Experience after Floatation-REST: Relaxation during floating mediates the afterglow effect.
Consciousness and cognition – April 01, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Floatation-REST significantly enhances afterglow, relaxation, and mindfulness. In a study with 34 participants (17 females, 17 males; average age 32.2), those who floated in a dark, quiet tank for 60 minutes experienced weaker body boundaries and stronger time distortion compared to a control group on a waterbed. Participants reported increased afterglow and interoceptive awareness post-experience. Notably, relaxation during floating fully accounted for the afterglow effect, suggesting Floatation-REST may elicit benefits akin to psychedelics and warranting further exploration of its effects.
Abstract
The term "afterglow" originally described the heightened mood and relaxation following psychedelics and later extended to other altered states. Despite anecdotal reports, little research has explored this effect, especially in Floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Technique). In this method, individuals float in thermoneutral, supersaturated salt water in a dark, quiet tank. Using a crossover design, 34 participants (17 females, 17 males; avg. age 32.2, SD = 8.8) were randomized to 60 min of Floatation-REST or Bed-REST (a control condition on a waterbed). Floatation-REST induced significantly weaker body boundaries, significantly stronger time distortion, and significantly greater relaxation. Post-exposure, participants reported a significantly stronger afterglow, significantly more state mindfulness, and significantly greater interoceptive awareness. Mediation analysis showed relaxation during floating fully explains the afterglow effect. These findings align with psychedelic research, suggesting Floatation-REST elicits similar effects and laying the groundwork for future studies on prolonged afterglow experiences.