Skip to main content

Sensory Deprivation and Sensory Isolation Research, and Political Torture: A 35-Year Critical Retrospective

  • Chapter
The Mosaic of Contemporary Psychiatry in Perspective

Abstract

A surprising development—sensory deprivation research—came from an unexpected source: “brainwashing” torture of prisoners of war. Thus was set in motion in about 1955 the developments of which this article is a critical retrospective.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Edwards P. Torture. Oxford, England: Basil Blackwell; 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hunter E. Brainwashing in Red China. New York: Vanguard; 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hunter E. Brainwashing: The Story of Men Who Defied It. New York: Pyramid Books; 1956.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  4. Kennaway J. The Mind Benders. New York: New American Library; 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chayevsky P. Altered States. New York: Harper & Row, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hebb DO. The mammal and his environment. Am J Psychiatry. 1954;111:826–831.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bexton WH, Heron W, Scott TH. Effects of decreased variation in the sensory environment. Can J Psychol. 1955;8:70–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kennedy SB. The “hooded men”: Victims of psychological research? In: Suedfeld P, ed. Psychology and Torture. New York: Hemisphere; 1990:117–127.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Suedfeld P, Coren S. Perceptual isolation, sensory deprivation, and REST: moving introductory psychology texts out of the 1950s. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne. 1989; 30: 17–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. West LJ, Farber ID, Meyers S. Prisoners of War. Special monograph, Air Force Personnel and Training Center, 1958. Partly classified document.

    Google Scholar 

  11. West LJ. Medical and Psychiatric Considerations in Survival Training. Report of the Special Study Group on Survival Training (AFR 190–16). Lackland, TX: United States Air Force; 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  12. West LJ. United States air force prisoners of the Chinese communists. In: Methods of Forceful Indoctrination: Observations and Interviews; Symposium 4. Washington DC: Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry; 1957:270–284.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Farber ID, Harlow HF, West LJ. Brainwashing, conditioning and ddd (debility, dependency, and dread). Sociometry. 1957;20:271–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. West LJ. Psychiatric aspects of training for honorable survival as a prisoner of war. Am J Psychiatry. 1958;115:329–336.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Brauchi JT, West LJ. Sleep deprivation. JAMA. 1959;14:11–14.

    Google Scholar 

  16. West LJ. Brainwashing. In: Deutsch A, ed. Encyclopedia of Mental Health. New York: Franklin Watts; 1963:250–257.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. West LJ. Brainwashing and the American character. Am J Psychiatry. 1964;120:842–850.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. West LJ. Monkeys and brainwashing. In: Harlow HF, ed. Proceedings of the Academy of Psychoanalysis. Psychiatric Spectator. 1964:21–22.

    Google Scholar 

  19. West LJ. Psychopathology produced by sleep deprivation. In: Kety SS, Everts EV, Williams HL, eds. Sleep and Altered States of Consciousness. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins, 1967:535–558.

    Google Scholar 

  20. West LJ. Ethical psychiatry and biosocial humanism. Am J Psychiatry. 1969;126:226–230.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. West LJ. Effects of isolation on the evidence of detainees. In: Bell AN, Mackie RD, eds. Detention and Security Legislation in South Africa. Durban, South Africa: University of Natal, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Shurley JT. Profound experimental sensory isolation. Am J Psychiatry. 1960;117:539–545.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Suedfeld P. Restricted Environmental Stimulation: Research and Clinical Application. New York: John Wiley; 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Lilly JC. Mental effects of reduction of ordinary levels of physical stimuli on intact, healthy persons. Psychiatr Res Rep. 1956;5:1–5.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Lilly JC, Shurley JT. Experiments in solitude in maximum achievable physical isolation with water suspension of intact, healthy persons. In: Flaherty BE, ed. Psychophysiological Aspects of Space Flight. New York: Columbia University Press; 1961:238–247.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Solomon P, Kubzhansky PE, Liederman PH, Mendelson JH, Trumbull R, Wexler D, eds. Sensory Deprivation. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press; 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Zubek JP, ed. Sensory deprivation: Fifteen years of research. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Linsley DB. Common factors in sensory deprivation, sensory distortion, and sensory overload. In: Solomon P, Kubzhansky PE, Liederman PH, Mendelson JH, Trumbull R, Wexler D, eds. Sensory Deprivation. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press; 1961:174–194.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Bruner JS. Cognitive consequences of early sensory deprivation. In: Solomon P, Kubzhansky PE, Liederman PH, Mendelson JH, Trumbull R, Wexler D, eds. Sensory Deprivation. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press; 1961: 195–207.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Kubie LH. Theoretical aspects of sensory deprivation. In: Solomon P, Kubzhansky PE, Liederman PH, Mendelson JH, Trumbull R, Wexler D, eds. Sensory Deprivation. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press; 1961: 208–220.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Suedfeld P. Theoretical formulations, II. In: Zubek JP, ed. Sensory Deprivation: Fifteen Years of Research. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1969:433–448.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Zuckerman M. Theoretical formulations, I. In: Zubek JP, ed. Sensory Deprivation: Fifteen Years of Research. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1969:407–432.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Suedfeld P. The benefits of boredom: sensory deprivation reconsidered. Am Sci. 1975;63:60–69.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Fiske DW, Maddi SR. Functions of Varied Experience. Homewood, II: Dorsey Press, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Suedfeld P. The cognitive effects of sensory deprivation: Role of task complexity. Can J. Psychol. 1968;22:302–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Vernon J. Inside the Black Room. New York: ClarksonN Potter; 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Held R. Sensory deprivation: Facts in search of a theory. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1961;132:26–32.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Lifton RJ. Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of Brainwashing in China. New York: WW Norton, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Biderman AD, Zimmer H. The Manipulation of Human Behavior. New York: John Wiley; 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Wortis J, ed. Recent advances in biological psychiatry, VI. Proceedings of the Society of Biological Psychiatry. New York: Plenum Press; 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Brownfield CA. Isolation: Clinical and Experimental Approaches. New York: Random House; 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Schultz DP. Sensory Restriction. New York: Academic Press; 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Shurley JT. Reduced sensory input states: sensory and perceptual deprivation and isolation. In: McCalley M, ed. Hypodynamics and Hypogravies. New York: Academic Press; 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Rasmussen J, ed. Man in Isolation and Confinement. Chicago: Aldine Publications; 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Kammerman M, ed. Sensory Isolation and Personality Change. Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas; 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Riesen AH. The Developmental Neuropsychology of Sensory Deprivation. New York: Academic Press; 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Madow L, Snow LH, eds. The Psychodynamic Implications of Physiological Studies on Sensory Deprivation. Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas; 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Lilly JC. The Deep Self: Profound Relaxation and the Tank Isolation Technique. New York: Simon & Schuster; 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Harlow HF. The nature of love. Am Psychol. 1958;13:673–685.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Melzack R, Scott TH. The effects of early experience on the response to pain. J Comp Physiol Psychol. 1957;50:155–161.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Melzack R. The genesis of emotional behavior: an experimental study of the dog. J Comp Physiol Psychol. 1954;47:166–168.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Wiesel TN, Hubel DH. Effects of visual deprivation on physiology and morphology of cells in the cat’s lateral geniculate body. J Neurophysiol. 1963;26:978–993.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Sprague JM, Chambers WW, Stellar E. Attentive, affective, and adaptive behavior in the cat—sensory deprivation of the forebrain by lesions in the brainstem. Science. 1961;133:165–173.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Sprague JM, Levitt M, Robson K, Liu CN, Stellar E, Chambers WW. A neuroanatomical and behavioral analysis of syndromes resulting from midbrain lemniscal and reticular lesions in the cat. Arch Ital Biol. 1963;101:225–295.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Pishkin V, Shurley JT. Sensory deprivation and operant conditioning of rats. Psychonomic Sci. 1966;5:283–284.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Pishkin V, Shurley JT. Social facilitation and sensory deprivation in operant behavior of rats. Psychonomic Sci. 1966;6:335–336.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Pishkin V, Shurley JT. Hydro-hypodynamic sensory isolation: effects on concept identification. J Exp Psychol. 1969;2:198–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Lilly JC. Effects of physical restraint and reduction of ordinary levels of physical stimuli in intact, healthy persons. In: Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry. Illustrative Strategies for Research on Psychopathology in Mental Health, Symposium 2. New York: Group for Advancement of Psychiatry; 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Hutchinson M. The Book of Floating: Exploring the Private Sea. New York: William Morrow & Company, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Shurley JT. Hallucinations in sensory deprivation and sleep deprivation. In: West LJ, ed. Hallucinations. New York: Grune & Stratton; 1962:87–91.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Shurley JT. Mental imagery in profound experimental sensory isolation. In: West LJ, ed. Hallucinations. New York: Grune & Stratton; 1962:153–157.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Walters C, Shurley JT, Parsons OA. Differences in male and female responses to underwater sensory deprivation: an exploratory study. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1962;135:310–320.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Walters C, Parsons OA, Shurley JT. Malefemale differences in underwater sensory deprivation. Br J Psychiatry. 1964;109:290–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Shurley JT. Adaptation to sensory isolation. In: Rhead C, ed. Stress and Adaptation. Des Plaines, Ill: Forest Hospital Lecture Series; 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Shurley JT. Stress and adaptation to sensory/ perceptual isolation research. Milit Med. 1966; 131:254–258.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Serafetinides EA, Shurley JT, Brooks RE, Gideon WP. Electrophysiological changes in humans during sensory isolation. Aerospace Med. 1971;42:840–843.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Serafetinides EA, Shurley JT, Brooks RE, Gideon WP. Electrophysiological changes in humans during perceptual isolation. Aerospace Med. 1972;43:432–434

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Serafetinides EA, Shurley JT, Brooks RE, Gideon WP. Sensory vs. perceptual isolation: a comparison of their electrophysiological effects. Aerospace Med. 1973;44:539–541.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Forgays DG, McClure GN. A direct comparison of the effects of the quiet room and water immersion techniques. Psychophysiology. 1974;2:346–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. Schechter MD, Shurley JT, Sexauer JD, Toussieng PW. Perceptual isolation therapy: a new experimental approach in the treatment of children using infantile autistic defenses. J Am Acad Child Psychiatry. 1969;8:97–139.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Suedfeld P, Schwartz G. Restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST) as a treatment for autistic children. Dev Behav Pediatr. 1983;4:196–201.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Cohen RL. Developments in the isolation therapy of behavior disorders in children. In: Masserman JH, ed. Current Psychiatric Therapies, Vol 3. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1963:180–187.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Charny I. Regression and reorganization in the “isolation treatment” of children: a clinical contribution to sensory deprivation research. J Clin Psychol Psychiatry. 1963;4:47–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Lloyd AJ, Shurley JT. The effects of perceptual/ sensory isolation on single motor-unit conditioning. Psychophysiology. 1976;13:340–344.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Shurley JT, Miller WC, McCurdy RL, Pishkin V. The air-fluidized ceramic bead bed: a psychophysiological sleep augmenter? Psychophysiology. 1970;7:355.

    Google Scholar 

  76. Anch DM, Shurley JT, Orr WC, Wootan GD. Entrainment of normal sleep rhythms by the airfluidized bed. In: Chase MH, Stern WC, Walter DL, eds. Sleep Research. Los Angeles: Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, 1973. Abstract.

    Google Scholar 

  77. Anch DM, Shurley JT, Orr WC, Wootan GD. Effect of the air-fluidized bed on the sleep of normal male adults. Waking & Sleeping. 1977;1: 197–200.

    Google Scholar 

  78. Miller WC, Shurley JT. Treatment of insomniac patients with the air-fluidized bed. Am J Psychiatry. 1972;128:1147–1149.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Natani K, Shurley JT. Disturbed sleep and affect in an extreme environment: a syndrome suggesting depletion of CNS serotonin in men wintering at South Pole. In: Koella WP, Levin P, eds. Sleep: Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology: Clinical Implications. Proceedings of the First European Congress on Sleep Research. Basel: S Karger; 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  80. Shurley JT. Some affect correlates of global stimulus deprivation in adults. In: Schmale A, ed. Panel discussion on the sensory deprivations: approach to the study of the induction of affects. J Am Psychoanal Assoc. 1974;22:636–639.

    Google Scholar 

  81. Shurley JT, Natani K, Sengel RA. Ecopsychiatric aspects of a first human space colony. In: Grey J, ed. Space Manufacturing Facilities (Space Colonies), II: Proceedings of the 3rd Princeton/American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Conference. New York: AIAA; 1977:259–266.

    Google Scholar 

  82. Solomon P, Kleeman ST. Sensory deprivation. In: Freedman AF, Kaplan HI, Sadock BJ, eds. Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, II. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins, 1975:455–459.

    Google Scholar 

  83. Solomon P, Kleeman ST. Sensory deprivation. In: Freedman AF, Kaplan HI, Sadock BJ, eds. Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, III. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins, 1980:600–608.

    Google Scholar 

  84. Solomon P, Kleeman ST. Sensory deprivation. In: Freedman AF, Kaplan HI, Sadock BJ, Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, IV. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins, 1985:321–326.

    Google Scholar 

  85. Suedfeld P. Restricted environmental stimulation and smoking cessation: a 15-year progress report. The International Journal of Addictions. 1990;25:861–888.Chapter Eight

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1992 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Shurley, J.T. (1992). Sensory Deprivation and Sensory Isolation Research, and Political Torture: A 35-Year Critical Retrospective. In: Kales, A., Pierce, C.M., Greenblatt, M. (eds) The Mosaic of Contemporary Psychiatry in Perspective. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9194-4_19

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9194-4_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-9196-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-9194-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics