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EFFECTS OF REST AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT VIDEOS ON RECOVERY FROM INDUCED STRESS
Daneil Christensen and Marianne Barabasz
Washington State University
This investigation tested the effects of dry flotation REST and videos of Unthreatening Natural Environment (UNE) scenes on recovery from general stress and induced stress. Hypnotizability was considered as a moderator variable. High and low hypnotizable subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups: 1) REST/UNE (N=8 Highs; 8 Lows), 2) REST only (N=8 Highs; 8 Lows), 3) UNE only (N=8 Highs, 8 Lows) and, 4) No treatment control (N=8 Highs; 8 Lows). A 10 minute videiotape of woodworking accidents was used for standardized stress induction. Participants spent 50 minutes in their assigned conditions. Stress arousal was measured using the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS), the Tension-Anxiety (T-A) subscale of the Profile of Mood States (POMS), skin conductance level (SCL) and peripheral skin temperature (PST). Physiological findings showed that the two REST groups demonstrated lower arousal (p<.05) as measured by SCL during the recovery period than the UNE Only and No-Treatment control groups. The addition of the UNE videotape in the REST/UNE group did not add additional benefits. The three treatment groups demonstrated lower self-reported anxiety (SUDS ratings) over the course of the experiment than the No-Treatment control group. Hypnotizability was unrelated to stress recovery or imaginitive involvement experiences. The SCL findings add to the growing body of data demonstrating the efficacy of REST in reducing physiological arousal. This is the first study to use a standardized stress induction stimulus. SCL measures demonstrated that REST is effective in recovery from induced stress and further reduction of stress over time. The expected beneficial effect of exposure to UNE scenes was not supported.
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THE EFFECTS OF DRY FLOTATION REST ON MARKSMANSHIP PERFORMANCE: MORE DATA
Arreed Barabasz, Marianne Barabasz, Dennis Warner and James Bauman
Washington State University
Pullman, WA
This research used dry flotation REST (Relaxation Dynamics, Boulder, CO) and controlled for relaxation and guided imagery confounds present in previous research on REST enhancement of performance. In phase one, ten students enrolled in a University marksmanship class who were exposed to one hour of REST showed significantly higher accuracy scores than 10 matched classmate controls who were exposed only to one hour of relaxation training. In phase two, Bauman (1995) employed 48 university marksmanship students to compare the effects of wet flotation REST, dry flotation REST, relaxation training and control conditions. Treatment participants were exposed to one 50 minute session per week for two weeks. All participants received the same instruction in marksmanship and fired the same number of practice shots. The dry flotation REST group performed significantly better at follow-up than the marksmanship practice only control group.
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REST EFFECTS ON HUMAN PERFORMANCE
Marianne Barabasz and Arreed Barabasz
Washington State University
Pullman, WA
This comprehensive review of over twenty experimentally controlled studies begins by placing sensory deprivation research and Professor Peter Suedfeld's introduction of the term REST into historical perspective. Next, a brief theoretical basis of REST effects on human performance is described. Non-sports related research on REST effects are reviewed including complex problem solving, scientific creativity, mood states, complex psycho-motor tasks, instrument flight crew performance, signal detection, learning of chemistry and piano performance. Sports performance research includes studies involving both recreational and professional player, includes gymnastics, basketball, tennis, skiing, rifle marksmanship and darts. The research show increasing levels of sophistication and controls while demonstrating both the effectiveness and limitations of chamber, dry flotation and wet flotation REST. It is striking to note that comparability of results despite the involvement of dozens of different researchers testing REST in a wide variety of human performance tasks.
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EFFECTS OF RATIONAL-EMOTIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY AND REST ON SOCIAL ANXIETY
Patrick O'Toole and Marianne Barabasz
Washington State University
Pullman, WA
The effects of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) message and REST plus the REBT message presentation on the reduction of social anxiety was tested. Because hypnotizability has been shown to be enhanced following six hours of chamber REST (A. Barabasz, 1982), it was examined as a moderator variable for both REST and REBT. Irrational beliefs were measured using the Irrational Beliefs Test (IBT). Social anxiety was measured using the Interaction Anxiousness Scale, the Shyness Scale and a behavioral measure of individual participant's personal sense of anxiety. Participants were matched on standardized hypnotizability scores and then distributed among treatment groups to ensure that each group was equivalent. Participants were assigned to 1) REST plus REBT-derived message, 2) REBT therapy only 3) REST only or 4) a no treatment control. Following the initial series of assessments, participants spent 6 hours in the assigned condition. Both within and between group comparisons were conducted on pre-, post- and one month follow-up test scores. Post-experimental hypnotizability testing, and inquiry of general experience and imaginative involvement were conducted to check for changes in hypnotizability levels, content and adherence to treatment protocol. The results will be discussed.
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ENHANCING ROWING ERGOMETER PERFORMANCE THROUGH FLOTATION REST
Sean Richardson
University of British Columbia
The examination of the effectiveness of flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation technique (REST) as a performance enhancement tool in sport has produced positive results. However, previous studies using flotation REST to enhance gross motor performance combined the technique with imaginal practice, confounding the effect that REST-only might have on performance. Although more recent studies have examined the effects of flotation REST-only on athletic performance, they have only looked at fine motor activity. This study tested the effects of flotation REST-only on rowing ergometer performance, a gross motor activity. Furthermore, this study attempted to ascertain, through carefully constructed questionnaires, the reasons why athletes might or might not benefit from including a period of flotation REST in their training regime. Subjects (n=40) were a group of male and female, novice and varsity university rowers. Subjects were matched based on previous ergometer competition scores and then randomly assigned to either a flotation REST condition or chamber/relaxation control condition. All groups were exposed to two administrations of either one of the conditions and were pre- and post-tested on a 1000 meter rowing ergometer trial; difference scores were compared. The study also coincided with intra-team ergometer competitions, allowing the experimenter to compare scores form a source external to the study. The results are discussed in terms of which sports might benefit form flotation REST and under what conditions it may best be applied.
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ALTERED STATES: FROM FICTION TO FACT: INTRODUCING THE ALTERED WAKING STATES INDUCTION METHOD
Richard Bonk, M.Ed.
Wellness Center Etc., Inc.
Although REST has been the subject of a multitude of research studies and has been shown to be useful in clinical applications much of the public's awareness of the floatation experience stems from the movie Altered States. And, it is often in the hope of producing unique, stimulating and consciousness altering states that many people decide to float. For many individuals, floating becomes a "done that," once in a lifetime experience when they emerge from the Epsom salt waters relaxed though certainly not significantly "altered." However, many regular floaters often experience heightened states of awareness and unusual mental phenomena. In an effort to examine these unique states in a controlled setting it was important to develop a technique in which these ephemeral states could be reliably and regularly facilitated. Following is the 1) an introduction to the Alternate Waking States Induction Method (AWSIM), a technique which has proven effective in the engendering of "altered" states of consciousness in individuals while floating, 2) initial findings of AWSIM research, 3) a brief overview of significant phenomena observed with reference to categorization thereof, 4) implications and possible applications, and 5) suggestions for further research.
