Mental and Physical Predispositions to Experiencing Druglike Sound

1) We all know that one’s emotional state can affect how one feels about the sound of their system. This state can increase or decrease the likelihood of having a druglike sound experience.

2) We also know, or have read about, how alcohol and various drugs can affect how one feels about the sound of their system and can similarly increase or decrease the likelihood of having a druglike sound experience.

3) There are other things, both internal and external, that can also affect (increase) the probability of a druglike experience.

Artificially inducing strong emotions (1), like anger [got fired, for example] or exuberance [got hired], just to have a druglike sound experience seems a little on the ‘needs therapy’ side of the fence. (2) can be hard on the body and or brain cells. (3) however, if we can enumerate several relatively sane and healthy techniques, would seem to be the approach of choice.

Things that [may] affect the probability of a druglike experience:

A) Mood lighting. Bright light seems to be of no help at all, but dim light, the glow of vacuum tubes, city lights or Christmas tree lights all seem to increase the chance of a druglike sound experience

B) Comfortable seating, in my experience, does NOT affect the probability of a Druggish experience

C) Going from a good to a great quality sound / recording does increase the probability of this experience. Perhaps one can artificially arrange to closely listen to, first, a medium quality recording then a high quality one, esp. of the same music, JUST to create one of these experiences?

D) Casual chitchat during the music almost always reduces the probability to zero.

E) Being tired, but not so relaxed that you are falling asleep, in my experience, increases the probability.

F) Good company, whether friends or strangers, increases the probability. Hostile people, or just people in a bad mood, people reduces the probability to near zero.

Other things to think about: aroma, clothing, ambient temperature, time of day. Others?