Mystical experiences can be studied in a controlled laboratory setting. A review of previous methods highlights problems with certain approaches, leading to a new experimental paradigm. In a study using this paradigm, participants reported experiences with high authenticity based on subjective ratings, interview descriptions, and data collected three months later. The experiences had lasting effects on memory and attribution, demonstrating that at least some forms of mystical experience are amenable to controlled investigation. The findings indicate the viability of an experimental approach to mysticism, with prospects and limitations discussed.
In a field study at a Dutch festival, 193 participants were led to believe a placebo brain stimulation device (the God Helmet) could induce mystical experiences. Participants reported a range of extraordinary experiences, including out-of-body sensations, involuntary movements, and sensing invisible beings. Self-identified spiritualism predicted these experiences, but neither objective nor subjective alcohol intoxication increased susceptibility to the suggestion. The authors discuss methodological limitations that may explain the lack of an alcohol effect and explore the God Helmet's usefulness for studying extraordinary experiences.
Praying during Sahaja Yoga Meditation deactivates the bilateral thalamus and reduces activity in frontal brain regions, including the medial prefrontal cortex, compared to secular speech tasks. These neural patterns suggest that prayer in this tradition involves inner concentration and diminished social judgment or mentalizing, distinguishing it from Christian praying practices that engage social cognition. The study scanned sixteen experienced Sahaja Yoga Meditation practitioners using functional MRI while they performed formalized and improvised prayers and matched secular tasks.