# Experiments on Consciousness **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 9, 2018, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiments-on-consciousness/822680 "2018-10-09T01:50:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sloe\_Moe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sloe\_Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sloe_Moe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiments-on-consciousness/822680/1 "2018-10-09T01:50:29Z")
Has there ever been a set-up wherein the subject is deprived of all basic senses, yet remains fully conscious? In any case, how would a person cope with such an experience? Would it be life-threatening? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiments-on-consciousness/822680/2 "2018-10-09T02:00:17Z")
> **[Sensory deprivation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_deprivation)** > > Sensory deprivation or perceptual isolation is the deliberate reduction or removal of stimuli from one or more of the senses. Simple devices such as blindfolds or hoods and earmuffs can cut off sight and hearing, while more complex devices can also cut off the sense of smell, touch, taste, thermoception (heat-sense), and the ability to know which way is down. Sensory deprivation has been used in various alternative medicines and in psychological experiments (e.g. with an isolation tank). When Sh... Also, see the movie Altered States. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiments-on-consciousness/822680/3 "2018-10-09T02:03:16Z")
It’s also on the suspicious side, but sensory deprivation was practiced during parapsychological _Ganzfeld_ experiments > **[Ganzfeld experiment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganzfeld_experiment)** > > A ganzfeld experiment (from the German words for “entire” and “field”) is an assessment used by parapsychologists that they contend can test for extrasensory perception (ESP) or telepathy. In these experiments, a "sender" attempts to mentally transmit an image to a "receiver" who is in a state of sensory deprivation. The receiver is normally asked to choose between a limited number of options for what the transmission was supposed to be and parapsychologists who propose that such telepathy is pos... As **Riemann** , who beat me to it, observes, they showed two types of sensory deprivation tanks in the movie \*\*Altered States/B], which ought not to be taken as a documentary. Almost none of the subjects physically regressed to proto-human status and had to be fitted with digital shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiments-on-consciousness/822680/4 "2018-10-09T02:06:13Z")
> [@Sloe\_Moe](#): > > Has there ever been a set-up wherein the subject is deprived of all basic senses, yet remains fully conscious? In any case, how would a person cope with such an experience? Would it be life-threatening? The normal reaction is to quickly start going insane. Look at a few of [these Google links](https://www.google.com/search?q=sensory+deprivation+insanity&oq=sensory+deprivation+insanity&gs_l=mobile-heirloom-serp.12..0j0i22i30.2379.6345.1.9796.9.9.0.0.0.0.1065.4421.1j3j0j1j0j1j2j1.9.0....0...1c.1.34.mobile-heirloom-serp..11.9.2322.nNxZXp1wbzc). ---
**Author:** ![Sloe\_Moe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sloe\_Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sloe_Moe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiments-on-consciousness/822680/5 "2018-10-09T02:10:40Z")
That was the William Hurt movie! Weirded me out because Hurt was talking about memory at the atomic level. But the links concerning sensory deprivation pretty much sums up my suspicions (that it would make a good torture / interrogation medium. :eek: As to my basic question of how a human would react, it deprives one of the usual sensory stimuli that a person is used to. So one’s brain will try to make up its own stimuli and result in hallucinations. In short, an ordinary person is not likely to survive such an experience for long. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiments-on-consciousness/822680/6 "2018-10-09T02:18:29Z")
There are also “float spas” where you pay for the privilege of depositing yourself of sensory input. A friend of mine sweats they are incredibly relaxing; I’ve never tried one. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiments-on-consciousness/822680/7 "2018-10-09T02:24:32Z")
> [@Sloe\_Moe](#): > > So one’s brain will try to make up its own stimuli and result in hallucinations. In short, an ordinary person is not likely to survive such an experience for long. What would be the cause of death? Hallucinations are generally not fatal. ---
**Author:** ![Sloe\_Moe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sloe\_Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sloe_Moe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiments-on-consciousness/822680/8 "2018-10-09T02:31:32Z")
Wouldn’t your heart stop beating sooner or later? Or go crazy, which is just as bad? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiments-on-consciousness/822680/9 "2018-10-09T03:05:52Z")
> [@Sloe\_Moe](#): > > Wouldn’t your heart stop beating sooner or later? There needs to be some sort of mechanism for that to happen. Your heart just doesn’t stop for no physical reason. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiments-on-consciousness/822680/10 "2018-10-09T03:27:45Z")
[Solitary confinement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solitary_confinement), as in some prisons, is considered a form of psychological torture. It can lead to insanity and suicide.