Schizophrenia, Sensory Deprivation, and Sensory Overload

Ludwig, Arnold M.; Stark, Louis H.

doi:10.1097/00005053-197309000-00006

Cited by 19 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…One might also predict that sensory overload sufficient to produce cognitive deterioration in animals, normal humans (Gottschalk et al, 1973;Ludwig, 1972), or schizophrenics (Wing, Leff, & Hirsch, Note 6) might be accompanied by central anatomical and chemical evidence of metabolism having exceeded the peak of the inverted U curve. Furthermore, since certain schizophrenics seek to maintain sensory input levels within a narrow range (Chapman, 1966;Ludwig & Stark, 1973), it might be expected that this peak would be more easily exceeded than in normals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Arousal homeostasis may be mediated at three levels: behavioral, neurological, and endocrine. A number of researchers have noted that organisms seek or avoid stimulation in an effort to obtain an optimal level of arousal (Berlyne, 1960;Hebb & Thompson, 1954;Leuba, 1955;Ludwig & Stark, 1973;Schneirla, 1959). Others (McClelland, Atkinson, Clark, & Lowell, 1953;Pfaffman, 1960;Young, 1959) have stated similar theories in hedonic terms.…”

Section: Evidence For An Arousal Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mechanisms mediating the production of environmentally induced brain changes.

Walsh¹,

Cummins²

1975

Psychological Bulletin

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As yet no satisfactory explanation has been advanced to explain the mechanisms mediating the anatomical and biochemical brain changes induced by exposing animals to environments rich in sensory stimuli. It is hypothesized ' here that a fundamental mechanism is the arousal response, since alterations in arousal appear to be concomitants of all such environmentally induced changes. The properties of the arousal reaction are discussed in terms of their possible relationship to the neurological changes induced, and evidence is presented that this mechanism may be common to several areas of environmental stimulation research which have previously been thought of as separate investigative fields. Several possible tests of the hypothesis are presented, and an underlying cellular response sequence transducing electrical into biosynthetic activity is discussed.Despite the continuing discovery of changes in brain chemistry and anatomy following exposure to environmental stimulation, no satisfactory mechanism has been advanced to explain the mediation of these changes. Postulated physiological mechanisms include stress, endocrine, maturational, and learning factors. Each of these mechanisms and their shortcomings have been discussed by Rosenzweig, Bennett, & Diamond, 1971) and so are dealt with only briefly here. Evidence is then presented to suggest that the arousal reaction (orienting response) may be a major mediating mechanism by showing that the arousal histories of stimulusenriched and stimulus-deprived animals are different and that the properties and consequences of the arousal reaction are such as may account for much current knowledge of enrichment-deprivation effects. First, however, the findings which any hypothesis must hope to explain are briefly reviewed.The brains of animals reared in a complex, as opposed to a stimulus-deprived, environ-The experimental work contributed by the authors was supported by a grant from the Australian Research Grants Committee.We would like to thank Brian Cragg and Marthe Howard for their comments.Requests for reprints should be sent to Robert A.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Evidence For An Arousal Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms mediating the production of environmentally induced brain changes.

Walsh¹,

Cummins²

1975

Psychological Bulletin

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“…There is considerable evidence that sensory overload can be detrimental to both task performance and emotional adjustment (see Lipowski, 1975, for a review). High levels of environmental stimulation produce increased disorganization of behavior (Ludwig & Stark, 1973). In particular, sensory overload has been found to increase social-alienation and personal-disorganization scores and to result in an increase in withdrawal and disorganized thinking (e.g., Gottschalk, Haer, & Bates, 1972).…”

Section: Sensory Overload: Stimulus Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

Optimal stimulation: A model of disordered activity and performance in normal and deviant children.

Zentall

Zentall²

1983

Psychological Bulletin

354

249

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There is considerable evidence that organisms can moderate incoming sensory stimulation so as to more closely approach optimal levels of arousal. When normal individuals are exposed to unusually high or low sensory input they tend to show "disordered" behavior similar to that of certain chronically disordered populations, for example, hyperactive and autistic children. It is proposed that at least some of the deviant behavior displayed by such disordered children represents a functional set of homeostatic responses to conditions of abnormal sensory input. Attempts to correct chronic imbalances in arousal through antecedent manipulations of chemical and sensory stimulation have been relatively successful and may provide not only appropriate treatment but also a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying many kinds of disordered behavior.

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“…Jones et al . ; Kircher & Gauggel ; Ludwig & Stark ; O'Neill & Jones ; Quednow ). The literature suggests that affected persons suffer from sensory overload due to illness‐induced impairments of cerebral information processing.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sensory overload is predominantly described in conjunction with schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) or autism (cf. Jones et al 2003;Kircher & Gauggel 2008;Ludwig & Stark 1973;O'Neill & Jones 1997;Quednow 2008). The literature suggests that affected persons suffer from sensory overload due to illness-induced impairments of cerebral information processing.…”

Section: Uses Of the Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensory overload: A concept analysis

Scheydt

Staub

Frauenfelder³

et al. 2017

Int J Mental Health Nurs

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In the context of mental disorders sensory overload is a widely described phenomenon used in conjunction with psychiatric interventions such as removal from stimuli. However, the theoretical foundation of sensory overload as addressed in the literature can be described as insufficient and fragmentary. To date, the concept of sensory overload has not yet been sufficiently specified or analyzed. The aim of the study was to analyze the concept of sensory overload in mental health care. A literature search was undertaken using specific electronic databases, specific journals and websites, hand searches, specific library catalogues, and electronic publishing databases. Walker and Avant's method of concept analysis was used to analyze the sources included in the analysis. All aspects of the method of Walker and Avant were covered in this concept analysis. The conceptual understanding has become more focused, the defining attributes, influencing factors and consequences are described and empirical referents identified. The concept analysis is a first step in the development of a middle-range descriptive theory of sensory overload based on social scientific and stress-theoretical approaches. This specification may serve as a fundament for further research, for the development of a nursing diagnosis or for guidelines.

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Schizophrenia, Sensory Deprivation, and Sensory Overload

Cited by 19 publications

References 0 publications

Mechanisms mediating the production of environmentally induced brain changes.

Mechanisms mediating the production of environmentally induced brain changes.

Optimal stimulation: A model of disordered activity and performance in normal and deviant children.

Sensory overload: A concept analysis

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