Posted: May 03, 2012 7:55 am
Interesting post Chris.
If Wiseman's environmental factors hypothesis is correct it should be possible to turn almost any location into a 'haunted' location by reproducing those factors. If that doesn't work it eliminates those factors.
Magnetic effects on temporal lobes and associated sense of presence has possibly been shown experimentally, but, irrc, at much higher field strength.
I'd be a bit more concerned about having a non-blind present during a trial.
If Wiseman's environmental factors hypothesis is correct it should be possible to turn almost any location into a 'haunted' location by reproducing those factors. If that doesn't work it eliminates those factors.
Magnetic effects on temporal lobes and associated sense of presence has possibly been shown experimentally, but, irrc, at much higher field strength.
wikipedia wrote:One published attempt to test Persinger's theories regarding the psychological effects of environmental magnetic fields, used whole-body exposure to magnetic fields and ultrasound in freely-moving participants to create a "haunted room" within which it was hoped subjects would sense a "presence." The study found that reports of unusual experiences were uncorrelated with the presence or absence of "complex" environmental eletromagnetic fields similar to Persinger's. Reports of unusual experiences were however, predicted by the personality characteristics and suggestibility of participants
I'd be a bit more concerned about having a non-blind present during a trial.