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General => Pseudo-science, Conspiracy Theories, and Other Loads of Bull => Topic started by: Arturo on May 10, 2017, 02:05:00 AM

Title: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Arturo on May 10, 2017, 02:05:00 AM
I've been meditating lately and I can see improved focus after about a week of doing it. I heard about sensory deprivation tanks and wonder if anyone here knew about them or what they do. I heard on the Joe Rogan podcast that they can induce psychedelic states but I'm just looking for something to drown the sound out.
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Icarus on May 10, 2017, 03:27:44 AM
That was all the rage a few years back.  There were places that an individual could rent for an hour or a day. There was no sound, no light, and often had water as in a shallow swimming pool. SOme of the users of such places reported positive outcomes.....peace, tranquility, and all that.

I have a book about the orchestration of biologic rhythms.  It is about circadian clocks. More than a few volunteer research experimenters have been spelunkers. The "cave men" would isolate themselves underground for long periods of time, 100 days or more.  The rhythmic wake/sleep cycles were pretty well established as being the same as ordinary above ground existence.  The cave dwellers did have some spooky psychiatric quirks after the self administered, long term, isolation in a  soundless, cold, dark, place.

As a matter of fact I suspect that cave people are nuts in the first place. I can harbor that belief  strongly because I am very much claustrophobic. ...

One of the most upsetting experiences in my life was in an MRI machine....one of the kinds that send you into a small tube like structure and no way in hell you can get out of it unless you press the panic button that the operator/technician said would signal them to remove you from the tube and the panic. What if the operator was a fiend who liked to torture people. That MRi technician would not respond to the panic button and what if the panic button was not even functional and it was all a diabolical lie. Forty five minutes in that noisy hammering hellish tube was/is more than a fraidy cat can endure and hope to survive sane after the fact.

The one time that I did that MRI torture was an adventure in mind over wildly irrational fear.  I had been in the distant past an exceptionally skilled motorcycle mechanic.  While in the tube, I forced my mind to paint mental vivid pictures of a complete disassembly and reassembly of a Royal Enfield single cylinder motorcycle engine. The fear driven realism was vivid. I handled mentally and vividly manipulated every bolt and nut in that engine, piece by piece and in the proper order of disassembly and subsequent re-assembly. That was one of the most strenuous exercises of total concentration in  my whole life. If only I could have concentrated that spectacularly well during my struggles with my university calculus classes. But then I was not in fear of my life in calc class.

I got out of the hell machine intact, but in the immediate aftermath it required two heavily re-inforced margaritas to calm myself down........So if there is some positive  outcomes of isolation tanks, I ain't ever going to enjoy such an experience.  Isolation tanks are the instruments of Lucifer himself for some of us. A cool place to be for others.
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Dave on May 10, 2017, 03:58:14 AM
Helping with sone resesrch I also spent some time in "total immersion" in an MRI machine, it would be hell for a claustrophobe!

But, but like you, Icarus, I turned my mind to the "practical" things - trying to work out all what the gear was for, why a "Farady cage" was around the thing, how they could use it as a spectrometer, why I had had my BMI checked and had to push a pedal with one foot to lift a bucket of water 300mm to the timing of a metronome. . . . .

But, I was also getting paid £50 per session so that was a happy thought!
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Arturo on May 10, 2017, 05:06:13 AM
I'm going to improvise a tank with my bathtub. I'll do a couple short videos of before and after.
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Magdalena on May 10, 2017, 05:25:37 AM
Quote from: Arturo on May 10, 2017, 05:06:13 AM
I'm going to improvise a tank with my bathtub. I'll do a couple short videos of before and after.

I hope everything goes well.
(https://jetski.iphpbb3.com/forum/images/smilies/big_baden.gif)
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Arturo on May 10, 2017, 05:27:12 AM
Quote from: Magdalena on May 10, 2017, 05:25:37 AM
Quote from: Arturo on May 10, 2017, 05:06:13 AM
I'm going to improvise a tank with my bathtub. I'll do a couple short videos of before and after.

I hope everything goes well.
(https://jetski.iphpbb3.com/forum/images/smilies/big_baden.gif)

So do I. Here is the before video if you or anyone is interested.

https://youtu.be/fiNTjV43LyY
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: hermes2015 on May 10, 2017, 06:43:46 AM
William Hurt was in an interesting movie called Altered States that revolves around experiments with one of these tanks. Try and get hold of it.
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Arturo on May 10, 2017, 07:10:58 AM
After Tank Immersion

https://youtu.be/PXHz9Lec7as
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Arturo on May 10, 2017, 07:11:21 AM
Quote from: hermes2015 on May 10, 2017, 06:43:46 AM
William Hurt was in an interesting movie called Altered States that revolves around experiments with one of these tanks. Try and get hold of it.
👍👍👍👍
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Dave on May 10, 2017, 08:19:39 AM
Quote from: hermes2015 on May 10, 2017, 06:43:46 AM
William Hurt was in an interesting movie called Altered States that revolves around experiments with one of these tanks. Try and get hold of it.
I think I remember thst, many years sgo. Was it in B&W?
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: hermes2015 on May 10, 2017, 08:26:31 AM
Quote from: Gloucester on May 10, 2017, 08:19:39 AM
Quote from: hermes2015 on May 10, 2017, 06:43:46 AM
William Hurt was in an interesting movie called Altered States that revolves around experiments with one of these tanks. Try and get hold of it.
I think I remember thst, many years sgo. Was it in B&W?

No, it was in colour. It isn't that old (to us oldsters) - 1980-ish.
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 10, 2017, 12:17:42 PM
Can't say isolating myself with limited sensory input is something I would like to do as I'm sure I'll just get bored. If boredom would result with limited isolation, I wonder what sort of mental state I'd be in with near total sensory deprivation.   :rainbowpuke:

I also heard that near total sensory deprivation might induce hallucinations after a while, but I don't know if this is true.  :nyancat:

Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Dave on May 10, 2017, 03:25:21 PM
Quote from: hermes2015 on May 10, 2017, 08:26:31 AM
Quote from: Gloucester on May 10, 2017, 08:19:39 AM
Quote from: hermes2015 on May 10, 2017, 06:43:46 AM
William Hurt was in an interesting movie called Altered States that revolves around experiments with one of these tanks. Try and get hold of it.
I think I remember thst, many years sgo. Was it in B&W?

No, it was in colour. It isn't that old (to us oldsters) - 1980-ish.

Ah. Found the one I was thinking of, "Mind benders" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057311/), 1963, Dirk Bogard, B&W.
QuoteA British scientist is discovered to have been passing information to the Communists, then kills himself. Another scientist decides that they might have brainwashed him by a sensory deprivation technique, but he doesn't know if someone really can be convinced to act against their strongest feelings. So he agrees to be the subject in an experiment in which others will try to make him stop loving his wife.

Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: hermes2015 on May 10, 2017, 03:32:41 PM
Quote from: Gloucester on May 10, 2017, 03:25:21 PM
Quote from: hermes2015 on May 10, 2017, 08:26:31 AM
Quote from: Gloucester on May 10, 2017, 08:19:39 AM
Quote from: hermes2015 on May 10, 2017, 06:43:46 AM
William Hurt was in an interesting movie called Altered States that revolves around experiments with one of these tanks. Try and get hold of it.
I think I remember thst, many years sgo. Was it in B&W?

No, it was in colour. It isn't that old (to us oldsters) - 1980-ish.
Ah. Found the one I was thinking of, "Mind benders" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057311/), 1963, Dirk Bogard, B&W.
QuoteA British scientist is discovered to have been passing information to the Communists, then kills himself. Another scientist decides that they might have brainwashed him by a sensory deprivation technique, but he doesn't know if someone really can be convinced to act against their strongest feelings. So he agrees to be the subject in an experiment in which others will try to make him stop loving his wife.
I will try to find it. I like Dirk Bogarde.
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Dave on May 10, 2017, 04:42:29 PM
Quote from: hermes2015 on May 10, 2017, 03:32:41 PM
Quote from: Gloucester on May 10, 2017, 03:25:21 PM
Quote from: hermes2015 on May 10, 2017, 08:26:31 AM
Quote from: Gloucester on May 10, 2017, 08:19:39 AM
Quote from: hermes2015 on May 10, 2017, 06:43:46 AM
William Hurt was in an interesting movie called Altered States that revolves around experiments with one of these tanks. Try and get hold of it.
I think I remember thst, many years sgo. Was it in B&W?

No, it was in colour. It isn't that old (to us oldsters) - 1980-ish.
Ah. Found the one I was thinking of, "The Mind benders" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057311/), 1963, Dirk Bogard, B&W.
QuoteA British scientist is discovered to have been passing information to the Communists, then kills himself. Another scientist decides that they might have brainwashed him by a sensory deprivation technique, but he doesn't know if someone really can be convinced to act against their strongest feelings. So he agrees to be the subject in an experiment in which others will try to make him stop loving his wife.
I will try to find it. I like Dirk Bogarde.
Used to but my tastes seem to have moved on . . .
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Magdalena on May 10, 2017, 05:49:54 PM
Quote from: Arturo on May 10, 2017, 07:10:58 AM
After Tank Immersion

https://youtu.be/PXHz9Lec7as

You look and sound sooooooooooo relaxed!
;D
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Arturo on May 10, 2017, 09:34:44 PM
Quote from: Magdalena on May 10, 2017, 05:49:54 PM
Quote from: Arturo on May 10, 2017, 07:10:58 AM
After Tank Immersion

https://youtu.be/PXHz9Lec7as

You look and sound sooooooooooo relaxed!
;D

I also did this with no salt. The espom salts are what you use to help you float and if I were an educated guesser, I would say it helps you retain water. (Salt absorbs water, which is why they sell it during winter time). If you had no salt, like I did, you would just sink, like I did. The salt (jeez how many times am I gonna say that) helps deprive weightlessness since it makes you float.

I am much more amped up today though. I went to class and felt like I knew every answer. Whether it was because it was easy or not isn't clear. But I bought some espom salt and am going to do it again tonight. I feel better after doing that and am going to test it to see if it was because of the deprivation.

But for now I gotta do homework. Peace!
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 11, 2017, 01:24:22 AM
Quote from: Magdalena on May 10, 2017, 05:49:54 PM
Quote from: Arturo on May 10, 2017, 07:10:58 AM
After Tank Immersion

https://youtu.be/PXHz9Lec7as

You look and sound sooooooooooo relaxed!
;D

Yes, it seems to be having a good effect on you, Arturo!
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Icarus on May 11, 2017, 02:19:43 AM
I rather doubt that epsom salts could increase the specific gravity of a partially saturated solution enough to matter much. Example of fresh water versus salt sea water is fresh = 62.4 pounds per cubic foot while salt water is at 64.0 pounds per cubic foot. That difference matters with a large ship but not much difference for the human body. A 180 pound person or about 84 kilograms will displace an equivalent 84 liters of water if the body is fully submerged. 

The buoyancy of a human is somewhat influenced by his/her body mass index. Fat is less dense than muscle so chubby people tend to float more freely than more muscular ones.
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Dragonia on May 11, 2017, 04:22:10 AM
Dang, I need to try this whole "sensory deprivation tank" experiment in my bathtub. There's no way I would exit that experiment worse than when I started.... Especially after the last couple weeks I've had. I wouldn't even mind a couple of hallucinations. In fact, I welcome them! Ill let you all know if things get all crazy. ...
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Arturo on May 11, 2017, 05:25:31 AM
Quote from: Dragonia on May 11, 2017, 04:22:10 AM
Dang, I need to try this whole "sensory deprivation tank" experiment in my bathtub. There's no way I would exit that experiment worse than when I started.... Especially after the last couple weeks I've had. I wouldn't even mind a couple of hallucinations. In fact, I welcome them! Ill let you all know if things get all crazy. ...

👍👍👍👍
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Arturo on May 11, 2017, 05:39:07 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 10, 2017, 12:17:42 PM
Can't say isolating myself with limited sensory input is something I would like to do as I'm sure I'll just get bored. If boredom would result with limited isolation, I wonder what sort of mental state I'd be in with near total sensory deprivation.   :rainbowpuke:

I also heard that near total sensory deprivation might induce hallucinations after a while, but I don't know if this is true.  :nyancat:

They are mild. It's not like you will see a person watching you or something.
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Tank on May 11, 2017, 06:35:08 AM
Quote from: Icarus on May 11, 2017, 02:19:43 AM
I rather doubt that epsom salts could increase the specific gravity of a partially saturated solution enough to matter much. Example of fresh water versus salt sea water is fresh = 62.4 pounds per cubic foot while salt water is at 64.0 pounds per cubic foot. That difference matters with a large ship but not much difference for the human body. A 180 pound person or about 84 kilograms will displace an equivalent 84 liters of water if the body is fully submerged. 

The buoyancy of a human is somewhat influenced by his/her body mass index. Fat is less dense than muscle so chubby people tend to float more freely than more muscular ones.
Their lungs would have to be full and they'd have to have a BMI of 0. Also women with large breasts have a built in life jacket. And before people jump on me that's what my wife said. And she has a fine built in life jacket.
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Arturo on May 11, 2017, 07:09:06 AM
I just came out again and this time I shot for 2 hours instead of 1. I didn't have the same experience or I may have just been impatient. So I got out early. However, time went by WAY slower. I ended up 3 minutes shy of an hour and thinking I was close to 2.

Edit: I seemed to have the same calm demeanor as the night before. Which I observed when talking with friends.
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Dave on May 11, 2017, 07:41:01 AM
Quote from: Icarus on May 11, 2017, 02:19:43 AM
I rather doubt that epsom salts could increase the specific gravity of a partially saturated solution enough to matter much. Example of fresh water versus salt sea water is fresh = 62.4 pounds per cubic foot while salt water is at 64.0 pounds per cubic foot. That difference matters with a large ship but not much difference for the human body. A 180 pound person or about 84 kilograms will displace an equivalent 84 liters of water if the body is fully submerged. 

The buoyancy of a human is somewhat influenced by his/her body mass index. Fat is less dense than muscle so chubby people tend to float more freely than more muscular ones.
The density of the Dead Sea is 1.25kg/l as opposed to 1.05 for "normal" sea water and people float "higher" in that. Epsom sslt has a greater density than sodium chloride, 2.66 g/cm^2 as opposed to 2.16, so a similar concentration would surely offer greater buoyamcy?

Advice: don't drink the water or you might get some really serious sensations!
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: hermes2015 on May 11, 2017, 09:10:54 AM
High-Tech Floatation Epsom Salt Treatments
"In the latest models of tanks, we use a saturated solution of Epsom salts (MgSO4+7H2O) at a solution density of 1.30 grams per cubic centimeter. It was discovered that this density of solution allows one to float supine and have the whole body at or near the surface of the liquid. One's hands float, one's arms, legs, and feet float and, most important, one's head floats. We have found that even the thinnest person with the least amount of fat floats in this way in the tank. With these simplifications of the technique it has turned out that we have devised a method of attaining the deepest rest that we have ever experienced." (Dr. John C. Lilly)

This is from the site
http://www.thefloatspa.com/epsom_salts.html
Title: Re: Sensory Deprivation Tanks
Post by: Icarus on May 12, 2017, 08:58:26 PM
Wow! I stand corrected. Gotta' get me some epsom salt for my bath tub and my tired old body.