Remote Viewing with the Artist Ingo Swann: Neuropsychological Profile, Electroencephalographic Correlates, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Possible Mechanisms

Abstract

In the present study, the artist Ingo Swann, who helped develop the process of remote viewing (awareness of distant objects or places without employing normal senses), was exposed during a single setting of 30 min. to specific patterns of circumcerebral magnetic fields that significantly altered his subjective experiences. Several times during subsequent days, he was asked to sit in a quiet chamber and to sketch and to describe verbally distant stimuli (pictures or places) beyond his normal senses. The proportions of unusual 7-Hz spike and slow wave activity over the occipital lobes per trial were moderately correlated (rho=.50) with the ratings of accuracy between these distal, hidden stimuli and his responses. A neuropsychological assessment and Magnetic Resonance Imaging indicated a different structural and functional organization within the parieto-occipital region of the subject's right hemisphere from organizations typically noted. The results suggest that this type of paranormal phenomenon, often dismissed as methodological artifact or accepted as proofs of spiritual existence, is correlated with neurophysiological processes and physical events. Remote viewing may be enhanced by complex experimentally generated magnetic fields designed to interact with the neuromagnetic "binding factor" of consciousness.

Extrasensory Perception and the Brain Hemispheres: Where Does the Issue Stand Now?

“…When the experiments possibly confounded by methodological issues and concerns about claimant deception (see Notes 7 & 8) are removed from consideration, the results of at least seven experiments (Alexander et al, 1998;Don et al, 1990, Exp. 1;Fenwick et al, 1985;Kelly et al, 1978;Kelly and Lenz, 1976;Persinger et al, 2002;Roll et al, 2002) continue to indicate a possible right hemispheric contribution. The most consistent findings seem to come from experiments with Sean Lalsingh Harribance (Alexander et al, 1998;Kelly et al, 1978;Kelly and Lenz, 1976;Roll et al, 2002).…”

“…EEG examinations of the reported remote viewing ability of another psychic claimant, Ingo Swann, were made by Persinger et al (2002). Swann had become particularly well-known for his success in remote viewing studies conducted in the 1970s (Puthoff and Targ, 1976;Puthoff, 1977/2005), and in two test sessions, he was asked to remote view concealed photographs located in another room, or distant geographic locations being visited by two experimenters.…”

Experimental Evidence of Superposition and Superimposition of Cerebral Activity Within Pairs of Human Brains Separated by 6,000 Km: Central Role of the Parahippocampal Regions

“…This is the band that both our theory (Buzsaki, 2002) and the most common correlate for spontaneous cases of remote viewing (Persinger et al, 2002) would predict. In general, one would not expect current shifts associated with such a narrow band from either induction or resonant interactions from applied fields.…”

Investigating paranormal phenomena: Functional brain imaging of telepathy

“…Previous studies have employed other functional brain mapping techniques such as Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)[8] and electroencephalography (EEG) and MRI[9] to investigate paranormal phenomena in selected individuals. In our study, telepathy was associated with significant activation of the right parahippocampal gyrus; whereas the control subject without telepathic ability, activated the left inferior frontal gyrus under similar task conditions.…”

“…The recipient demonstrated significant brain activations in the anterior and middle cingulate areas, precuneus, and the frontal regions. [7] Previous studies[89] examining subjects with telepathic ability suggested an association of paranormal phenomena with the right cerebral hemisphere. It has been reported that correlated neural signals may be detected by fMRI in the brains of subjects who are physically and sensorily isolated from each other.…”