Altered States of Consciousness: Evaluation of a voice‐hearing simulation during an immersive art exhibition
S. Riches, Rich Maskey, R. Waddingham, J. Benjamin, Patrick Dishman, Charlie Tebrook, Eve Mundy, Phoebe Roberts, H. Fisher
Early Intervention in Psychiatry October 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1111/eip.12497 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 150 |
| Population | Visitors to an art gallery and the London Underground |
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Key points | After experiencing the voice-hearing simulation exhibition, visitors showed significant increases in understanding, compassion, and comfort discussing voice-hearing. |
Abstract
Aim: To improve public understanding of the subjective experience of auditory hallucinations and increase empathy towards individuals who hear voices and have other unusual sensory experiences.
Methods: This pilot study developed a new immersive art exhibition, Altered States of Consciousness, which gave members of the public an individualized voice-hearing simulation experience in 2 real-world settings-an art gallery and the London Underground. A total of 150 visitors completed visual analogue scales immediately before and after their experience of the exhibition.
Results: Post-exhibition, there were significant increases in understanding what it feels like to hear voices, compassion towards voice hearers, and comfort in talking about these experiences. Participants enjoyed the simulation, felt they learned from their involvement, and did not find it stressful.
Conclusions: The exhibition and voice-hearing simulation has further potential for public engagement and stigma reduction.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on altered states of consciousness, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluating sensory regulation as a method to improve awareness in patients with altered states of consciousness: A pilot study Patients undergoing sensory intervention (four in a sensory regulated environment, four... | 1992 | Controlled pilot study | n = 8 |
| Altered states of consciousness within therapeutic modalities - exploring commonalities of experience Trainers, practitioners, and clients from Hypnotherapy, Past-life Regression, Internal... | 2022 | Qualitative Grounded Theory pilot study | n = 12 |
| Altered States of Consciousness during Exercise, Active-Alert Hypnosis, and Everyday Waking State. Runners, spinning-class participants, active-alert hypnosis subjects, and students in a... | 2022 | Retrospective nonrandomized comparison | n = 375 |
| Development, implementation and evaluation of Altered States of Consciousness: an immersive art exhibition designed to increase public awareness of psychotic experiences Visitors to an immersive art exhibition | 2019 | Pilot study | n = 150 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- A predictive coding approach to psychedelic virtual-induced hallucinations and creative cognition in aging Frontiers in Human Neuroscience July 7, 2023
- Development, implementation and evaluation of Altered States of Consciousness: an immersive art exhibition designed to increase public awareness of psychotic experiences Arts & Health May 4, 2019
- Impact of an auditory hallucinations simulation on trainee and newly qualified clinical psychologists: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy May 2019