Lessons from altered states of consciousness
Margaretha Viljoen, BL Negrao
African Journal of Psychiatry April 6, 2010 DOI: 10.4314/ajpsy.v13i1.53425 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Key findings | Argues that altered states of consciousness are associated with deactivation or attenuation of specific neural systems, and that anaesthetics act at all levels of CNS integration. Contends that prefrontal activity, diffuse brain connectivity, and the thalamocortical system/reticular formation play central roles in the maintenance of consciousness. |
Abstract
Keyresearch related to consciousness is that which investigates the neural systems that are deactivated or attenuated during altered states of consciousness, as well as during unconsciousness. This paper addresses various states of altered consciousness such as anaesthesia, sleep, vegetative states, seizures, post-LSD hallucinations, the minimally conscious state, locked-in syndrome, comatose states and thalamocortical dysrhythmia. Anaesthetics have been shown to act at all levels of integration in the central nervous system, with a wide range of known targets. Various conflicting theories regarding the anaesthetic state exist and a few are examined in this paper. In general, studies into altered states of consciousness emphasize the central role of prefrontal activity, the diffuse brain connectivity and the participation of the thalamocortical system/reticular formation in the maintenance of consciousness.Key words: Unconsciousness; Anaesthesia; Coma; Thalamocortical dysrhythmia
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on altered states of consciousness, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects. | 2020 | Review | |
| Psychobiology of Altered States of Consciousness. | 2005 | Review | |
| Intrinsic Brain Activity in Altered States of Consciousness | 2008 | Review | |
| Dynamic functional connectivity and brain metastability during altered states of consciousness | 2017 | Review | |
| A default mode of brain function in altered states of consciousness. | 2013 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- Breakdown of Cortical Effective Connectivity During Sleep Science September 29, 2005
- Psychobiology of Altered States of Consciousness. Psychological Bulletin 2005
- Integrating the Science of Consciousness and Anesthesia Anesthesia & Analgesia September 19, 2006
- Toward a unified theory of narcosis: brain imaging evidence for a thalamocortical switch as the neurophysiologic basis of anesthetic-induced unconsciousness. Consciousness and Cognition September 2000
- Anesthesia, consciousness and hydrophobic pockets--a unitary quantum hypothesis of anesthetic action. Toxicology Letters November 23, 1998
and 1 more in the library