Columbus State Introduction To Psychology Exam 1 Practice

Hallucinogens are substances that profoundly alter sensory perception, and many users experience hallucinations—sensory experiences without external stimuli. This happens because many hallucinogens strongly affect the brain’s perceptual processing, often by acting on serotonin receptors in the cortex, which can distort how sights, sounds, and time are experienced. Classic examples include LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline, all of which are well known for inducing vivid perceptual changes and, at times, true hallucinations. In contrast, stimulants boost brain activity to increase alertness and energy (think stronger focus, faster speech, greater drive) and don’t inherently produce the hallmark perceptual distortions. Depressants slow down CNS activity, leading to sedation or impaired coordination rather than altered perception. Hypnosis isn’t a psychoactive substance class at all; it’s a psychological technique or state that can change attention and perception without introducing a drug into the body.