The solar wind and hallucinations—A possible relation due to magnetic disturbances

Abstract

Data from the 19th century on hallucinations and magnetic disturbances were found to exhibit a direct and statistically significant correlation. The aa magnetic index over the period 1868-89 and concurrent visual hallucinatory activity were found to co-vary (Spearman coefficient = .64; P less than .05). Magnetic influences on the pineal hormone, melatonin, are suggested as a possible source of variation.

Sudden unexpected death in epileptics following sudden, intense, increases in geomagnetic activity: Prevalence of effect and potential mechanisms

“…Intense subjective experiences, the phenomenology of which are very similar to the hallucinations sometimes accompanying paroxysmal activity within the subcortical (amygdaloid-hippocampal) portions of the temporal lobes (Horowitz and Adams 1970), are also more likely to occur when daily average antipodal (aa) indices (Mayaud 1973) for perturbations in the geomagnetic field exceed 20 to 30 nT (Persinger 1988;Randall and Randall 1991). Above this threshold pharmacological treatment for status limbic epilepticus in rats has been shown to be less effective (Bureau and Persinger 1992).…”

Increased Feelings of the Sensed Presence and Increased Geomagnetic Activity at the Time of the Experience During Exposures to Transcerebral Weak Complex Magnetic Fields

“…Apparitions were also more likely to have been reported to occur during periods of increased global geomagnetic activity (Persinger, 1988;Randall & Randall, 1991). Similar experiences, those accompanying the feeling of a sensed presence, can be evoked by surgical stimulation of the mesiobasal and cortical regions of the temporal lobes (Horowitz & Adams, 1970).…”

Effects of geomagnetic activity and atmospheric power variations on quantitative measures of brain activity: Replication of the Azerbaijani studies

“…Geomagnetic activity has been correlated moderately (r = 0.4-r = 0.6) with multiple inferences of cerebral electrical lability, such as epileptic seizures (Rajaram and Mitra, 1981), visual (bereavement) hallucinations (Persinger, 1988;Randall and Randall, 1991) and electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns (Booth et al, 2005). Ictal activity and correlative visual hallucinations have been experimentally produced by transcerebral application of weak physiologically-patterned magnetic fields (Persinger et al, 2000).…”