Learn About Altered Mental States

States of consciousness can be altered by the use of drugs. Anti-depressants affect the mid brain, the area involved with the formation of mood. Thus, they can prevent and help to cure depression. Stimulants, such as amphetamines act on the reticular activating system or R-A-S or RAS and the hypothalamus. That effect is to decrease fatigue, increase alertness and elevate mood.

If the mind is over active and therefore anxious, tranquilizers maybe used to reduce the level of anxiety. They act principally on the limbic system and the RAS. Sedatives, for example barbiturates are a group of drugs often administered as a sleeping pills. They act on the RAS and on the cortex to reduce the conscious experiences that would normally induce wakefulness.


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