Telepathy

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Are you thinking what we're thinking?

Telepathy is the alleged transfer of information between individuals' minds without any apparent detectable connection (physical, electronic, electromagnetic). Despite considerable testing, "telepathic" individuals have been unable to show true telepathy.

Several governments have studied telepathy with the intention of either using it as a secure means of communication or as a method of obtaining information by "reading minds".

Telepathic mind-reading has often been performed as a stage act. Many telepaths simply use suggestive questions to put ideas in the mind of their subjects (as demonstrated by Derren Brown in numerous performances).

Science fiction stories have used telepathy as a plot device countless times, but quite often it is electronically aided. The modern cell phone comes pretty close to doing the job.

Research into brain function, using either introduced probes or external detectors, to control electronic devices is seen by some as foreshadowing telepathy.[1] [2]

[edit] A simple explanation?

In some cases, people may well think the same thing, due to the same external influences. For example, if one takes a busload of people on a trip through the countryside, it is likely that the individuals will share thoughts about fields, farms, livestock etc later in the day. This accounts for twins' "telepathy", as they are often raised in the same environment, with the exact same influences and many shared experiences.

Confirmation bias also accounts for why people remember apparent "telepathy" and coincidence, but not the numerous examples to the contrary.

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. Interview with a techno-enabled telepathy believer.
  2. http://www.mindhacks.com/blog/2009/05/us_military_pours_mi.html
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