A typology of altered states according to the consciousness state space (CSS) model: A special reference to subjective time

One of the biggest challenges for researchers investigating altered states of consciousness (ASCs) has been the need for a systematic framework to accurately describe the phenomenological characteristics of ASCs, as well as placing them in relation to regular states of consciousness. Here, we target these two challenges by employing a new and systematic model of consciousness, the consciousness state space (CSS), and presenting a typology of ASCs within the CSS model. Specifically, the CSS model describes two different levels of self, narrative and minimal, as concentric spheres along three dimensions — subjective time, awareness, and emotion — and creates a phenomenological state-space encompassing all possible states, with its proposed neural space. We describe several ASCs focusing on dreaming, hallucinogenic effects of drugs, and meditation, in order to demonstrate and draw several conclusions. Here we focus on two related alterations during ASCs pertaining to perception of time and the bodily self: (i) ASCs share a common ‘collapse’ of the time dimension towards a transitory state of ‘timelessness’; (ii) during extreme ASCs, body sensations are ‘cut-off’ or at least distorted.