Underground Knowledge — A discussion group discussion

Excerpt from GENIUS INTELLIGENCE: Secret Techniques and Technologies to Increase IQ:


In The Orphan Factory, the orphans receive some of their education in enclosed flotation tanks, also known as isolation tanks.

Floating inside isolation tanks is a type of sensory deprivation – or sendep for short – which is another genius learning technique. Sendep is achieved by reducing or completely removing stimuli from one or more senses. Certain brain glands, such as the pineal gland, are known to become more active in this state of reduced sensory perception.

Isolation tanks were invented in 1954 by American physician and neuroscientist John C. Lilly as a way to test the effects on the brain of sensory deprivation and also study the origin of consciousness itself.



Lilly proved that brainwaves are considerably altered while in this deeply relaxed state, making the floating participants very receptive to new information.

The ingredients of isolation tank sessions are simply water and salt, and the individual floats alone for about an hour inside the lightless, soundproof tank. The experience has been likened by many to being inside the womb.

Celebrities known to have used such flotation tanks include Robin Williams, John Lennon, Jeff Bridges, Joe Rogan and Susan Sarandon.

William Hurt, the star of Altered States – a 1980 feature film based on Paddy Chayefsky's novel Altered States and loosely inspired by John C. Lilly’s isolation tank experiments – is another celebrity said to have practiced sensory deprivation in his private life.

Various sports teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys have also used flotation tanks, as have Olympians such as American track star and nine-time gold medal-winner Carl Lewis.

In other posts in this genius IQ section, we mentioned how the subconscious mind can be accessed immediately when in the less common brainwaves known as alpha, theta or gamma...Well, numerous studies have shown that during floatation tank sessions a transition from everyday beta brainwaves to alpha and theta brainwaves nearly always occurs in participants. Such brainwaves are usually only accessible just before, during or after sleep – or otherwise in deep meditation.

Being in the theta brainwave is known to be extremely conducive for super learning as well as stimulating other positive interrelated effects such as problem solving, achieving emotional stability and heightened creativity.

Studies have also shown the more regularly a participant does floatation tank sessions, the longer the theta brainwaves last during a session and remain afterward.

In the early 1990’s, research conducted at Ohio State University showed that floatation sessions improve accuracy in rifle shooting, creativity in musicians and concentration in students before exams.

Research in Europe has also shown significant reductions in stress levels are achieved by regular floaters.

However, floating in isolation tanks is just one way to achieve sendep.

The raw equivalent of floatation sessions are often carried out in scientific laboratories where subjects lie in a bed in a totally dark room with no sound.

Even more basic forms of sendep can be achieved with the use of cheap items such as hoods, earplugs or blindfolds.

ok...so I thought sleep deprivation was used as a torture method...I mean...after so many hours awake...don't you complete lose your mind? of course you'd be susceptible to ideas...you wouldn't be thinking at all!!

Sleep deprivation and torture is a whole other subject
Sensory deprivation can be as simple as closing your eyes to shut off the sight sense which is scientifically proven to activate/stimulate the pineal and pituitary glands in the brain
So the goal is always a positive result on the brain and the subject always does it voluntarily
Torture like sleep deprivation obviously has a negative intent and subjects don't volunteer

ok...so then what about blind and deaf people...they have natural sensory deprivation....does that mean they will be more susceptible to this?

I kind of went out into left field before....don't know what I was thinking! see?!?!?! that's what lack of sleep does!

Not sure, but I think I've read that deaf and blind people have been shown via brain scans to have different parts of their brain activated than the average person with all 5 senses operating - almost as if their brains are compensating

However, we have a neurologist in this group - Stephen - who'd obviously know much more than I about all this

When you get a spare moment, Feel free to enlighten us all with your knowledge about these things, Stephen

but does that increase their IQ?

Well that's not quite related to sensory deprivation as a deaf person isn't deciding to shut off hearing nor is a blind person with sight. They are deprived for life of a sense, which is not the same as a temporary closing of one or more senses e.g. One hour in an isolation tank

ok...just checking that there wasn't a relationship...as there is sensory deprivation occurring. :)

It should also be noted (but not recommended!) other more extreme forms of sendep do exist. These include food deprivation, torture techniques and even methods that involve putting one’s life at risk such as breath play ... Yes, as in the BDSM technique that employs oxygen starvation to increase sexual pleasure by making other senses more sensitive.

A March 2, 2014 article published on the Listverse site listing secret habits of geniuses mentions an additional and highly unusual form of sendep.

In the article, it’s stated that Japanese inventor Dr. Yoshiro Nakamatsu (who prefers to be called Sir Dr. NakaMats) uses an obscure and dangerous sendep technique to receive ideas for his greatest inventions. That includes his revolutionary invention of the floppy disk in 1952.

“Many of his greatest ideas hit him when he was close to drowning. Dr. NakaMats believes in the mental benefits of long, airless stints underwater.

“To starve the brain of oxygen,” the article quotes Dr. NakaMats as saying, “you must dive deep and allow the water pressure to deprive the brain of blood. Zero-point-five seconds before death, I visualize an invention.”

The eccentric inventor apparently writes down his ideas on a notepad underwater before swimming back up to the surface.

wow! and here I was only thinking of sight and hearing. I never even cosidered the other sense...hunger, touch, smell...but I guess it makes snese....if you starve one of the senses, the others pick up the slack, znd the brain is affected by deprivaton of any kind....but does it increase your actual brain power? I mean if you smoke a little pot, or any other hallucinogenic drug...you could have the same "visions" as any torture...but they don't increase your IQ....they could in fact hinder your ability to learn.

Catherine wrote: "wow! and here I was only thinking of sight and hearing. I never even cosidered the other sense...hunger, touch, smell...but I guess it makes snese....if you starve one of the senses, the others p..."

My understanding is that anything that alters brainwaves and puts you in states that are scientifically proven to be conducive for learning (like floatation tanks do) should boost your IQ over time (if done regularly and combined with study).

Smoking pot, or taking any other hallucinogenic drug, in an attempt to accelerate learning is not an area I know much about sorry. Certainly nootropic drugs in the pharmaceutical arena have been shown to work (to varying degrees) for this purpose and you can read about smart drugs in this post here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Or you can watch this video here: https://www.goodreads.com/videos/7500...

But using hallucinogenic drugs or other recreational drugs for this purpose seems a bit counterintuitive in my opinion. I mean, you do hear of people getting intellectual or creative breakthroughs on such substances (especially artists), and some psychoactive drugs also apparently activate dormant brain glands or may have other little-known benefits for the mind, but in the long-term such drugs are also highly-addictive not to mention scientifically proven to cause brain abnormalities and even permanent brain damage...And damaging the brain in this way is not really a desired result for those looking to become geniuses!

Here are news articles from the Journal of Neuroscience and others reporting recent studies conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School which all show significant brain abnormalities in even casual marijuana smokers:

http://www.northwestern.edu/newscente...

http://mic.com/articles/87743/harvard...

If you want to know more about sensory deprivation and/or floatation tanks, I recommend this video here as a good starting place: https://www.goodreads.com/videos/7532...

James Morcan wrote: "In The Orphan Factory, the orphans receive some of their education in enclosed flotation tanks, also known as isolation tanks.

Floating inside isolation tanks is a type of sensory..."

It was this thread that led me to The Orphan Factory (Been dipping my toes into oceans of REST), I then forgot where I read "the orphans receive some of their education in enclosed flotation tanks", until I was invited to join this page. Nice one James.

Anon wrote: "It was this thread that led me to The Orphan Factory (Been dipping my toes into oceans of REST), I then forgot where I read "the orphans receive some of their education in enclosed flotation tanks", until I was invited to join this page. Nice one James.
..."

Thanks.
However, you might need to do more than dip your toes in to a floatation tank to notice the benefits ;)
Cheers!
J

James

By 'dipping my toes' I meant it as a metaphor for having taken the step to explore the "EXTRA" pragmatic, applied psychological and dare I say 'magickal' approaches to restricted environmental stimulation therapy.

Having said that I do not take a new agey quantum woo woo approach to REST. People's horse will be going up when I say this, but I think those who do are not doing any favors for the 'rationally rational' REST community as a whole.

So what's the longest consecutive hours you've spent in a rest tank James? I'm guessing about 7-8, given that you recognized it's worth for incorporating it into your creative 'idea space' of the orphan trilogy (at least the first book).

Anon wrote: "James

By 'dipping my toes' I meant it as a metaphor for having taken the step to explore the "EXTRA" pragmatic, applied psychological and dare I say 'magickal' approaches to restricted environmental stimulation therapy..."

I knew you were speaking metaphorically ;)
It's just that I got this mental image at the time of you only dipping your toes into a floatation tank and wondering why you weren't getting any results! Ha.

I actually did my first floatation tank session as a teen after having seen ALTERED STATES with William Hurt - and I wondered why nothing "magikal" happened like in the movie!
So at that stage I was admittedly approaching it from the quantum new agey state you mention - fortunately I've long since discarded all that mumbo jumbo and approach things rationally.

These days I'm interested in the scientific research from universities around the world that show that those who float regularly (let's call them "floaters") are more commonly in alpha and theta brain waves than the average person...which as you know are very helpful in life and are a lot less stressful than the more common beta waves most of us are in.
So I believe floaters have a big advantage in this regard.

Longest I've ever done is only 60 mins or 90 max and I don't know if it was a REST tank or not. I vaguely recall reading about REST in the past but have since forgotten what they are all about.

One of my favorite movies is Altered States which embarks on the idea of separating the conscious mind from the body through the deprivation of stimulus from the environment. The idea is that we can achieve this mind body separation by limiting the distractions that limit us from harnessing the full capacities of the conscious mind. The idea is that the conscious mind can transcend time and space and makes for some interesting comversation.

Damon wrote: "One of my favorite movies is Altered States which embarks on the idea of separating the conscious mind from the body through the deprivation of stimulus from the environment. The idea is that we c..."

I agree - great movie.
I recommend the books by John C. Lilly who I think inspired the film.

Hi James, am I mistaken (it was a long time ago) or does the author's picture look like Danny Kaye?

Laureen wrote: "Hi James, am I mistaken (it was a long time ago) or does the author's picture look like Danny Kaye?"

Danny Kaye - the name rings a vague bell - who was he again?

James Morcan wrote: "Laureen wrote: "Hi James, am I mistaken (it was a long time ago) or does the author's picture look like Danny Kaye?"

Danny Kaye - the name rings a vague bell - who was he again?"

Oh, you young puppy, you! Of course you are joking but for those who don't know he was an actor, singer, dancer and comedian of my mother's era.

Without sleep we go insane and die. Sensory deprivation allows the mind to relax and take in from the outside what exists (receptive state). Continual motion (transmittive state) is the attempt to avoid being in this condition as it blurs perception of the outside world, like noise stops you hearing the inner voice of reason: Monasteries are contemplative voids. By this I mean you have the silence and stillness to hear and see (humility) as opposed to 24/7 party people (materialists), who avoid thinking, feeling, receiving (They are the people Woody Allen referred to, who have nothing against death - just don't want to be there when it happens).

Floating Away: The Science of Sensory Deprivation Therapy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cru...

Skull and Bones and other secret societies (as well as, apparently, MK Ultra techniques) use sensory deprivation...

Harry wrote: "Skull and Bones and other secret societies (as well as, apparently, MK Ultra techniques) use sensory deprivation..."

Yup.

I found this really good documentary on the float tank [sensory deprivation]. It is really interesting to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHnbK...

Prof. wrote: "I found this really good documentary on the float tank [sensory deprivation]. It is really interesting to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHnbK..."

Watching it now!

Altered States

Fascinating subject. After watching Altered States, I read this book about flotation tanks years ago: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Cecil wrote: "Fascinating subject. After watching Altered States, I read this book about flotation tanks years ago: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5..."

Looks good, Cecil..

The Book of Floating: Exploring the Private Sea

HOW TO EXPERIENCE HALLUCINATIONS THROUGH SENSORY DEPRIVATION http://www.psychology24.org/how-to-ex...

I used to 'float' once a week, it seemed to have a similar effect to meditation at the time, does that fit with the theories about intelligence, hallucination and so on? After all, meditation has led to similar claims. Eg When I meditate, it makes my thinking clearer and calmer, which is effectively like being smarter, but I don't know if that's the same thing.

Not sure if this is connected but I like to catch myself in the pre-sleeping stage just before dozing off. In this space it is possible to direct yourself backwards and forwards over time in your life. I can get back to my time at infant school and relive certain experiences. It is also amazing what you have got in your memory, down there, names, special feelings and so on.

Wow that's amazing, John.
Does that almost feel like time travel in your mind?

Great documentary, Prof - Float Nation, thanks, just watched it. I've been reading a lot about it lately because I'm writing a romantic suspense novel in which the float tank is core.

I floated in the early 90s once and had intense "memories" I don't believe were real, but more like hypnogogia, symbolic representations.

I like to spend time in that liminal theta brainwave space anyway on a regular basis whether floating or not and just be grateful to be alive.

I have experimented with sensory deprivation for quite some time and have found it to be highly effective for heightening the mental processes; especially those involving problem solving. I was first introduced to it as a Psych major in college (early 90's) with a flotation tank. I later learned that earplugs and a tennis ball cut in half and made into a rudimentary pair of goggles to block out all light was almost as effective. The flotation tank gives you a complete disorientation as to direction or body position, which heightens the mental activity, but the earplugs and blindfold do work very well. I also experimented with combining sensory deprivation with specific stimulation as well. For example, I would block out sight, but use headphones to play white noise, sacred chants, hymns, or various types of music to see what types of mental images they would stimulate. I learned through this process that certain sounds create very specific visual images for me. For example a loud booming bass creates in my mind a large black square, while a piano solo creates a mutil-colored ribbon-like image. Horn instruments make an almost static-field look for me, like the old television screens when the signal went out. I never had an out of body experience with either the flotation tank or the sensory deprivations, but I did experience some intense mental travels.

Lance wrote: "Altered States
"

Absolutely love this movie! Never read the book...but now I will!

Monte wrote: "Absolutely love this movie! Never read the book...but now I will! "

An out-of-this-world movie, I say, Monte!
And to think that was William Hurt's first film role...Some of those long monologues he gives are incredible, especially that crazy rant he gives at the restaurant going on about things from Yoga, metaphysics, etc.

It's a movie you can see again and again and find new levels.

My newest novel is called Floating on Secrets, which will be released this year. A woman is floating in a tank thinking she's alone, seeing visions, listening to neo-psych rock. She's hallucinating her ideal man, and he's caressing her hair, and suddenly she realizes there's a man in there with her, doing just that. In the darkness she doesn't know who he is, but though he covers her mouth and he doesn't speak, his touch makes her trust him. When he runs out, she can only see his arms in the dim light.


https://www.floatingonsecrets.com/

Tantra wrote: "My newest novel is called Floating on Secrets, which will be released this year. A woman is floating in a tank thinking she's alone, seeing visions, listening to neo-psych rock. She's hallucinating..."

Sounds cool, Tantra.

Thanks, James. The beta-reader feedback has been promising.

Freud might point out such a story is the triumph of wishful-thinking over probability ...

James wrote: "Wow that's amazing, John.
Does that almost feel like time travel in your mind?"

Not so much time travel as access to forgotten experiences that make them look as if they are happening now. I reckon anyone should be able to do this. You just have to connect with the mental state just before you go into sleep and will yourself into previous periods through visual imagery. For some reason, smells are very evocative and can trigger certain memories. Best done lying on your back, face upwards.

I also read the Lilly stuff. I was most impressed by his developing telepathic communion with dolphins who came when he summoned them.

There may be a connection with the connecting up of moments of time and dolphin telepathy. When I was in the ocean in South Carolina boogie boarding, I had an experience that felt like it linked me up my timeline simultaneously. And lots of dolphins came toward me from far away and we hung out for a long time.

I had a nightdream in which a whale swam along beside me for five minutes. We looked at each other and nothing else happened. ("Hi, I am a whale. Hi, I am a human being.") I have subsequently included a whale and dolphin organisation in my will. On a camping trip in Thailand a tiger visited my tent at 2am. (I was petrified.) I have subsequently included a big cats organisation in my will.

That's beautiful!!

John wrote: "I had a nightdream in which a whale swam along beside me for five minutes. We looked at each other and nothing else happened. ("Hi, I am a whale. Hi, I am a human being.") I have subsequently inclu..."

Any room for me in your will, John?

If you take LSD and go into a sensory dep tank, as in Altered States, you may turn into a cephalopod, and become eligible, John.

Hi Lance,

Your question raises a serious point.If I left something to relatives they would only spend it on a new Toyota or a loft extension. How does the world benefit from that? I am making it plain to anyone close to me that, apart from my wife, they all get to whistle when I am vaporized in the crematorium. I am far more concerned about the planet and my leftovers go to foxes, trees and pigeons. (Goodbye, people.)

Tantra,

Cephalopod. I had to look that up. According to my memory of Lilley, the experience was a bit more than that, more akin to falling angels than rising starfish.

John wrote: "Hi Lance,

Your question raises a serious point.If I left something to relatives they would only spend it on a new Toyota or a loft extension. How does the world benefit from that? I am making it p..."

No worries John, I'll spend it wisely...in the Bahamas perhaps.