Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42657182›Full record

ArticleNeuroscience of consciousness2026

Aquahenosis: a non-pharmacological altered state of consciousness induced by floatation-REST in individuals with anxiety and depression.

Theo Tobel, Aidan Cone, Emily Choquette, McKenna Garland, Micah A Johnson, Keller Mink, Caitlin Lynch, Joel Frohlich, Justin S Feinstein, Nicco Reggente and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neuroscience of consciousness, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Theo TobelInstitute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, 2811 Wilshire Blvd #510, Santa Monica, CA 90403, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6621-9211
Aidan ConeInstitute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, 2811 Wilshire Blvd #510, Santa Monica, CA 90403, United States.
Emily ChoquetteLaureate Institute for Brain Research, 6655 S Yale Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136, United States.
McKenna GarlandLaureate Institute for Brain Research, 6655 S Yale Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136, United States.
Micah A JohnsonInstitute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, 2811 Wilshire Blvd #510, Santa Monica, CA 90403, United States.
Keller MinkLaureate Institute for Brain Research, 6655 S Yale Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136, United States.
Caitlin LynchInstitute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, 2811 Wilshire Blvd #510, Santa Monica, CA 90403, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7788-2513
Joel FrohlichInstitute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, 2811 Wilshire Blvd #510, Santa Monica, CA 90403, United States.
Justin S FeinsteinFloat Research Collective, 1254 S. Kihei Rd #1423, Kihei, Hawaii 96753,  United States.
Nicco ReggenteInstitute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, 2811 Wilshire Blvd #510, Santa Monica, CA 90403, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0511-9962
Sahib KhalsaLaureate Institute for Brain Research, 6655 S Yale Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136, United States.

Funding

Investigating Flotation-REST as a novel technique for reducing anxiety and depressionR34AT009889 · NCCIH · LAUREATE INSTITUTE FOR BRAIN RESEARCH · PI KHALSA, SAHIB · 2018 to 2020
$728k
NCCIH NIH HHS R34 AT009889
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy) systematically alters the balance of sensory signals reaching the brain by combining neutral buoyancy, thermal and proprioceptive neutrality, attenuation of exteroceptive stimulation, and enhancement of cardiorespiratory signaling. Here we examined whether this non-pharmacological sensory perturbation induces altered states of consciousness and whether specific experiential dimensions are statistically related to changes in affect. In a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled feasibility trial, 75 treatment-seeking adults with anxiety and depression were assigned to six sessions of Floatation-REST with prescribed scheduling, Floatation-REST with preferred scheduling and duration, or a zero-gravity chair comparison condition. Altered states of consciousness were assessed using the 5-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale, alongside measures of interoceptive awareness and affect. Compared to the chair condition, Floatation-REST was associated with increased interoceptive awareness of cardiorespiratory sensations and an altered state of consciousness characterized by Oceanic Boundlessness, Disembodiment, and Experience of Unity-a pattern we refer to as "

Indexed as

Altered StatesEmbodimentStates of Consciousness

Identifiers

PMID42657182
PMCPMC13513766

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.