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"Subspace" is a metaphor for the state the bottom's mind and body is in during a deeply involved play Scene. Many types of BDSM play invoke strong physical responses.
The psychological aspect of BDSM also causes many bottoms to mentally separate themselves from their environment as they process the experience.

"Deep Subspace" is often characterized as a state of deep recession and incoherence. "Deep Subspace" may also cause a danger in newer bottoms who are unfamiliar with the experience, and require the Dominant to keep a careful watch to ensure the bottom isn't placing himself or herself in danger.
Many bottoms require Aftercare while returning from subspace.

During the Scene, the intense experiences of both pain and pleasure trigger a sympathetic nervous system response, which causes a release of epinephrine from the suprarenal glands, as well as a dump of endorphins and enkephalins.
These natural chemicals, part of the "fight or flight response", produce the same effect as a morphine-like drug, increasing the pain tolerance of the submissive as the Scene becomes more intense.
Since the increase of hormones and chemicals produces a sort of trance-like state, the submissive starts to feel "out-of-body", detached from reality, and as the high comes down, and the parasympathetic nervous system kicks in, a deep exhaustion, as well as incoherence.

Many submissives, upon reaching a height of Subspace, will lose all sensation of pain, as any stimulus causes the period to prolong.

TOP SPACE ~
This is operational "ground zero".
The submissive in "Top Space" often appears quite aggressive, assertive and Dominant. They will be hustling their children off to school, Dominating their Dominant mate by organizing him/her off to work, cleaning and straightening the house, sending themselves off to work or to take care of business.
They are the Commander of the ship, the General of the Army.
Hustle, hustle, hustle.
This is a submissive "Top Space".

MARGINALLY DOWN SPACE ~
This space occurs when the Dominant in the relationship directs attention at the submissive.
This may be a glance, a light touch, a small sound or any combination of these triggers. This marginal appearing contact drops the submissive out of "Top Space" into a state of waiting and/or listening for command.
She stops.
Generally she will cease talking even in the midst of a comment. She may stop moving. She will generally attempt direct eye contact with her Dominant to see if he/she has a direction or command for her.
If nothing further occurs, she will most likely "re-top" .... or, go back to full-functional "Top Space".
If the Dominant mentally presses .... she will generally descend further into "Space".

SPRITE SPACE ~
Some submissives will squirm and utterly deny that this "Space" exists. They will swear to you that they don't have it, it doesn't exist and they would never perpetrate mischief.
Hmmmmmmm.
Essentially just under or into "Down Space", there is a "Space" where the submissive will test the Dominants attention, desire and will to control her. She may undo cuffs, slide out of assigned position - all in total innocence: she didn't hear that command, the blindfold muffled her ears, etc.
NOTE: If she notes that the Dominant doesn't catch her action, she will feel he isn't paying her any attention at all - therefore, he doesn't love her (mind of women at work).

BLONDE SPACE ~
Now, as the submissive descends into "Space", her IQ tends to diminish in a progressive fashion.
Many submissives will tell you that their "up person" is off to the side watching everything. They will feel themselves getting slower mentally. In this "Blonde Space" (ducking the non-peroxide blondes), the submissive has trouble with rational thought.
If you ask her if something is uncomfortable, she is likely to say, "I dunno".
The truth is - she doesn't know.
At this point she is not capable of distinguishing danger to herself, she cannot and will not utilize any "Safe Word" - it has become incomprehensible to her.
In her mind, she has you the Dominant, she loves and trusts you, you won't let anything happen to her.

SUB-VOCAL or PRIMAL SPACE ~
Sometimes the Dominant and the submissive penetrate what is called the "Sub-Vocal" barrier.
The submissive in this "Space" loses her submissive nature. If you intend to take her there .... have her well tied. As she drops through into this deep "Space" she can and will get feral. Her voice becoming primal grunts and sounds, her eyes may alter, she will he hypersensitive to sound, light, movement.
She will be fast and very dangerous.
She can and will claw you, bite you or toss you into a wall if you are a small man. In a sense, she is tapping into ancient primal body language. She becomes a predator (barely) submitting. If she senses any weakness in your control she will attempt to take you out.
She cannot ever utilize a "Safe Word" here.
She cannot remember how to articulate human speech.

Those are the basic levels of "Subspace".
Prior to beginning an exploration of Subspace, the Dominant and the submissive should have intensive conversations about what she may expect and how she may feel.
The Dominant should set up a sequence of escape words. This should be a simple question that would never occur in common life. Something such as, "What color is your left big toe?"
Her response might be, "My left big toe is orange!"
Essentially, this question asked at any time is her command to fast up or come to "Top Space" NOW!!!

This escape question should be practiced multiple times until it becomes automatic.

Some Basic Information ~
NEVER, ever, leave your submissive alone in any "Space" unless you wish to risk severe potential problems: YOU are her sole connection to reality.
If you leave her alone, she is likely to be terrified.
She will return to "Top Space" at some point in time and may never forgive you for leaving her.

Always keep your commands simple and direct.
In "Space" she will obey, but comprehension is limited. Never impose responsibility on her for any aspect of the Scene/Session.
If you want interaction, stay in "Marginal Space" or "Sprite Space". In any other "Down Space", she will not communicate well verbally. She may be unable to articulate your name at all.

Talk to her in a reassuring fashion if penetration of Sub Space is new - she may be frightened.
The further into "Space" she goes, the higher the chemicals pump into her blood stream and generally the more intensive the Scene/Session can become.
For a first timer, you need to tell her that Sub Space does exists, what it is and how it may feel to her. She will desire to please you and open to seek this "Space". She must feel that you know what you are doing even if you do not.
She must be convinced that she is utterly safe with you.

Penetration of the different levels will vary for many reasons.
Some people can only go so far.
They have inhibitors.
Often, the penetration may occur over many months as the level of trust increases and the submissive relaxes into new experiences.
You should not expect full flight from the beginning.