Introduction
After reflecting on the comments and debate regarding my recent blog titled - Are Psychics Misunderstood or Fraudulent? For members who did not read this blog it was about how fraud is having a serious impact on the paranormal market and whether the introduction of effective scientific evidence based testing and monitoring for paranormal practitioners and better government legislation would help eradicate these practices. Although there are many claims from parapsychologist that ESP (extra sensory perception) exists in society scientists argue their research methods are flawed because results cannot be repeated by other independent parties. While some sections of the paranormal community may argue that science does not have the right tools to identify ESP. In this blog I will be discussing a new scientific method that offers parapsychologists and scientists a new way to study ESP that avoids the pitfalls of past approaches.
Historical Background
From a historical context where did it prophecy and divination start? Well Astrology was perhaps the first divination system based on the celestial bodies (Sun, Moon and planets of our solar system) which was developed by the Chaldeans priests around 6,000 BC. Clay tablets show that around 3800BC they were able to create accurate measurements of the Sun and Moon. However, evidence of lunar phases which were carved on animal bones date back as far as 16,000 BC well before the development of agriculture in 10,000BC+.
The first prophecy divination dates back to 8BC. A priestess called Pythia known as the Oracle of Delphi delivered the prophecies by inducing vapours rising from what could be described as a seismic ground rupture in the rock surface. From the past to the present day prophecies have been interwoven within the human psyche across different cultures worldwide. So it seems strange that in the technological age of the 21st century we have not been able to interrogate ESP scientifically?
The Challenges
The scientific community is a main barrier to successful research because so many scientists already show bias against psychic phenomena. For example a survey by the National Academy of Sciences (1990) found that only 2% of participants thought that psychic abilities had been scientifically demonstrated, with another 2% thinking that the phenomena happened sometimes. With 96% against it seems a tall order to gain satisfactory results from the scientific community. However, there may be light at the end of the tunnel. In January 2011 it was reported on ABC news that well know psychologist Daryl Bern from Cornell University found prove that ESP exists. His ESP Study was even published in a scientific journal. In his study he used a computer programme testing 1000 subjects over an eight year period. 53% demonstrated the ability to perceive things correctly before they happened which is 3% above chance. Although this might seem a small percentage it is still significant. This is a step in the right direction but are there new technologies that would create a bench mark or standard for ESP scientific testing.
Is fMRI – Neuro-imaging the answer?
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used mainly in hospitals. They are sophisticated electronic scanners which use very powerful magnets to create images of what is happening inside our body. This technology has opened new doors for medicine and has provided a new tool for neuroscience to study the brain. If we work with the assumption that all human experience mediates from the brain then there should be some sort on neurological pattern or activity triggered within the brain when someone is experiencing ESP. Now I know some psychics may think that this limits their gift to normal brain activity and that there might be another reason which is at the moment unexplained. However we have to start somewhere, so why not with the brain – even if it is a process of elimination. This technological innovation has helped to develop sophisticated techniques for psychologists and neuroscientists. For example in the past it has been difficult to classify the level of empathy in individuals and was dependent on questionnaires design. This led to unreliable research outcomes as they were based on subjective responses. For example psychopaths who have a zero level of empathy could be found to have normal levels of empathy when completing a questionnaire. However by using fMRI techniques neuroscientists are now able to discover people’s level of empathy accurately by inducing physical pain and the use of imagery while participant’s brains are being scanned. What is most interesting is that psychopaths cannot deceive this methodology and are classified as having zero levels of empathy. At present fMRI is being used for many different commercial practices from understanding how people react to advertising, films and television programmes as well identifying the reasons behind various medical conditions.
Biello. D (2007) Searching for God in the Brain used fMRI techniques to discover where religious feelings come from by testing Nuns, Buddhists and other people of faith. Some scientists speculate that religious feelings may arise from unusual electrical activity in the brain’s temporal lobe.
Ok this is all interesting stuff but has there been fMRI studies regarding ESP? Yes - Moulton and Kosslyn (2008) from Harvard University. Their results were published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience (summary of findings). Although the study provides the strongest evidence yet obtained against the existence of ESP. It does not conclusively prove that ESP does not exist. Moulton said “Perhaps most important, this study offers scientists a new way to study ESP that avoids the pitfalls of past approaches”.
Based on this recent innovation in ESP research I really believe that fMRI holds the answers to revealing scientific evidence that ESP exists - whether it is contained within our brain or through some other source or mechanism connected to our body.
Sources:
Daryl Bern (2011) Cornell University
Mouton & Kosslyn (2008)
Campion. N. (1989) An introduction to the history of astrology, Faculty of Astrological Studies, London
Biello. D (2007) Searching for God in the Brain, Scientific American, Mind. Vol 18, Number 5 October/November 2007, New York, USA
Parker.J, Parker.D (2001) Parkers Astrology, Dorling Kindersley, London, England
National Academy of Sciences Survey (1990)
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