Photic Driving and Altered States of Consciousness: An Exploratory Study

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.