Are altered states common in childhood?
Short Answer
Children frequently experience altered states through imagination, play, daydreaming, and transitional sleep phases due to their developing neural architecture and flexible consciousness boundaries.
Why This Matters
Children's brains exhibit greater neuroplasticity and less rigid cognitive filtering than adults, which allows for more fluid transitions between consciousness states. This occurs because the prefrontal cortex, responsible for reality testing and executive control, remains underdeveloped until the mid-twenties. The combination of active imagination, fewer learned constraints about reality, and natural developmental processes creates conditions where altered states emerge spontaneously during normal childhood activities.
Where This Changes
The frequency and intensity of spontaneous altered states typically decrease with age as cognitive boundaries solidify and reality testing strengthens. Cultural factors and individual neurodiversity can influence how these states manifest and persist into adolescence.