What is it about?
The use of photic driving to induce an altered state of consciousness (ASC) is investigated and discussed in this exploratory study. Four male subjects were exposed to photic stimulation at the frequencies of 18, 10, and 6 c/s, and were required to provide a verbal report regarding their mentation at the end of each block of photic stimulation. Individual differences were apparent at both cognitive and electrophysiological levels. Two subjects experienced ASCs, reported visual imagery induced by the photic stimulation, and exhibited a driving response to the stimulation at 10 c/s. It was tentatively concluded that the successful induction of a driving response at 10 c/s is conducive both to visual imagery and to the induction of an ASC.
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Why is it important?
A more recent study might also be helpful here: Glicksohn, J., & Naftuliev, Y. (2005). In search of an electrophysiological index for psychoticism. Personality and Individual Differences, 39, 1083-1092.
Perspectives
My first paper, having a clear genesis in course work conducted during my doctorate. In this exploratory study, I investigated whether photic stimulation at 10 Hz would induce an alpha state in my 4 participants, as seen both in a photic driving response in EEG alpha (i.e., alpha enhancement) and in reported subjective experience. I have returned to this topic over the years, each time with increasing depth of analysis.
Professor Joseph Glicksohn
Bar-Ilan University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Photic Driving and Altered States of Consciousness: An Exploratory Study, Imagination Cognition and Personality, October 1986, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.2190/5k21-ddwl-e66b-2cxe.
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