Altered State Of Consciousness

An altered state of consciousness, (ASC), also named altered state of mind is any condition which is significantly different from a normal waking beta wave state. The expression was used as early as 1969 by Charles Tart and describes induced changes in one's mental state, almost always temporary. A synonymous phrase is "altered states of awareness".

It can be associated with artistic creativity, mind control, hypnotism, alien abduction and ritual abuse experiences.