distant healing: intentionality and brain function in recipients using fmri analysis
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DISTANT HEALING:
Intentionality and Brain Function in Recipients
using fMRI Analysis
Jeanne Achterberg, PhD
The Marriage of Science The Marriage of Science and Spiritualityand Spirituality
• It is no exaggeration to say that the future course of history depends on the decision made by this generation as to the relationship between science and religion.
Alfred North Whitehead
Consciousness and HealingConsciousness and HealingHigh Tech EvidenceHigh Tech Evidence
• Mind/body/spirit Connections
• Human Interconnections of Consciousness
Consciousness and HealingConsciousness and HealingHigh Tech EvidenceHigh Tech Evidence
• Mind/body/spirit Connections
• Human Interconnections of Consciousness
DefinitionsDefinitions
• Distant Healing Intentionality=prayer, “energy” healing, transpersonal imagery, nonlocal healing
• Healer= someone who works with others to help them return to health
• Neurotheology=field dedicated to understanding the relationship between spirituality and the brain
Science and WisdomScience and Wisdom
• The problem with technology is that as knowledge increases, wisdom fades.
Bertrand Russell
Healing and Consciousness: Healing and Consciousness: Lines of EvidenceLines of Evidence
Substantial number of controlled studies Substantial number of controlled studies showing positive effects of prayer, showing positive effects of prayer, distant healing, healing intentions on distant healing, healing intentions on health and behaviorhealth and behavior
New Large Well-Controlled Studies: Duke and Harvard
NEGATIVE RESULTS
Larry Dossey: This type of research must be conducted in environments atnatural as possible
(Context validity)
Healing and Consciousness
• Placebo research
• Opiates, placebo responders & non-responders
Petrovik, et al. (2002)
Correlated or co-consciousness
• Twin Study (correlated EEGs)• Duane & Behrendt, 1965
• Bonded or close couples • Grinberg-Zylberbaum, 1987 (EEG)• Standish, et al., 2003 (fMRI)• Wackermann, et al., 2003 (EEG)
Neuropsychology of Mystical StatesNeuropsychology of Mystical States
• Review: Newberg & D’Aquili (2001) Why God Won’t go away.
• Kundalini/Zen, Lazar et al. (2000) fMRI
• Tibetan Monks, Newberg (2000)
Evaluation of Potential Effects of Evaluation of Potential Effects of Prayer and Healing Intention on Prayer and Healing Intention on
Brain Function, using fMRIBrain Function, using fMRI
North Hawaii Community Hospital
Bakken Foundation
Study DesignStudy Design
• Pairs of “Sender” and “Receivers”• Random intervals of experimental and
control conditions• Receiver “blind” to send/no send
conditions• Statistical comparison of experimental
and control conditions using BOLD analysis
RESULTS
• Significant findings in 9 of 11 pairs of healers and receivers of distant healing intentionality when comparing send vs. no send conditions
• Group significance in a cluster of brain areas--
P=.000127
CONSULTING INSTITUTIONS
• Univ. of Washington
• Univ. of Hawaii
• Univ. of California, Irvine
• Univ. of California, Los Angeles
• Oxford
MRI scanner
Head position of (Receiver)
Window
Healer(Sender)
13 feet distance between Sender and Receiver
Figure 1: Experimental set up showing fMRI scanner and positions of Sender and Receiver
Control Center
Scanner Operator
Peruvian / Brazilian HealingPeruvian / Brazilian Healing
#80
Surface: Positive - frontal lobeNegative - Occipital, parietal,
cerebellum
FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH
1. Could similar results be obtained from non-healers?
2.Do different types of healing yield different responses?
3.Is there a concordance of brain activity between pairs?
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