Our brains are always working with the world around us. Our senses, though we don’t notice, are always being overloaded.
Think about all the “hustle and bustle” we are immersed in daily-all the noises, smells, sights, and even our sense of feeling and touch. The brain is always processing these inputs non-stop, even while we are asleep.
Now imagine how your brain would react if there was no sensory input-no noise, no sound, no touch, and no images. This is where the sensory deprivation tank comes in.
A sensory deprivation tank, also known as an isolation tank, is a lightless, soundproof tank containing salt water heated to body temperature, 98° F. Once you climb inside and close the hatch, you are engulfed in darkness, and because of the combination of high buoyancy of the water in addition to its temperature being the same as the surface of your skin, once you lay back to float you feel as if you are floating in space.
The brain, in the absence of having sensory input to process, enters a full psychedelic state. The benefits to this state are countless. Most noticeably, the brain is able to enter a state in which the brainwaves transition from beta to theta. In this state the brain becomes much more prone to enhanced creativity and problem solving.
The more a person uses an isolation tank, the longer his or her theta state becomes. Aside from their being an exceptional form of meditation and deep thought, isolation tank research conducted in Sweden has demonstrated that sensory deprivation tanks are great for stress and pain as well.
The only downside to isolation tanks is their lack of availability. They are relatively unknown for the most part, so finding a spa that uses them is difficult.
For anyone interested in trying an isolation tank or researching more about them, check out www.gravityspa.com. Located an hour north of Cincinnati, Gravity Spa has plenty of information as to “what is flotation,” as well as schedules and pricing.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025