The Neurochemistry of Psi and Associated Processes
- Dr. David Luke and Prof. Harris Friedman
Mysterious Minds
Symposium: The Neurobiology of
Psychics, Mediums and other Extraordinary People 2008 Annual
Convention of the American Psychological Association, Boston, USA - 14th-17th August, 2008
This paper will focus on the use of psychoactive drugs in inducing
experiences of anomalous cognition and other ostensibly paranormal experiences
and investigate what might be learned, if anything, about the neurochemistry of
such experiences. It will briefly review the empirical research in this area
and critically evaluate a number of nascent neurochemical models that attempt
to underpin the possible neurochemistry of certain ostensibly paranormal
experiences, such as ESP (clairvoyance, telepathy or precognition), out of body
experiences, near-death experiences, and mediumship.
Most of the published research on this topic has been conducted within
the field of parapsychology and has been largely confined to psychedelic and
euphoric agents, as few other psychoactive drugs have been reported to induce
paranormal-type experiences. There exist a number of direct experimental
attempts to induce ESP with such drugs and these will be critically evaluated
along with the available survey data. Historical, anthropological, psychiatric
and psychotherapeutic reports also add some valuable phenomenological data to
this debate. The few extant neurochemical models of paranormal experience will
be critically evaluated in light of the parapsychological and neurochemical
evidence available. Criticisms of previous research, suggested improvements,
and speculations for further areas of research and means of testing these
models will also be proposed.