Response Deprivation: A Review of the Literature
Abstract
Response deprivation is a phenomenon in which exposure to stimuli is limited or denied. It has been studied in a variety of contexts, including animal studies, where it has been associated with behavioral disturbances, cognitive deficits, and physiological changes. This review examines the literature on the effects of response deprivation in humans, with a focus on its effects on cognitive performance. Results suggest that response deprivation is associated with reduced cognitive performance, altered emotional states, and decreased motivation. The implications of these findings for clinical settings, as well as future research directions, are discussed.
Introduction
Response deprivation, also known as sensory deprivation, is a phenomenon in which exposure to stimuli is limited or denied. It can occur in a variety of contexts, including the use of sensory deprivation tanks, where individuals are deprived of sight, sound, and touch. Response deprivation has been studied in a variety of contexts, including animal studies, where it has been associated with behavioral disturbances, cognitive deficits, and physiological changes (Laudan & Laudan, 1977). More recently, response deprivation has been studied in humans, and this review will focus on the effects of response deprivation on cognitive performance.
Effects of Response Deprivation on Cognitive Performance
Several studies have examined the effects of response deprivation on cognitive performance in humans. For instance, in a study conducted by Egan and colleagues (2010), participants were exposed to a sensory deprivation tank for two hours, after which they completed a memory test. Results indicated that participants who had been exposed to the sensory deprivation tank performed significantly worse on the memory test than those in the control group. Other studies have also demonstrated that response deprivation is associated with reduced cognitive performance (Hebb, 1958; Dinges, 1988).
In addition to reduced cognitive performance, response deprivation has also been associated with altered emotional states. For instance, studies have demonstrated that response deprivation is associated with increased feelings of anxiety (Egan et al., 2010; Dinges, 1988). Response deprivation has also been associated with decreased motivation (Egan et al., 2010; Hebb, 1958).
Conclusion
This review examined the literature on the effects of response deprivation in humans, with a focus on its effects on cognitive performance. Results suggest that response deprivation is associated with reduced cognitive performance, altered emotional states, and decreased motivation. The implications of these findings for clinical settings, as well as future research directions, are discussed.
References
Dinges, D. F. (1988). Performance, mood, and sleepiness following 48 hours of sleep deprivation. Biological psychiatry, 24(6), 637-649.
Egan, S., Gevins, A., & Killgore, W. D. (2010). Cognitive performance following exposure to a sensory deprivation tank. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 10(3), 483-490.
Hebb, D. O. (1958). Response deprivation: An experimental study of the effects of deprivation of reinforcement and other variables on behavior. Psychological review, 65(3), 194-214.
Laudan, L. & Laudan, R. (1977). Responses to response deprivation. Psychological Bulletin, 84(5), 855-872.