Alterations of Consciousness: An Empirical Analysis for Social Scientists

"Alterations of Consciousness" is an analytic investigation into the nature of cognitive reality. Imants Baruss explores various manifestations of consciousness with rational and empirical rigour beginning with more ordinary states such as thinking, sleeping, dreaming and continuing on into hypnosis, trance, psychedelic experiences, transcendence and experiences related to death. This comprehensive overview of altered states examines consciousness from the physiological, cognitive and experiential points of view. Readers should gain from the engaging text an enriched understanding of consciousness, reality and the scientific endeavour.