights the need for systematic developmental and neuro-phenomenological research to better understand continuities between childhood consciousness and adult altered states.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on altered states of consciousness, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altered States of Consciousness | 1966 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Functional neuroanatomy of altered states of consciousness: The transient hypofrontality hypothesis | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Psychedelic Mystical Experience in the Human Encounter with Death | 1969 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| A neurophenomenological approach to non-ordinary states of consciousness: hypnosis, meditation, and psychedelics | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Hypnotic phenomena and altered states of consciousness: a multilevel framework of description and explanation | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |