Abstract
Context Despite a large literature on psi, which encompasses a range of experiences including putative telepathy (mind–mind connections), clairvoyance (perceiving distant objects or events), precognition (perceiving future events), and mind–matter interactions, there has been insufficient focus on the brain in relation to this controversial phenomenon. In contrast, our research is based on a novel neurobiological model suggesting that frontal brain systems act as a filter to inhibit psi and that the inhibitory mechanisms may relate to self-awareness. Objective To identify frontal brain regions that may inhibit psi. Design We used mind–matter interactions to study psi in two participants with frontal lobe damage. The experimental task was to influence numerical output of a Random Event Generator translated into movement of an arrow on a computer screen to the right or left. Brain MRI was analyzed to determine frontal volume loss. Results The primary area of lesion overlap between the participants was in the left medial middle frontal region, an area related to self-awareness, and involved Brodmann areas 9, 10, and 32. Both participants showed a significant effect in moving the arrow to the right, i.e., contralateral to the side of primary lesion overlap. Effect sizes were much larger compared to normal participants. Conclusions The medial frontal lobes may act as a biological filter to inhibit psi through mechanisms related to self-awareness. Neurobiological studies with a focus on the brain may open new avenues of research on psi and may significantly advance the state of this poorly understood field.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 76-85 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Explore |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- anomalous cognition
- frontal lobes
- mind–matter interactions
- parapsychology
- psi filter
- self-awareness
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Analysis
- Nursing(all)
- Chiropractics
- Complementary and alternative medicine
Cite this
Mind–Matter Interactions and the Frontal Lobes of the Brain : A Novel Neurobiological Model of Psi Inhibition. / Freedman, Morris; Binns, Malcolm; Gao, Fuqiang; Holmes, Melissa; Roseborough, Austyn; Strother, Stephen; Vallesi, Antonino; Jeffers, Stanley; Alain, Claude; Whitehouse, Peter; Ryan, Jennifer D.; Chen, Robert; Cusimano, Michael D.; Black, Sandra E.
In: Explore, Vol. 14, No. 1, 01.01.2018, p. 76-85.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Mind–Matter Interactions and the Frontal Lobes of the Brain
T2 - A Novel Neurobiological Model of Psi Inhibition
AU - Freedman, Morris
AU - Binns, Malcolm
AU - Gao, Fuqiang
AU - Holmes, Melissa
AU - Roseborough, Austyn
AU - Strother, Stephen
AU - Vallesi, Antonino
AU - Jeffers, Stanley
AU - Alain, Claude
AU - Whitehouse, Peter
AU - Ryan, Jennifer D.
AU - Chen, Robert
AU - Cusimano, Michael D.
AU - Black, Sandra E.
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - Context Despite a large literature on psi, which encompasses a range of experiences including putative telepathy (mind–mind connections), clairvoyance (perceiving distant objects or events), precognition (perceiving future events), and mind–matter interactions, there has been insufficient focus on the brain in relation to this controversial phenomenon. In contrast, our research is based on a novel neurobiological model suggesting that frontal brain systems act as a filter to inhibit psi and that the inhibitory mechanisms may relate to self-awareness. Objective To identify frontal brain regions that may inhibit psi. Design We used mind–matter interactions to study psi in two participants with frontal lobe damage. The experimental task was to influence numerical output of a Random Event Generator translated into movement of an arrow on a computer screen to the right or left. Brain MRI was analyzed to determine frontal volume loss. Results The primary area of lesion overlap between the participants was in the left medial middle frontal region, an area related to self-awareness, and involved Brodmann areas 9, 10, and 32. Both participants showed a significant effect in moving the arrow to the right, i.e., contralateral to the side of primary lesion overlap. Effect sizes were much larger compared to normal participants. Conclusions The medial frontal lobes may act as a biological filter to inhibit psi through mechanisms related to self-awareness. Neurobiological studies with a focus on the brain may open new avenues of research on psi and may significantly advance the state of this poorly understood field.
AB - Context Despite a large literature on psi, which encompasses a range of experiences including putative telepathy (mind–mind connections), clairvoyance (perceiving distant objects or events), precognition (perceiving future events), and mind–matter interactions, there has been insufficient focus on the brain in relation to this controversial phenomenon. In contrast, our research is based on a novel neurobiological model suggesting that frontal brain systems act as a filter to inhibit psi and that the inhibitory mechanisms may relate to self-awareness. Objective To identify frontal brain regions that may inhibit psi. Design We used mind–matter interactions to study psi in two participants with frontal lobe damage. The experimental task was to influence numerical output of a Random Event Generator translated into movement of an arrow on a computer screen to the right or left. Brain MRI was analyzed to determine frontal volume loss. Results The primary area of lesion overlap between the participants was in the left medial middle frontal region, an area related to self-awareness, and involved Brodmann areas 9, 10, and 32. Both participants showed a significant effect in moving the arrow to the right, i.e., contralateral to the side of primary lesion overlap. Effect sizes were much larger compared to normal participants. Conclusions The medial frontal lobes may act as a biological filter to inhibit psi through mechanisms related to self-awareness. Neurobiological studies with a focus on the brain may open new avenues of research on psi and may significantly advance the state of this poorly understood field.
KW - anomalous cognition
KW - frontal lobes
KW - mind–matter interactions
KW - parapsychology
KW - psi filter
KW - self-awareness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85034619682&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85034619682&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.explore.2017.08.003
DO - 10.1016/j.explore.2017.08.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 29169779
AN - SCOPUS:85034619682
VL - 14
SP - 76
EP - 85
JO - Explore
JF - Explore
SN - 1550-8307
IS - 1
ER -