Altered consciousness in flotation-REST and chamber-REST: Experience of experimental pain and subjective stress

Authors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2004.32.2.103
Keywords:
experimental pain, stress, flotation-REST, chamber-REST, EDN, sportsmen, altered states of consciousness
Abstract
Twenty-three sportsmen were given one 45-minute exposure to flotation-REST and one exposure to chamber-REST on two occasions, incorporating random assignment to either flotation-REST followed by chamber-REST or vice versa. On each occasion, the Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique (REST) procedure was followed immediately by testing experimentally induced pain to one arm using a blood pressure cuff. It was found that flotation-REST induced a significantly higher degree of altered states of consciousness (ASC), as measured with an instrument assessing experienced deviation from normal state (EDN), than did chamber-REST. Participants experiencing High EDN in the flotation-REST condition reported higher levels of both “experienced pain” and “experienced stress” than did those experiencing Low EDN. These results suggest that the particular distinguishing features of flotation-REST and chamber-REST may cause selective deviations from normal levels of consciousness, under experimental conditions, that may underlie the subjective experience of pain and stress thresholds.
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Published
2004-03-01
Issue
Volume 32, 2004, Issue 2
Section
Articles
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