Induction of altered states of consciousness during Floatation-REST is associated with the dissolution of body boundaries and the distortion of subjective time.
Scientific reports April 23, 2024 Helena Hruby, Stefan Schmidt, Justin S Feinstein et al.
Floatation-REST, which minimizes sensory input by having people float in warm, salt-saturated water in a dark, silent tank, produces stronger altered states of consciousness—specifically a dissolving sense of body boundaries and distorted time perception—than simply lying on a waterbed in a dark, quiet room. In a crossover trial with 50 healthy adults, a 60-minute float session led to greater relaxation, less anxiety, and less tiredness compared to the control condition. The loss of body boundaries during floating directly contributed to the reduction in anxiety, pointing to a previously unknown mechanism behind floatation's calming effects.