God helmet

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The God helmet was developed by Stanley Koren and neuroscientist Michael Persinger to study creativity and the effects of subtle stimulation of the temporal lobes.[1] The apparatus, placed on the head of an experimental subject, generates very weak fluctuating magnetic fields. These fields are approximately as strong as those generated by a land line telephone handset or an ordinary hair dryer, but far weaker than that of an ordinary refrigerator magnet and approximately a million times weaker than transcranial magnetic stimulation. The magnetic fields generated by the God helmet are far too weak to penetrate the cranium and influence neurons within. [2]

The only attempt at replication published in the scientific literature reported a failure to reproduce Persinger's effects and the authors proposed that the suggestibility of participants, improper blinding of participants or idiosyncratic methodology could explain Persinger's results. [3] The theoretical basis for the God helmet, especially the connection between temporal lobe function and mystic experiences, has been questioned. [2]

Richard Dawkins had the device tested on him; appearing in the BBC science documentary series Horizon. He did not have a 'sensed presence' experience, but instead felt at times 'slightly dizzy', 'quite strange' and had sensations in his limbs and changes in his breathing. Persinger explained Dawkins's limited results in terms of his low score on a psychological scale measuring temporal lobe sensitivity. [4]

Persinger and colleagues also developed a device nicknamed "The Octopus" which uses solenoids around the whole brain, in a circle just above subject's ears. Persinger’s research associate Todd Murphy, and he reports that his devices are able to modulate emotional states in addition to enhancing meditation and generating altered states. An experiment found no change to emotional perception what so ever but said further investigation was required. [5]

Versions of the device were found being worn by the members of Aum Shinrikyo responsible for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack. [6]

[edit] References

  1. Ruttan, L. A., Persinger, M. A. & Koren, S. (1990). "Enhancement of Temporal Lobe-Related Experiences During Brief Exposures to MilliGauss Intensity Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields". Journal of Bioelectricity 9 (1): 33–54.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Craig Aaen-Stockdale (2012). "Neuroscience for the Soul". The Psychologist 25 (7): 520–523.
  3. Granqvist, P; Fredrikson, M; Unge, P; Hagenfeldt, A; Valind, S; Larhammar, D; Larsson, M (2005). "Sensed presence and mystical experiences are predicted by suggestibility, not by the application of transcranial weak complex magnetic fields". Neuroscience Letters 379 (1): 1–6
  4. From BBC Two: God on the Brain
  5. Gendle, MH & McGrath, MG (2012). "Can the 8-coil shakti alter subjective emotional experience? A randomized, placebo-controlled study.". Perceptual and Motor Skills 114 (1): 217–235.
  6. Can We Be Good Without God?: Biology, Behavior, and the Need to Believe; Robert Buckman; page 92
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