<P> The most extensive study of the characteristics of altered states of consciousness was made by psychologist Charles Tart in the 1960s and 1970s . Tart analyzed a state of consciousness as made up of a number of component processes , including exteroception ( sensing the external world ) ; interoception ( sensing the body ) ; input - processing ( seeing meaning ) ; emotions ; memory ; time sense ; sense of identity ; evaluation and cognitive processing ; motor output ; and interaction with the environment . Each of these , in his view , could be altered in multiple ways by drugs or other manipulations . The components that Tart identified have not , however , been validated by empirical studies . Research in this area has not yet reached firm conclusions , but a recent questionnaire - based study identified eleven significant factors contributing to drug - induced states of consciousness : experience of unity ; spiritual experience ; blissful state ; insightfulness ; disembodiment ; impaired control and cognition ; anxiety ; complex imagery ; elementary imagery ; audio - visual synesthesia ; and changed meaning of percepts . </P>
<P> The most extensive study of the characteristics of altered states of consciousness was made by psychologist Charles Tart in the 1960s and 1970s . Tart analyzed a state of consciousness as made up of a number of component processes , including exteroception ( sensing the external world ) ; interoception ( sensing the body ) ; input - processing ( seeing meaning ) ; emotions ; memory ; time sense ; sense of identity ; evaluation and cognitive processing ; motor output ; and interaction with the environment . Each of these , in his view , could be altered in multiple ways by drugs or other manipulations . The components that Tart identified have not , however , been validated by empirical studies . Research in this area has not yet reached firm conclusions , but a recent questionnaire - based study identified eleven significant factors contributing to drug - induced states of consciousness : experience of unity ; spiritual experience ; blissful state ; insightfulness ; disembodiment ; impaired control and cognition ; anxiety ; complex imagery ; elementary imagery ; audio - visual synesthesia ; and changed meaning of percepts . </P>
the type of consciousness we experience when we are conscious of external sensations
the type of consciousness we experience when we are conscious of external sensations
exteroception
exteroception