Examining the Effects of Reduced Environmental Stimulation on the Brain

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Anxiety

In brief

The studies proposed in this protocol aim to explore the anxiolytic properties of floating as it relates to the central and autonomic nervous system.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02452203

Run by

Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc.

People needed

56

Starts

2015-05-01

Expected to finish

2019-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2020-09-22

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 55. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Participants must be between 18-55 years of age, free of any current or past neurological or psychiatric illness, and capable of performing all tasks during each session of the experiment.
• They must be able to provide written informed consent and must have sufficient proficiency in the English language to understand and complete interviews, questionnaires, and all other study procedures.

You may not qualify if…

• Participant meets criteria for a DSM5 Axis-1 disorder.
• Participant endorses current suicidal ideation with intent or plan.
• Participant fails to adhere to our "Pre-float checklist".
• Participant is morbidly obese (BMI > 40).
• Certain drugs or medications consumed within the past week including any psychoactive drugs (e.g., benzodiazepines, opiates, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, dopamine agonists, barbiturates, MDMA, LSD, psilocybin, peyote, phencyclidine, ketamine). For all other medications, we require the participant to be stably medicated prior to participation (defined as having taken the medication for 6 weeks or longer).
• Participant has a history of unstable liver or renal insufficiency; glaucoma; diabetes; significant and unstable cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurologic, hematologic, rheumatologic, or metabolic disturbance; or any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would make participation not be in the best interest (e.g., compromise the well-being) of the subject or that could prevent, limit, or confound the protocol-specified assessments.
• Pregnancy as detected by a urine test.
• Non-correctable vision or hearing problems.
• MRI contraindications including: cardiac pacemaker, metal fragments in eyes/skin/body (shrapnel), aortic/aneurysm clips, prosthesis, by-pass surgery/coronary artery clips, hearing aid, heart valve replacement, shunt (ventricular or spinal), electrodes, metal plates/pins/screws/ wires, or neuro/bio-stimulators (TENS unit), persons who have ever been a professional metal worker/welder, history of eye surgery/eyes washed out because of metal, vision problems uncorrectable with lenses, inability to lie still on one's back for 60-120 minutes; prior neurosurgery; tattoos or cosmetic makeup with metal dyes, unwillingness to remove body piercings, and pregnancy.

Where it is running

• Laureate Institute for Brain Research — Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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