The micro-phenomenology of Floatation-REST
Helena Hruby, Marc Wittmann, Stefan Schmidt, Prisca R. Bauer
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies November 6, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-026-05415-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Micro-phenomenological study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | Participants who completed a 60-minute Floatation-REST session |
| Intervention | Floatation-REST |
| Duration | 60-minute session |
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Phase matter Consciousness Silence Isolation microbiology Orientation vector space Mental health Therapeutic relationship Developmental psychology |
| Key points | Participants experience four distinct phases during a Floatation-REST session, with the altered state of consciousness phase characterized by positive emotions, deep relaxation, loss of spatial and temporal orientation, and reduced bodily sensations and thoughts. |
Abstract
This micro-phenomenological study examines altered states of consciousness (ASC) during Floatation-REST, a sensory isolation method where individuals lie in a tank filled with Epsom salt-saturated water in complete silence and darkness. Salubrious effects of Floatation-REST have been shown in persons suffering from mental health conditions; these positive outcomes might be related to the experience of ASC. Micro-phenomenological interviews were conducted with fourteen participants who completed a 60-minute Floatation-REST session, to capture the generic structure of ASC. We found that most participants experience four distinct phases during a session (diachronic structure): after an initial acclimatization phase (1), participants experience a transitional phase (2) that prepares them for a subsequent ASC phase (3), followed by a phase of temporal and spatial reorientation (4). The ASC phase is characterized by the experience of positive emotions, deep relaxation, a loss of orientation in space and time, and a reduction in bodily sensations and thoughts (synchronic structure). The characteristics of the ASC phase emerge gradually and progressively intensify. This micro-phenomenological analysis of Floatation-REST sheds new light on the potential of this therapeutic technique. We discuss possible future research and therapeutic applications of Floatation-REST.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on philosophy of mind, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualitative thematic analysis of the phenomenology of near-death experiences Cardiac arrest survivors | 2018 | Qualitative study | n = 34 |
| Phenomenology and Sequelae of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Use Psychiatrists who had taken MDMA | 1992 | Qualitative study | n = 20 |
| A phenomenology of meditation-induced light experiences: traditional buddhist and neurobiological perspectives American Buddhist practitioners | 2014 | Qualitative study | |
| Evoking the ineffable: The phenomenology of extreme sports. Extreme sports participants across three continents, including BASE jumping, big wave... | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 15 |
| Phenomenology and content of the inhaled N, N-dimethyltryptamine (N, N-DMT) experience. Naturalistic inhaled N,N-DMT experiences posted to the r/DMT Reddit community | 2022 | Qualitative analysis | n = 3,778 |
Citations in the library
Cites 20
- The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future. Neuropsychopharmacology April 26, 2017
- Effects of psilocybin on time perception and temporal control of behaviour in humans Journal of Psychopharmacology May 20, 2006
- Looking for the Self: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology and Philosophical Significance of Drug-induced Ego Dissolution Frontiers in Human Neuroscience May 23, 2017
- A neurophenomenological approach to non-ordinary states of consciousness: hypnosis, meditation, and psychedelics Trends in Cognitive Sciences December 22, 2022
- Anticipating seizure: pre-reflective experience at the center of neuro-phenomenology. Consciousness and Cognition September 1, 2007
and 15 more in the library