Sensory Deprivation and the Brain: Neurobiological Mechanisms, Psychological Effects, and Clinical Implications
Brain Sciences January 23, 2026 Donatella Marazziti, Gerardo Russomanno, M. Gambini et al.
Sensory deprivation—reduced or absent input across one or more senses—triggers widespread brain changes involving dopamine pathways, stress hormone dysregulation, immune activation, circadian rhythm disruption, and structural alterations in the hippocampus. These changes increase vulnerability to depression, anxiety, hallucinations, dissociative symptoms, and cognitive impairment. Outcomes depend on duration, whether the deprivation is voluntary, and individual factors such as baseline resilience, trait anxiety, and psychiatric history. However, short-term voluntary sensory restriction, such as Floatation-REST, may promote relaxation and emotional regulation under specific conditions. Understanding these mechanisms is relevant for clinical practice and for developing preventive strategies in extreme environments like long-duration space missions.