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Sensory Deprivation

            
             One of the more controversial and underground studies in the medical/psychological field is "Sensory Deprivation". Which is artificially produced deprivation of all of the five physical senses - hearing, smelling, sight, taste, and touch (McGuffin 2). Some people are born without certain senses or lose them later on in life through a traumatic experience, or certain diseases such as diabetes. People who have been deprived of a certain sense for example sight, notice that their other senses have grown more acute. They can hear sounds, and smell things that other people with all of their senses cannot. Imagine that you were deprived of all five of your senses and you were left with nothing but thought? Would you be able to reach parts of your subconscious mind that you never knew existed? .
             There have been many experiments done on sensory deprivation for various reasons. .
             Experiments were done on the astronauts of the Mercury and Apollo programs to simulate the isolation of space that they would encounter on the way to the moon (Snow 95). Solitary confinement at maximum security prisons may be considered a form of sensory deprivation. Experiments were done in the late 1940's at McGill University in Canada for research on behavioral science. Research was also done in the1950's at Harvard Medical School on the importance of environmental stimulation.
             In 1949, Donald O. Hebb mentioned in his book "The Organization of Human Behavior" the early sensory deprivation experiments done by M.V. Senden, A.H. Riesen, and Hebb himself in 1947-48 on students at McGill University in Canada (Browfeild 6-7). At Harvard Medical School during their earlier experiments students were paid to lie in a small soundproof cubicle in a comfortable bed for twenty-four hours a day. The students wore goggles that only allowed minimal light to pass through. They also wore cotton gloves and cardboard sleeves that extended from the elbow to the fingertips to limit tactual perception.


Essays Related to Sensory Deprivation

1. Terrorism and Enhanced Interrogation

These techniques included sensory distortion, prolonged isolation, sleep deprivation, and stress positions. Sensory distortion included sensory deprivation, like putting on masks or googles on the detainees or removing anything that could be used to distract, and sensory overload, such as very loud music or extreme temperatures (Soldz). ... Detainees who suffer from prolonged isolation and sensory deprivation may develop extreme disorientation, anxiety, and hallucinations. ... Debility is created through sleep deprivation, chronic pain, and sensory overload/deprivation, which in turn creates a...

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2. Review of the movie Altered States

Jessup is conducting a research experiment on sensory deprivation, and the altered states of consciousness that one experiences when the brain is going through this process. ... Studies of sensory deprivation have shown us that when the brain is suddenly and/or completely deprived of stimulation, that personality changes can occur, such as hallucinations (Doman, 1984). ... With this in mind, it is possible to assume that sensory deprivation may produce schizophrenic activities. ...

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3. Nature Alters Nurture

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4. Interaction And Communication Between Parents And Babies Through Touch

The International Loving Touch Foundation, Inc. found that infant massage enhances the baby's immune system and helps to improve sensory awareness. Interestingly, touch deprivation has been associated with high levels of dopamine and caused by low levels of norepinephrine and serotonin causing extreme aggression in children and other conduct disorders (Rogeness et al. 1992). ... Another interesting case was found in Romanian orphanages where children only grew to half their expected heights and were "significantly delayed- because of an "extreme form of touch deprivation- (Field, 2002). ...

  • Word Count: 1367
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5. Aquacise

The therapist cradles the patient in her arms and rotates the persons body from side to side causing the person's limbs to sway, during this time the person's eyes are closed causing a sensory deprivation, which relaxes and breaks the pain cycle. ...

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6. Aviation Aeromedical Factors

The most critical factor for aviation professional is getting sufficient oxygen supply to the brain as any deprivation of can lead to reduced mental functioning and cause fatal errors. ... If the sensory organ malfunctions other body parts take over and can cause the aviation professional to disorient spatially. ...

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7. The Process and Study of Sleep

So it becomes organized and logical ASC: the content coming in is not as limited, often becoming illogical, disorganized and non-sequential Daydreaming: we have control over our daydreams however it is not as limited Alcohol-induced state: the content limitations start to become impaired or slowed-down Perceptual and Cognitive Distortions NWC: Perception is clear and able to process sensory input. ...

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8. Developmental Delays in Children

Postnatal factors, such as maternal deprivation can also affect a child's development (Dunlap, 2014). Sensory stimulation is crucial for optimal infant development, and with maternal deprivation, infants receive very limited stimulation (Dunlap, 2014). ...

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