Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Red light facilitates the sensed presence elicited by application of weak, burst-firing magnetic fields over the temporal lobes med./bio.

By: Meli SC, Persinger MA

Published in: Int J Neurosci 2009; 119 (1): 68-75

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To test the hypothesis that the wavelength (color) of ambient light should modulate experiences of a "sensed presence" when the right hemisphere was stimulated by weak, burst-firing magnetic fields.

Background/further details

The authors define "sensed presence" as the prototype for reports of noncorporal entities including gods, deceased family menbers and other ethereal forms. "Sensed presence" can be reliably elicited by weak magnetic fields.
30 psychology students (15 men) were either exposed or sham-exposed for 30 minutes while they sat with eyes open in either red, green or white light. The subjects were told that the study was involved with relaxation and hypnosis; the "sensed presence" was not discussed.

Endpoint

subjective experiences

Exposure

- magnetic field
- signals/pulses

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: unspecified Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min	-

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	unspecified
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 30 min

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Pulse width	3 ms
Additional info	1 burst of 239 pulses every 4 s

Exposure setup

Exposure source	solenoid
Setup	four sets of solenoids embedded in a helmet
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

No parameters are specified for this exposure.

Reference articles

Olcese J et al. (1986): Magnetic field effects on pineal gland melatonin synthesis: comparative studies on albino and pigmented rodents

Exposed system:

human
partial body: head, right temporal lobe

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

subjective experiences: questionnaire, 20 questions with 5 questions on "sensed presence" (dizziness, sensed presence, feeling detached, "information" not coming from the subject's own mind, feeling as if the person was somewhere else)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Participants under exposure reported significantly more visual sensations along the left side in red light and along the right side in green light.
The significant interaction between ambient color and the field treatment was due to the marked increase in experiences of dizziness, "sensed presence", "ego-alien" thoughts, and detachment from the body and "being somewhere else" for subjects exposed to the magnetic field while sitting in red light.
The concurrence of entopic images experienced within the upper left peripheral visual field and the sensed presence supported the hypothesis that both are associated with the intrusion of right hemispheric processes into left hemispheric awareness.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

St-Pierre LS et al. (2006): Experimental facilitation of the sensed presence is predicted by the specific patterns of the applied magnetic fields, not by suggestibility: re-analyses of 19 experiments
Persinger MA et al. (2005): A response to Granqvist et al. "Sensed presence and mystical experiences are predicted by suggestibility, not by the application of transcranial weak magnetic fields"
Larsson M et al. (2005): Reply to M.A. Persinger and S. A. Koren's response to Granqvist et al. "Sensed presence and mystical experiences are predicted by suggestibility, not by the application of transcranial weak magnetic fields"
Granqvist P et al. (2005): Sensed presence and mystical experiences are predicted by suggestibility, not by the application of transcranial weak complex magnetic fields
Booth JN et al. (2005): Increased feelings of the sensed presence and increased geomagnetic activity at the time of the experience during exposures to transcerebral weak complex magnetic fields
Persinger MA et al. (2002): Experimental facilitation of the sensed presence: possible intercalation between the hemispheres induced by complex magnetic fields