Altered consciousness in flotation-REST and chamber-REST: Experience of experimental pain and subjective stress
Anette Kjellgren, U. Sundequist, Ulla Sundholm, Torsten Norlander, T. Archer
January 3, 2004 DOI: 10.2224/sbp.2004.32.2.103 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized crossover trial |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 23 |
| Population | Sportsmen |
| Interventions | Flotation-REST Chamber-REST |
| Duration | Two 45-minute sessions |
| Measures | instrument assessing experienced deviation from normal state (EDN) |
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Key findings | Flotation-REST induced significantly higher altered states of consciousness than chamber-REST. Participants with high altered states in the flotation condition reported greater experienced pain and stress than those with low altered states, suggesting flotation-REST may influence pain and stress perception. |
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.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on altered states of consciousness, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Changes in global and thalamic brain connectivity in LSD-induced altered states of consciousness are attributable to the 5-HT2A receptor Healthy human participants | 2018 | Double-blind, randomized, counterbalanced, cross-over study | n = 24 |
| Effective connectivity changes in LSD-induced altered states of consciousness in humans. Healthy participants | 2019 | Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study | n = 25 |
| Dose-related effects of salvinorin A in humans: dissociative, hallucinogenic, and memory effects. Healthy hallucinogen-using adults | 2013 | Double-blind, placebo-controlled study | n = 8 |
| High doses of dextromethorphan, an NMDA antagonist, produce effects similar to classic hallucinogens. Healthy volunteers with histories of hallucinogen use | 2012 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 12 |
| A placebo-controlled investigation of synaesthesia-like experiences under LSD. | 2016 | Within-groups placebo-controlled pilot study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 14
- Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV) PLoS One August 31, 2010
- The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms Journal of Psychopharmacology November 18, 2016
- Altered States During Shamanic Drumming: A Phenomenological Study International Journal of Transpersonal Studies July 1, 2010
- Altered states of consciousness caused by a mindfulness-based programme up to a year later: Results from a randomised controlled trial. PLoS One July 17, 2024
- Tolerability, assessment, and prediction of psilocybin-induced altered states of consciousness Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) 2012
and 9 more in the library