PHILIP E. KUBZANSKY

This chapter is concerned with experimental investigations of the
effects upon human behavior of a reduction in either absolute or
relative amounts of sensory or perceptual stimulation. Experimental
efforts to achieve such a reduction in environmental input to the
organism have been referred to in the literature by various terms, of
which the most common appear to be "sensory deprivation," "sensory
isolation," and "perceptual isolation." Although it is difficult to
distinguish between the use of these terms, an effort will be made to
examine the similarities and differences found in the growing number
of investigations in this problem area. Regardless of the differences
in descriptive terminology, these conditions have been observed to
produce marked changes in the behavior of subjects exposed to them.
These changes have included modifications in thinking, perception,
and feeling states, as well as an increase in imagery, often bizarre in
content. It is the purpose of this chapter (a) to examine briefly the
sources of interest in this problem, (b) to review the extant experi-
mental literature in order to assess the current status of knowledge

Partial assistance for the preparation of this report was provided by the Office of
Naval Research, Contract Nonr. 1866(29). The author would also like to thank R. R. Holt
and P. H. Leiderman for their critical reading of the manuscript and their many helpful
suggestions.

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