Intellectual and Perceptual Changes during Prolonged Perceptual Deprivation: Low Illumination and Noise Level

Human Factors in Long-Duration Spaceflight

“…Subjects usually performed a visual and auditory task at the same time (vigilance or discrimination), and the tasks were administered before and after seven days of sensory restriction. A significant decrement in performance was found for visual vigilance after sensory deprivation (Zubek et al, 1961) and for both visual and auditory vigilance after perceptual deprivation (Zubek et al, 1962). Contrariwise, subjects immobilized for 24 h were significantly better in visual vigilance (as compared with ambulatory controls) and auditory vigilance (as compared with recumbent controls) (Zubek and MacNeill, 1966).…”

“…In one of the later McGill studies , it was reported that depth perception deteriorated in some subjects but tended to improve in others, also that size constancy was significantly impaired. Later studies, many of which have employed more severe deprivation conditions, have failed to show any significant changes in depth perception or size constancy (Vernon et al, 1959(Vernon et al, , 1961aFreedman and Greenblatt, 1960;Freedman et al, 1961;Schwitzgebel, 1962;and Zubek et al, 1961and Zubek et al, , 1962and Zubek et al, , 1964band Zubek et al, , 1966. Zubek (I 964b) failed to detect any significant changes in depth perception and in size constancy after 14 days of perceptual deprivation, the longest deprivation period employed in any of these studies.…”

“…Some of the most definitive work reflecting adverse effects of isolation and perceptual deprivation on color discrimination has been done by Zubek and his colleagues. After seven days of social isolation and severe perceptual deprivation in which subjects lay on their backs in an enclosed chamber, wore translucent goggles, and listened to white noise, Zubek et al (1962) found color discrimination, as measured by the Farnsworth-Munsell IOO-Hue Test, to be markedly impaired. The preisolation and postisolation difference scores derived from the color discrimination test differed significantly between the deprived subjects and two different control groups, one of which was totally unconfined and the other of which lay on pads for a week but without social and perceptual deprivation.…”

“…Vernon and McGill (l96l) reported an increase in pain sensitivity (electrical shock applied to earlobe) as a result of four days of sensory deprivation. On the other hand, Zubek et al (1962) reported a decrease in pain sensitivity as measured by the "time method" (applying 100-150 mcal/cm 2 /sec to skin and measuring the latency of pain response) as a result of seven days of perceptual deprivation. On the basis of these two studies, it may be concluded tentatively that sensory and perceptual deprivation result in increase and decrease in pain sensitivity, respectively.…”

“…Unfortunately, no details are given on the types of exercises and diet that were employed." A few studies in the U.S. literature also suggest that prior deprivation experiences may serve a protective function against both EEG and behavioral deficits (Leiderman, 1962;Zubek et al, 1962).…”