Are altered states hallucinations?
Short Answer
Altered states are not hallucinations, though they may include hallucinatory experiences. Altered states encompass broader changes in consciousness, perception, and cognition beyond sensory distortions.
Why This Matters
This distinction matters because altered states involve systematic shifts in multiple aspects of consciousness - attention, memory, sense of self, and temporal perception - while hallucinations specifically refer to sensory experiences without external stimuli. Altered states can occur through meditation, sleep deprivation, or breathwork without any hallucinatory component. The confusion arises because some altered states, particularly those induced by psychedelics, do produce hallucinations as one feature among many broader cognitive and perceptual changes.
Where This Changes
The overlap becomes significant with psychedelic-induced altered states, where hallucinations are prominent features. Some altered states like lucid dreaming or deep meditation may include visual or auditory phenomena that blur the line between altered perception and hallucination.