ASC physiological characteristics

[ktrah]

Do brain waves classify as physiological characteristics? Would it be better to write increased/decreased heart rate to distinguish ASC from NWC (even though heart rate can change for a whole lot of reasons)?

[Limista]

Brainwaves do classify as physiological characteristics.

It would be better to write that change in heart rate (whether it increases/decreases) is dependent on the type of ASC. As you said yourself, it changes for a whole lot of reasons, so how can you specifically write that it either increases to distinguish itself from NWC OR that it decreases to distinguish itself from NWC? You can't.

Remember that in NWC if doing physical exercise, heart rate can increase. In ASC of drug intake, heart rate can also increase. Heart rate for both therefore the same. 

Heart rate is not a distinguishing feature to separate ASC from NWC, so we cannot specify whether it will either increase or decrease. It's just a measure of our state of consciousness, which may indicate that we are in an ASC or NWC, however this indication is never guaranteed because other factors (increased physical/psychological activity like when walking into exam room) may affect it.

In short, while it may indicate that we are either in ASC or NWC, it cannot be used to differentiate ASC from NWC.

[ktrah]

Awesome, thanks Starfish

[Limista]

Happy to help:)