Experimental Production of Illusory (False) Memories in Reconstructions of Narratives: Effect Size and Potential Mediation by Right Hemispheric Stimulation from Complex, Weak Magnetic Fields

Abstract

This experiment was designed to discern the proportion of false, inferential and verbatim memories that would be included in the reconstruction, one week later, of a 5 min narrative containing ambiguous but emotional content about a little boy. After 48 subjects were administered Spiegel's Hypnosis Induction Profile, they listened to the narrative, were exposed to one of four applications of transcerebral weak, complex magnetic fields for 30 min and then given either an accurate or inaccurate short summary of the story. One week later the group who received the erroneous summary reported more false memories about the original story than did the reference group; this treatment accommodated about 40% of the variance in numbers of false memories. Only an indicator of electrical lability within the temporal lobes (but not hypnotizability) was strongly associated with the numbers of inferential memories but not the numbers of false memories. The group that received transcerebral stimulation over the right hemisphere by a complex magnetic field and the erroneous summary reported three times the numbers of false memories compared to the other groups. Whereas verbatim memories showed a strong primacy effect inferential memories exhibited a strong recency effect (eta(2) =.66).

Enhanced Power within a Predicted Narrow Band of Theta Activity During Stimulation of Another by Circumcerebral Weak Magnetic Fields After Weekly Spatial Proximity: Evidence for Macroscopic Quantum Entanglement?

“…A right hemispheric origin would allow information obtained without left hemispheric awareness (Persinger, 1985) to affect or create specific types of memories that could be represented within the constraints of the left hemispheric processing (Healey and Persinger, 2000). The particular involvement of specific right hemispheric processes, particularly those related to the limbic system (Vinogradova, 1975) may be relevant because of their apparent enhanced sensitivity to very subtle changes in activity of the earth's magnetic field within which human beings are immersed and potentially interconnected (Persinger, 1983).…”

Geophysical Variables and Behavior: XCVIII. Ambient Geomagnetic Activity and Experiences of “Memories”: Interactions with Sex and Implications for Receptive Psi Experiences

“…However, weak (1 microTesla) complex magnetic fields whose structures imitate patterns that enhance long-term potentiation in the hippocampus, have been shown to affect the consolidation of memory in rats (McKay, et al, 2000) and human beings (Rchards, et al, 1996;Healey & Persinger, 2001). If we assume rise times of 1 msec., peak strengths of 1 microTesla, and conductances of 50 ohms through the extracellular matrix, then the electric currents induced within 10 cm of tissue would occur within the range of nanoamps, or, with brief focalization, microamps.…”

“…This model suggests that a narrow band condition exists, which we have suggested may centrally involve the dorsal hippocampal commissure, through which this information can be transferred from one hemisphere to another (Healey & Persinger, 2001) without the involvement of the usual neocortical processes coupled with "awareness." Once this information has been "transferred" through the dorsal hippocampal commissure, the reconstruction of the experience would have strong features of a "memory" but with the visual richness and emotional significance of a dream.…”