From: UFO UpDates - Toronto <ufoupdates.nul>
Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 07:33:36 -0500
Fwd Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 07:33:36 -0500
Subject: Magnetism Does Not Cause Paranormal Experiences




Source: News-Medical.Net...

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=6732

12-007-04


Magnetism Does Not Cause Paranormal Experiences

Previous research has shown that paranormal experiences can be
achieved via electromagnetic stimulation of the temple lobe. Now
scientists from Uppsala and Lund universities in Sweden are
calling into question how the experiments were set up and
therefore questioning the results. Their study involving
identical magnetic field equipment produced no such
relationship.

Previous research has reported that as many as 8 out of 10
individuals have religious or paranormal experiences when their
brain's temporal lobe has been exposed to ultra weak, complex
magnetic fields. Study participants have experienced a sensed
presence of a sentient being, although the participant has been
sitting all by him- or herself. Many participants have made
religious interpretations of the sensed presence.

A conclusion that could be drawn from these findings is that
religious experiences can be easily accomplished through
electromagnetic stimulation of the temporal lobe. Accordingly,
these sensational results have been given wide media attention.
Such a magnetic field stimulator can also be purchased on the
Internet. However, in the previous studies, it is unclear if
participants and experimenters have known about research
questions and experimental conditions, which is referred to as
experimental "blindness".

For an experiment to yield credible results, it should be
"double-blind". In this context, this means that neither the
participant, nor the experimenter that interacts with him or
her, knows whether the participant belongs to the experimental
condition (magnetic fields activated) or control condition (no
magnetic fields activated). The reason for this methodological
rule is that any differences between the groups may otherwise
have been caused by some irrelevant factors. For instance,
participants in the experimental condition may unconsciously
have been treated in such a way that the experiences have been
induced for other reasons than the magnetic field exposure.

In a joint project, researchers from Uppsala and Lund
University, Sweden, performed a double-blind experiment to test
if results from previous studies could be reproduced.
Approximately 90 undergraduate students in theology and
psychology participated in the study. The magnetic field
apparatus utilized was identical to that used in previous
studies. Results showed that the magnetic fields did not cause
religious or paranormal experiences. However, highly suggestible
individuals had paranormal experiences to a larger extent, but
this had nothing to do with the magnetic fields.

Paranormal experiences were particularly pronounced among
participants with personality traits indicating openness to
shifts in consciousness and a new age lifestyle orientation.
Hence, our results show that the sensational conclusions about
the effects of magnetic field exposure that were drawn in
previous studies should be questioned.

http://www.uu.se/



[UFO UpDates thanks http://www.anomalist.com & Richard Hendricks
 for the lead]