11

Short-Term Exposure to REST:

Enhanced Performance on a
Signal-Detection Task

Richard Atkinson

I'llst reports of long-term exposure to the restricted environmental

1I11111ulation technique (REST) have focused on its deleterious effects on
I't'n:eptual/cognitive functioning. Attempts to precisely determine the
vilillal functions disrupted by long-term exposure to REST indicate that
SN t'xperience difficulty in focusing, objects appear fuzzy and not clearly
IIlNI inet from their background, the environment appears to be two
,1I111t'nsional, colors are bright and highly saturated, shapes are
'IiNlorted, contrast is increased, positive and negative after images are
pronounced, and distortions occur in size constancy (Batten, 1961;
Union, Heron, & Scott, 1954; Doane, Mahatoo, Heron, & Scott, 1956;
hl"l"lllllan & Greenblatt, 1959; Freedman & Held, 1960; Heron, Doane,
~ Sl'Olt, 1956; MacNeill & Zubek, 1967; Scott, Bexton, Heron, &
Ilollnl'. 1959; Zubek, 1969b).
long-term exposure to REST appears to produce additional deficits
In \lI~'.nil ive performance. Ss undergoing the experience of REST report
II Illpid dl'c1inl' in the ability to maintain focused attention upon

IIl'llllIInal l'On1l'nl, difficulty in following a particular line of logical

'''''!IV. hl . inal>ilily 10 think logically, and disfllplipns in the organization

94 Richard Atkinson
of their thoughts (Courtney, Davis, & Solomon, 1961; Davis, McColl II
& Solomon, 1960; Goldberger & Holt, 1958; Scott et aI., 1959; SIl\lII,
& Lewty, 1959; Wexler, Mendelson, Leiderman, & Solomon, 195K)
Despite these apparent negative effects of long-term exposun' I"
REST, the anecdotal accounts of short-term exposure are gencr;dh
positive. For instance, corporate attempts to merchandise senSlli \
isolation flotation tanks report a plethora of benefits from their II','
extolling such virtues as their ability to enhance perceptual skills. I"
generate clarity in thought, and to produce intense episodes of solilll.l'
and relaxation (Lilly, 1981).
A discrepancy also exists between the empirical evidence and Iii.
reports of various esoteric disciplines that utilize techniques simibi I"
REST. The parallels between REST and concentrative meditatio II '"
Zen Buddhism are often striking (Naranjo & Ornstein, II) II)
Concentrative meditation includes exercises that involve a restrictillil "I
awareness from distracting sensory stimulation (Ornstein, 1977, p. Iltill
which is similar to the impoverished perceptual environment of R I'" I
According to the Zen tradition, the primary advantage of concentr;IIII'
meditation is that through the process of "turning off' input proCl·"'.II1~
for a period of time, an aftereffect of "opening up" or enhalll'.I
awareness is achieved. Gurdjieff (1973) has provided a clue as III II"
way in which perception may be enhanced through meditatioll 1'1
comparing that experience to a child who has not yet developed 111.111\
of the automatic ways of tuning out the external world; hence, thc 11111.1
may perceive a repeatedly-viewed stimulus in the same manner as whe II
perceived the first time. Deikman (1966) referred to this phenOllll'II""
as "deautomatization" or "dishabituation." In support of this COIII'I,I
Kasamatsu and Hirai (1966) found that advanced masters of Zell WI "
able to dishabituate to a repeated clicking sound, while control S" WI "
unable to perform the same task.
Based on the similarities between REST and conccnl 1.11 1\1
meditation, it would seem reasonable to expect some pm,lll.
perceptual/cognitive effects of REST. In support of this assertion. I til,
(1981) reported that levels of awarcncss. fedings of relaxatioll .. 11,,1
vividness of mental imagery increased ill Ihe wrhal reports of "IUI '.
during short-term exposurc 10 IU:ST TIH"SI' CISl" sludics suppllil II.
11. Signal-Detection Performance 95
hvpol hesis that short-term exposure to REST may be a positive
'111(' rience.
Ilurabasz and his colleagues (Melchiori & Barabasz, 1990)
'''"lpletcd the first and only experimental study of the effects of brief
IIUIIII ion REST on the complex cognitive/perceptual task of instrument
IIlahl performance using commercial pilots as subjects. Only those
fll'0lit'd to REST, but not controls, showed significant improvements
It, Iht' instrument flight task.
To assess the cognitive/perceptual effects of REST, the current
'huly contrasted the performance of subjects on a signal-detection task
(NI»I'), consisting of "strong," "weak," and "no signal trials, before and
,nrl one hour of exposure to one of the following conditions: REST,
"1111111 Yalertness, and sensory relaxation. The purpose behind the brief
IftP hou I' period of exposure was to compare the results of this study
.tlh Ihose that involved long-term exposure to REST. It was anticipated
.111 "hort-term exposure to REST would enhance cognitive/perceptual
"ttlll lIlance on the SDT.
SllIce performance on a SDT may vary partly as a function of
IIIIIIIIul kvel, a related concern was the level of sensory arousal in each
.., IIIl' wnditions. The relationship between performance and arousal
II II llllully represented as an inverted V-shaped function. According to
'ht. 11IlIdion, information-processing activities will be poor or
Atulr"bll'nl during sleep, but will improve in waking, reaching some
....11111111 level as cortical arousal increases. It is possible the brief
"",,",m' to REST may minimize distracting sensory input found in
ftHt 11111 I akrl/aroused states without significantly reducing levels of
_1111111 y arousal. Therefore, it was anticipated that exposure to REST
,"lIIld pmdllce greater enhancement on the SDT than exposure to
."1101 y alcrl ness or sensory relaxation.
 96 Richard Atkinson 11. Signal-Detection Performance 97

Method
Il Irials, the "E" was not presented. These were classified as the "no
Ilallled" trials.
I'or REST Ss, exposure lasted for one hour in the sensory-isolation
Subjects
nllial ion tank. In sensory alertness, Ss were instructed to read
plrsdccted passages from the book, "Personality and Hypnosis: A Study
A total of 45 Ss (27 women, 18 men) from Eastern Montana Colic)',
participated in the study, with 15 Ss assigned to each experimclll.II
Ur Imaginative Involvement" by Hilgard (1979) for one hour. In sensory
rtllllwtion, Ss were told to relax on a large air mattress in a sound- and
condition via a block randomization procedure.
IllIhl-attenuated room, where they listened to a cassette tape of
,ulIll'mporary classical music combined with sounds of the ocean for
Our hour.
Materials

A plywood sensory-isolation flotation tank (4' high X 4' wide X III

••11111 It s
long) was utilized to restrict sensory stimulation. The tank was filled III
a depth of 15" with a 940 F solution of epsom salts in water to creak ,I
density of 1.30 gms/IOO gms. An Apple lIe microcomputer was used III
present an Apple Basic "Signal Detection Task" program to the s~
'nit, llIean number of hits and false alarms for REST, alertness, and
ftIl1llllllion groups on pre- and post-test trials appear in Table 11-1.
A <,roups (REST, Arousal, Relaxation) X Trials (Pre-test, Post-test)

Procedure
X Signal Strength (Strong, Weak, No Signal) analysis of variance
(AN< )VA) was performed on these data. A significant interaction was
prflNt'nl for these three variables (F(4, 84) = 3.40, P < .025). Post hoc
There was one experimental session involving pre-expO\I J J'
"11l1l'arisons yielded a significant increase in "strong" and "weak signal"
performance on 36 SDT trials, an exposure period of one hour (R I'\ I
hit.. ',om pre-test (M = 8.27,5.07) to post-test (M = 9.27, 7.67) for the
relaxation, or arousal), and post-exposure performance on 36 \111
Mt'ST ~roup (F(I, 43) = 17.15, P < .001; F(I, 43) = 18.42; P < .001).
trials. For a given trial, a sequence of "F's" was presented at randllitl
It 1I1~lIificantly greater number of "weak signal" hits was also observed
positions one at a time on the screen until there was a total 01 (,II
"" lilt' REST group (M = 7.67) on the post-test trials as compared
letters. Each trial lasted for an interval of 30 seconds. On 24 trials, '"I'
_tlh IIIl' relaxation (M = 5.47) and alertness (M = 5.47) groups
of the letters was an "E" instead of an "F." The Ss task was to deled lilt
ftll"I!) 3.33, P < .05; F(I, 43) = 3.56, P < .05). Within and between
presence of the "E." Signal strength was manipulated by the timill)' III
,lIl11p comparisons did not yield significant differences in false alarm
the target letter to be identified. On 12 trials, the "E" was pres" 1III ,I
within the first 15 seconds. These were classified as the "strong sl/'II.II
'"l,." I Oil he pre- and post-test "no signal" trials.

IIII' IlIlInher and percentage of REST, relaxation, and alertness Ss

trials, since at least 15 seconds was allowed to locate the targ", (I,I
,,1111 IlIncased, remained constant, or decreased in hits from the pre­
another 12 trials, the "E" was presented in 1he last three seconds 01 I h.
III IIII' pOSI lest on "strong" and "weak signal" trials can be found in
trial. These were classified as (he "weak signal" Irials, since IIIl" 11111'
t !II II.· I I !.
allotted to identify and locale lhe 1;11/',,'1 was so hrief. Onlhe renl.llIlIllI
 11. Signal-Detection Performance 99
98 Richard Atkinson

Table 11-2

Table 11-1

Individual Variations in Ss Performance from the

Mean Number of Hits and False Alarms From Pre-Test to

Post-Test Across Experimental Conditions

Pre-Test to the Post-Test as a

Function of Signal Strength and Condition

Signal Strength Pre-Test Post-Test

1fI""1 Sl rength Decrease Same Increase

M SD M SD N % N % N %
~.

-"lIItl Signal Hits

Strong Signal Hits ~WST 1 7 0 0 14 93
REST 8.27 1.29 9.27 1.62
.rllsory Alertness 5 33 4 27 6 40
Sensory Alertness 8.40 1.50
1.46
8.73
9.13
1.79
1.73
"I'nsory Relaxation 6 40 2 13 7 47
Sensory Relaxation 8.87
tt..~ Signal Hits
I4JiST 1 7 0 0 14 93
Weak Signal Hits Nf;IINmy Alertness 6 40 3 20 6 40
REST 5.07 2.17 7.67 2.07
~IINory Relaxation 6 40 3 20 6 40
Sensory Alertness 5.20 1.14 5.47 2.33
.~
Sensory Relaxation 5.13 1.69 5.47 1.69

No Signal False Alarms

....'1'" NIII-',gest that exposure to REST may contribute to enhancement

REST .07 .00 .20 .41
" .'.11111 perception in Ss more than does relaxation and alertness, a
.00 .00 '''U·hllllioll supported by the significantly greater number of hits scored
.20 .41
Sensory Alertness
Sensory Relaxation .13 .35 .20 .41 t.. Ih4J Ss in lhe REST condition on the post-test trials as compared
..... _III III Ihe relaxation and alertness conditions. Possible evidence has
IilItt Itrl'lI j.!,arnered to support the anecdotal (Lilly, 1981) and
""1 11111' III al (Mclchiori & Barabasz, 1990) reports that show that

....tlllIll· 10 REST enhances awareness. Finally, it is clear that high

Discussion
. .Ii "' pnn'ptual vigilance are required to perform competently on
. " II 1'1'I(Tpllial vigilance, in turn, demands increased skill at focusing
The results of this study indicate that exposure to REST is capahll "I Pt' Itllliniaining visual attcntion. In the present study, greater
'flUH'lltlllll vigil;lIlce was required on "weak signal" trials than on "strong
enhancing visual perception as measured hy a SDT. This conchlsllIlI I­
"t,lttl" II iills. Since (he dillcrences hetwccn the REST condition and the
evident from the significant improvcJllel\1 in I he performance of Ss 1,1111'
.j 11f" 11\'11 ('( 1I11 Iit ions we re lIIore prol\ounced on "weak signal" trials,
the pre-test to the post-Il'st on "si ron~'," ;lIld "weak sij.!,nal" Irials II,·
kill kllil nposurl' 10 RLST likely inCll'asl's the ahilily to focus and
findinj.!,s support those of M('khiol i ;1I1l1 1\;lIallasl ()I)l)()). Mon'ov!'l. II,.
100 Richard Atkinson

maintain attention. The ability to continue to perceive monotonous 12

visual stimulation in this way is comparable to the deautomatization or
dishabituation that occurs with Zen masters using concentrative
meditation techniques (Kasamatsu & Hirai, 1966). Those abilities arl'
also highly similar to the skills engendered by repeated exposure to
various esoteric disciplines in which a fresh perception is "awakened," Slow REST or Fast Drugs:
allowing the practitioner to perceive more and from a new vantagl'
point (Ornstein, 1977).
Meditation or Medication?
Obviously, a discrepancy exists between the results of this
investigation and those of previous REST studies (e.g., see Bexton l'1
aI., 1954; Courtney et aI., 1961; Doane et aI., 1959; Davis et aI., 1960)
A partial explanation for this discrepancy may be found in the variabk Charles Brownfield
of exposure duration. Most early studies of REST were long-term ill
nature, sometimes lasting for several days (e.g., see Bexton et aI., 1954)
In contrast, the present experiment utilized an exposure duration 01
only one hour consistent with Melchiori and Barabasz (1990). Too lilt k
or no stimulus change may become an aversive state to be avoided only Change in Viewpoint
after long-term exposure to REST. The average subject has not bel'11
trained to focus attention inward during long episodes of exposure 1 (I

REST, resulting in less than optimal functioning in the central nervou.s
system. In contrast, short-term exposure to REST may reduce tl]('
number of irrelevant stimulus details without reducing optimal levels 01
arousal.
Another finding that requires additional comment is the evidenp'
for enhanced performance among REST Ss on the post-test trials ;I~,
contrasted with Ss in the relaxation and alertness conditions. Olle
possible explanation for this disparity may be that Ss in the relaxatioll
condition experienced sensory arousal comparable to the alert rH' S'.
condition as a result of listening to the musical selection. Certainly III<
Sl'fendipity is credited with playing a ubiquitous role in the discovery
Ill' neuroleptic drugs in the 1950s, followed by antidepressants and
IInxiolytics in the 1960s. With little foresight about the consequences of
long term use of these new medications, or their adverse effects, and
1'lIcouraged by the dramatic control they exerted on behavior, the
l'xrilement, intellectual vigor, and prestige of psychiatry changed from
humanistic to predominantly chemical conceptions of treatment (d.,
Ayd & Blackwell, 1970; Lickey & Gordon, 1983; Schowalter, 1989).
Yet, there are still some of us in the mental health community who
IlIl' deeply concerned about the efficacy (and safety) of these

tape was producing sensory stimulation that may have resulted in SOIiIl p~Yl'hot ropic drugs versus psychotherapy. Most textbooks suggest both
increase in sensory arousal. i11l' uSl'd, in concert, for maximum benefit to the patient. But we know

110111 (lUI' own direct clinical experience that, usually, only one is used

(III, at kast, emphasized) to the exclusion of the other. For psychiatrists

1I11111n\ in thl' pasl :15 years, the pendulum has swung away from the
IlYII.llllic, and lowanl Ihl' ol}"anic Irl'at Illl'ni of both major and minor
1I11'1I\;1I disonlns. Psychiatry's prev:tilin,'. Vil'W, now, is that an organic