Psi Experiences Research Articles

Medicine, Money, and Media: A Case Study of How the Covid-19 Crisis Corrupts Disclosure and Publishing Ethics

The trickster concept has been proposed as a useful description of paranormal phenomena in response to nine decades of inconsistent experimental results and the inability to develop sustained practical applications of psi. However, the trickster of mythology is too diverse and ambiguous for scientific research. The term ‘psi-trickster’ is used here to refer to an active factor that makes psi effects inconsistent and unsustainable but can be investigated scientifically. My transition from optimism about psi experiments to reluctantly accepting the psi-trickster is described. The primary purpose of this essay is to describe strategies and options for research given the apparent psi-trickster. Strategies for dealing with the psi-trickster include: (a) hope that continued experimental research will overcome it; (b) accept the far-reaching implications of the usual assumptions for psi experiments and develop models of unconscious conflicting psi influences by many different people; (c) investigate the possibility that reliable psi effects occur in rare conditions, such as after many years of intense meditation practice; (d) propose physics-based models; and (e) consider that factors other than the motivations of living persons may be involved. Experimental psi research has the ultimate goal of converting psi to technology. Like other technologies, the most advanced development will be for military uses and for corporate profits. Spontaneous psi experiences tend to inspire a sense of meaning in life and a belief that the person’s life is watched over, similar to mystical and near-death experiences. The psi-trickster characteristics prevent psi from being converted to technology and preserve its mysterious, mystical aspects. An in-depth investigation is needed to understand how paranormal beliefs and experiences affect a person’s life and society as a whole. This is the first step in investigating the psi-trickster characteristics and should include the distribution of beliefs in the population for the full spectrum from skeptics to proponents.

Coming to Terms With the Psi-Trickster

The trickster concept has been proposed as a useful description of paranormal phenomena in response to nine decades of inconsistent experimental results and the inability to develop sustained practical applications of psi. However, the trickster of mythology is too diverse and ambiguous for scientific research. The term ‘psi-trickster’ is used here to refer to an active factor that makes psi effects inconsistent and unsustainable but can be investigated scientifically. My transition from optimism about psi experiments to reluctantly accepting the psi-trickster is described. The primary purpose of this essay is to describe strategies and options for research given the apparent psi-trickster. Strategies for dealing with the psi-trickster include: (a) hope that continued experimental research will overcome it; (b) accept the far-reaching implications of the usual assumptions for psi experiments and develop models of unconscious conflicting psi influences by many different people; (c) investigate the possibility that reliable psi effects occur in rare conditions, such as after many years of intense meditation practice; (d) propose physics-based models; and (e) consider that factors other than the motivations of living persons may be involved. Experimental psi research has the ultimate goal of converting psi to technology. Like other technologies, the most advanced development will be for military uses and for corporate profits. Spontaneous psi experiences tend to inspire a sense of meaning in life and a belief that the person’s life is watched over, similar to mystical and near-death experiences. The psi-trickster characteristics prevent psi from being converted to technology and preserve its mysterious, mystical aspects. An in-depth investigation is needed to understand how paranormal beliefs and experiences affect a person’s life and society as a whole. This is the first step in investigating the psi-trickster characteristics and should include the distribution of beliefs in the population for the full spectrum from skeptics to proponents.

ʻIT IS ALL SO STRANGELY INTERTWINEDʼ: A DISCUSSION BETWEEN HANS BENDER AND CARL GUSTAV JUNG ABOUT SYNCHRONICITY (1960)

Hans Bender, German parapsychologist and professor at the Freiburg University, met with C. G. Jung on December 8, 1960. The discussion was recorded, and the transcribed version is available here for the first time in English. A key aspect of our article is a description of the phenomenon of synchronicity based on Hans Bender’s concrete experiences during a drive through Switzerland to an Eranos Conference in Ascona and further on to the Côte d’Azur for a workshop of the Parapsychology Foundation in August 1960. At the same time, his mother suffered a stroke, which caused her death shortly afterward. Bender was returning to Freiburg at the time when she died. He was familiar with the stages of his return trip from earlier trips. He had intensely emotional experiences at certain places, which he, in retrospect, interpreted as synchronistic in connection with his mother’s death. KEYWORDS C.G. Jung, Hans Bender, Synchronicity, Psi experiences.

Is Psi a Synchronization of Reciprocal Resonate Actions? Telepathy, and Intuition, as Examples

This paper suggests a hypothesis about the nature “Psi”; psychical experience. The suggested hypothesis concluded from rational logical introduction and related studies, as well. By inductive methodology, concluded from this paper that we are all linked to coherent neural networks that work in synchronized and reciprocal way. Our mirror neurons resonate and synchronize actions to join us with the whole, at anytime, anywhere, causing communication obviously noticed in Psi experiences. This communication happens when we have massive, urgent need with no ability to feed by regular ordinary daily common ways.

Psi and Anomalous Experiences in Susan Hiller’s Oeuvre

Psi and Anomalous Experiences in Susan Hiller’s Oeuvre

Subjective Forms of Spontaneous Psi Experiences

Subjective Forms of Spontaneous Psi Experiences

Subjective Forms of Spontaneous Psi Experiences

Subjective Forms of Spontaneous Psi Experiences

Studying Individual Psi Experiences

Studying Individual Psi Experiences

Studying Individual Psi Experiences

Studying Individual Psi Experiences

Ensuring Homogeneous Data Collection for Present and Future Research on Possible Psi Phenomena by Detailing Subjective Descriptions, Using the Multi-Axial A to Z SEATTLE Classification

Spontaneous apparently anomalous are often inappropriately bundled together based on brief common descriptions. Yet, they may be phenomenologically and etiologically distinct. Consequently, heterogeneous results lead to mistaken pooling of dissimilar events, incorrect implying single etiologies, though actually reflecting different phenomenological types (e.g., “out-of-body experiences” induced by brain stimulation in epileptic patients compared with spontaneous events in “subjective paranormal experients”). This paper attempts to motivate researchers to apply detailed multi-axial evaluations of spontaneous, experimental and induced anomalous experiences. It presents a new “Subjective Experience of Anomalous Trait Typology Evaluation (SEATTLE)” classification. Modeled on the American Psychiatric Association’s successful multi-axial Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) psychopathology classification, the SEATTLE applies 26 detailed phenomenological descriptive levels (A-Z) (Specific, General and Interpretative subclassifications).The same valuable approach can be successfully applied to consciousness studies, parapsychological research, and to all or objective spontaneous, induced, or experimental biopsychophysical phenomena. This implies a conceptual shift away from the attempted, and at times, impossible objectification of parapsychological phenomena (or psi), to the detailed analysis of specific characteristics and events based on detailed multisystems of ethicobiopsychofamiliosociocultural, anatomicophysiological, and biopsychophysical models that allow for applying detailed criteria and descriptions. This non-prejudicial approach of examining spontaneous and experimental subjective paranormal / psi experiences (SPEs) makes ostensible but unverified psi phenomena and relative non-local consciousness easier to tame and far less threatening. The shift in emphasis is from objectification and verification of paranormal phenomena to commonalities of, e.g., specific cerebral function. Locating a correlative brain area or mechanism or chemical for processing of such becomes a legitimate alternative correlative approach to conceptualize psi. By such means, SPEs, such as those involving hallucinations, delusions, deja vu, and temporal lobs symptomatology can be measured and scientifically phenomenologically subtyped. This detailing of anomalistic psychology research, has allowed the author to extend the discipline of parapsychology from the objective approach into a related discipline, phenomenological parapsychology.

Geophysical variables and behavior: XCVIII. Ambient geomagnetic activity and experiences of "memories": interactions with sex and implications for receptive psi experiences.

During 96 nonsequential days over a 3-yr. period, a total of 53 men and 86 women were exposed only once for 30 min. to transcerebral, weak complex magnetic fields while they sat alone within a quiet chamber. They were asked to record the frequency of specific experiences after the exposure was completed. There was a significant interaction between sex and global geomagnetic activity for the incidence of experiences attributed to memories. Women reported more experiences attributed to "childhood memories" when geomagnetic activity was less than 20 nT, while men reported more of these experiences when the activity was more than 20 nT. Re-analyses of a database of "paranormal experiences" reported by 395 separate individuals over a 100-yr. period indicated that more men than women reported "precognitive experiences" on days the geomagnetic activity was above 20 nT while women reported such experiences if the geomagnetic activity was below 20 nT. These results suggest that these experiences, be they veridical or illusory, may be influenced by global geomagnetic activity that affect the neuroelectrical or neurochemical processes associated with memory consolidation or the attribution of the serial order of experiences during retrieval.

Geophysical Variables and Behavior: LXXI. Differential Contribution of Geomagnetic Activity to Paranormal Experiences concerning Death and Crisis: An Alternative to the Esp Hypothesis

A total of 621 reports (experienced over an approximately 70-year period) of putative psi experiences concerning death or crisis were differentiated according to traditional labels: telepathic, precognitive, and postmortem phenomena. The 232 telepathic experiences occurred during 24-hour periods in which the global geomagnetic activity was significantly less (quieter) than during the days before or after the experiences; this relationship was not displayed by the 186 precognitive or 203 postmortem cases. Key day differences in geomagnetic activity for the three classes of experiences were equivalent to a correlation of about 0.35. Although content analysis suggests that nocturnal psi experiences and temporal lobe epilepsy may share a similar mechanism, different classes of subjective psi experiences may not be affected by the same stimuli.

Average diurnal changes in melatonin levels are associated with hourly incidence of bereavement apparitions: support for the hypothesis of temporal (limbic) lobe microseizuring.

Transient suppressions of nocturnal melatonin levels due to enhanced geomagnetic activity have been suggested as the precipitating source of experiences of postmortem (bereavement) apparitions when the brain has been sensitized (grief) by elevations of the epileptogenic neuropeptide, corticotrophin-releasing factor. Although the hourly incidence of subjective experiences of telepathy, precognition, and bereavement apparitions were all significantly correlated with published indices of hourly melatonin levels, only the significant association between melatonin levels and apparitions was not changed when the other two classes of psi experiences were held constant.

Elevated, Specific Temporal Lobe Signs in a Population Engaged in Psychic Studies

We tested the hypothesis that a special population of people who maintain exotic beliefs and report frequent subjective psi experiences should display more frequent temporal lobe signs and symptoms. Clusters of items, that reflect various temporal lobe factors for 20 women who were actively (greater than 1 year) involved with a local psychic and spiritual development group, were compared to items for an age-matched reference group (n = 61). T-scores for the reference group did not differ from those of the normal population. Whereas the psychic group did not differ from the reference group on various control and psychiatric measures, mean T-scores on clusters that infer complex partial epileptic signs (specifically a sense of presence, olfactory experiences, and intense meaning) ranged between 65 and 70. Group affiliation explained 22 to 50% of the variance for each of these variables; with discriminant analysis, they correctly classified 95% of both groups of participants.

Temporal lobes signs and Jungian dimensions of personality.

Phenomenological experiences that suggest temporal lobe lability were correlated with Jungian personality (Myers-Briggs) indicators. People with frequent temporal lobe indicators were more intuitive than sensing and more perceiving than judging; in the more general population temporal lobe indicators were also weakly associated with feeling rather than thinking. Students who were actively engaged in a drama class also displayed more frequent temporal lobe signs than psychology students. The data are commensurate with the hypothesis that the relationship between belief in psi phenomena, psi experiences, and specific cognitive styles is derived from a temporal lobe lability factor.

TEMPORAL LOBES SIGNS AND JUNGIAN DIMENSIONS OF PERSONALITY

Phenomenological experiences that suggest temporal lobe lability were correlated with Jungian personality (Myers-Briggs) indicators. People with frequent temporal lobe indicators were more intuitive than sensing and more perceiving than judging; in the more general population temporal lobe indicators were also weakly associated with feeling rather than thinking. Students who were actively engaged in a drama class also displayed more frequent temporal lobe signs than psychology students. The data are commensurate with the hypothesis that the relationship between belief in psi phenomena, psi experiences, and specific cognitive styles is derived from a temporal lobe lability factor.

Geophysical Variables and Behavior: LII. Decreased Geomagnetic Activity and Spontaneous Telepathic Experiences from the Sidgwick Collection

All cases ( n = 93) of putative subjective psi experiences that contained the day, month, and year of occurrence were determined from the 1922 Sidgwick collection. Multivariate analysis of variance for telepathic experiences concerning death and crisis ( n = 43), telepathic experiences concerning more mundane events ( n = 28) and experiences (case controls) involved with temporal discrepancies ( n = 22) showed that only telepathic experiences concerning death and crisis occurred on days when the geomagnetic activity was significantly less than the 3 days before or the 3 days after the experiences. The other two classes of cases did not demonstrate this effect. The V-shaped pattern in geomagnetic activity was similar to that found in the Gurney-Podmore-Myers collection (1868 through 1886) and the Fate collection (1920 through 1980) as well as the strongest Maimonides experimental dream telepathy cases.

Geophysical Variables and Behavior: XLIII. Negative Correlation between Accuracy of Card-Guessing and Geomagnetic Activity: A Case Study

A single subject who had a history of multiple PSI experiences was given 23 sessions of 40 symbol-guessing trials per session over a 4-mo. period. Accuracy scores were correlated with the geomagnetic activity (Ap) on the days of the testing. A moderately strong negative correlation was found between the scores and the geomagnetic activity. These results are compatible with those reported for subjective psi experiences.

Temporal lobe signs: positive correlations with imaginings and hypnosis induction profiles.

Converging evidence suggests there should be a relationship between reports of subjective psi experiences, suggestibility, the capacity for imagining, and temporal lobe signs. An entire class ( n = 27) of university students was given the Personal Philosophy Inventory (which contains an indicator of temporal lobe signs) and the Wilson-Barber Inventory of Childhood Memories and Imaginings. The subjects were also evaluated individually on the hypnosis induction procedure (HIP) from Spiegel. There were positive intercorrelations (0.40 to 0.60) between responses on the imaginings, temporal lobe, and suggestibility measures. Clusters of control items for mundane psychological and proprioceptive experiences were not related to imagining, temporal lobe signs or suggestibility. Although temporal lobe signs were correlated with responses to items about paranormal experiences from both the Wilson-Barber and PPI inventories (and were highly correlated with each other), they were not associated with suggestibility. We concluded that, although subjective psi experience may not be influenced by suggestibility, it was associated with the propensity for temporal lobe signs which is frequently associated with the report of psi experiences.

Temporal lobe signs and reports of subjective paranormal experiences in a normal population: a replication.

Correlations (r = 0.50) were found between the numbers of different psi (paranormal) experiences and the numbers of temporal lobe signs within a population of university students (n = 99). The strongest correlation of 0.60 occurred with a cluster of signs that are similar to symptoms reported by patients who show chronic foci in the mesiobasal temporal lobe. However, there were no significant correlations between numbers of different psi experiences and clusters of control items or a lie scale. Specific analyses of the 140 items of the inventory indicated only 23 reached statistical criterion (p less than .001). Of these 17 were direct temporal lobe signs that implied deepened affect, auditory-vestibular experiences (vibrations, hearing one's name called), olfactory auras, perseveration ("forced" thinking), depersonalization, and sense of the personal. Five items involved beliefs about exotic phenomena or philosophical ideas. Only one item was from a control cluster. These results support the hypothesis that mystical or paranormal experiences are associated with transient electrical foci within the temporal lobe of the human brain. The repeated occurrence of these experiences within normal individuals may be embedded within a more complex symptomatology of temporal lobe signs.