ENHANCEMENT OF RANDOMNESS BY FLOTATION REST (RESTRICTED ENVIRONMENTALSTIMULATION TECHNIQUE)

This study was conducted to evaluate the positive effect of notation R EST on the production of random sequences, employing both behavioral a nd physiological measures. The subjects were 7 student volunteers who spent a 40-min. session lying alone on a bed in an isolation box and t wo 40-min. sessions floating in-a commercially produced tank. Polygrap h recordings (EEG, EGG, ECG and respiration) were made continuously. R andomness of orally generated sequences was measured by RIP scores bas ed on the Polya-Eggenberger distribution in three test sessions, e.g., pre-, during, and post-REST period. Randomness increased in the float ing condition, while those parameters decreased in the bed condition. Sleep-stage analysis and EEG spectral analysis showed that the flotati on REST induced a more hypnagogic state and light sleep than did in-be d REST. It is speculated that the hypnagogic stale and light sleep ind uced by floating enhanced random generation.