Do Highly Sensitive Persons Experience More Nonordinary States of Consciousness During Sensory Isolation?

Abstract

Our aim was to investigate whether or not highly sensitive persons experienced more nonordinary/altered states of consciousness (ASC) during 45 minutes of sensory isolation in a flotation tank, than did less sensitive persons. Psychology students (N = 57) were allocated to 1 of 2 groups (high and low levels of sensitivity) depending on their score on the Highly Sensitive Person Scale. Prior to the flotation session participants completed questionnaires to assess their degree of depression, anxiety, optimism, absorption, and how often they had experienced a mystical state. After the flotation session we assessed degree of ASC. The main finding was that the highly sensitive individuals experienced significantly more ASC during flotation than did the individuals in the low sensitivity group. Further, the highly sensitive participants had significantly more absorption and anxiety, and had experienced mystical states more frequently prior to flotation, in comparison to individuals with low-level sensitivity.

Sensory Processing Sensitivity in the Context of Environmental Sensitivity: A Critical Review and Development of Research Agenda

“…Indeed, research has related SPS to a range of negative outcomes. These include higher levels of psychopathology-related traits, including internalising problems (Boterberg & Warreyn, 2016), anxiety (Bakker & Moulding, 2012;Jonsson, Grim, & Kjellgren, 2014;Liss, Mailloux, & Erchull, 2008;Meredith, Bailey, Strong, & Rappel, 2016;Neal, Edelmann, & Glachan, 2002), depression (Bakker & Moulding, 2012;Liss et al, 2008;Liss et al, 2005), and traits of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and alexithymia (Liss et al, 2008). SPS has also been associated with lower levels of subjective happiness (Sobocko & Zelenski, 2015), and lower levels of life satisfaction (Booth et al, 2015).…”

Sensory Processing Sensitivity

“…Another explanation is that highly sensitive people are more aware of somatic symptoms that others may not notice. Accordingly, persons scoring high on SPS are more affected by pain (Aron, 1996b), medications, caffeine, and to have a higher rate of somatic problems like migraine, headaches, chronic pain, and chronic fatigue (Jawer, 2005;Jonsson, Grim, & Kjellgren, 2014). However, the findings of Liss et al (2008) and Evers et al (2008) indicate that EOE and LST are more related to poor psychological health and distress, compared with AES, which seems to measure the more positive aspects of being a highly sensitive person.…”

Sensory Processing Sensitivity

“…Another explanation is that highly sensitive people are more aware of somatic symptoms that others may not notice. Accordingly, persons scoring high on SPS are more affected by pain (Aron, 1996b), medications, caffeine, and to have a higher rate of somatic problems like migraine, headaches, chronic pain, and chronic fatigue (Jawer, 2005; Jonsson, Grim, & Kjellgren, 2014). However, the findings of Liss et al.…”