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examBoard: AQA
examType: GCSE
lessonTitle: Behaviour in Sensory Deprived
Imagine being in a room with no light, no sound and nothing to touch or smell. How would your mind and body react? This is what we'll explore in sensory deprivation - what happens to our behaviour when our normal sensory inputs are removed or severely reduced.
Key Definitions:
Our brains are constantly processing information from our five senses. This sensory input helps us understand our environment, maintain our sense of reality and regulate our thoughts and emotions. When these inputs are removed, our brain can react in unusual and sometimes extreme ways.
When deprived of normal sensory input, the brain doesn't simply "switch off." Instead, it often becomes hyperactive, trying to create sensory experiences where none exist. This can lead to hallucinations, altered thinking patterns and changes in emotional state.
Researchers have used various methods to study sensory deprivation, each affecting human behaviour in different ways:
Also called flotation tanks, these contain body-temperature salt water where a person floats in complete darkness and silence. Originally developed by John C. Lilly in the 1950s, these tanks eliminate almost all sensory input.
Rooms designed to minimise sound, light and other sensory stimuli. Participants typically wear gloves and eye masks to further reduce tactile and visual input.
Places where consistent, unstructured noise (like static) is used to mask meaningful auditory input, creating a form of auditory deprivation.
Even brief periods of sensory deprivation can produce noticeable changes in behaviour and mental processes:
In the 1950s, Donald Hebb and colleagues at McGill University paid university students to lie on a bed in a padded room wearing goggles, ear muffs and gloves to limit sensory input. Most participants expected to enjoy the rest, but many couldn't tolerate the conditions for more than a few days. They reported intense boredom, anxiety and vivid hallucinations. Some even began to hear voices and see things that weren't there. The study had to be cut short for many participants due to their distress.
Extended periods of sensory deprivation can lead to more severe and lasting effects:
John Zubek conducted extensive research on sensory deprivation at the University of Manitoba. His participants wore goggles that allowed light but no pattern vision, along with gloves and cuffs to restrict movement. They were exposed to constant white noise. Even with these partial deprivation conditions, participants showed significant behavioural changes including:
Prisoners in solitary confinement experience a form of sensory deprivation that has been studied extensively. Many develop what's called "SHU syndrome" (named after Security Housing Units), showing symptoms like:
These effects have led many human rights organisations to argue that prolonged solitary confinement constitutes a form of torture.
Not all sensory deprivation experiences are negative. Short, controlled periods in environments like flotation tanks have been associated with some benefits:
Brief flotation sessions (60-90 minutes) have been shown to reduce stress hormones and promote relaxation.
Some studies suggest short periods of sensory reduction can boost creative thinking and problem-solving.
Flotation therapy has been used to help manage chronic pain conditions by reducing sensory overload.
Our brains need constant sensory input to function normally. The reticular activating system (RAS) in our brainstem helps regulate our alertness based on sensory input. When this input is removed, the brain essentially "makes up" sensory experiences to compensate, leading to hallucinations and perceptual distortions.
From a psychological perspective, sensory deprivation creates a form of cognitive dissonance. Our minds expect certain levels of stimulation and when these expectations aren't met, it creates psychological stress and unusual thinking patterns as we try to make sense of the unusual situation.
The dramatic effects of sensory deprivation raise important ethical questions about research and real-world applications:
Modern research ethics committees typically require careful monitoring and clear procedures for ending experiments if participants show signs of distress.
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