When You Are Deprived of Senses
Sensory deprivation is the reduction or removal of sensory input. In small, controlled amounts it can be calming, but in extreme or prolonged forms it can be distressing and harmful.
Questions you may have include:
- What is sensory deprivation?
- What are its effects?
- How is it used?
What it is
Sensory deprivation means cutting off some or most sensory input — for example, removing light and sound. It can happen deliberately, accidentally, or through the loss of a sense such as sight or hearing.
Controlled and extreme forms
Brief, controlled deprivation, such as floating in a quiet, dark flotation tank, is used by some people for relaxation and has been studied in research. Extreme or prolonged deprivation is very different: the brain, deprived of input, may produce disorientation, distress, and even hallucinations as it searches for stimulation.
Adapting to the loss of a sense
When a person permanently loses one sense, the others often become sharper with use, as the brain adapts to rely on the information that remains — one reason many blind or deaf people develop heightened skill with their other senses.
Summary
Sensory deprivation removes or reduces sensory input. Brief, controlled forms can relax, but extreme or prolonged deprivation can cause disorientation and distress. When a sense is lost for good, the brain often adapts by sharpening the remaining senses.