A confirmatory study of the relation between self-reported complex partial epileptic signs, peak experiences and paranormal beliefs.
D M Morneau, D A MacDonald, C J Holland
British Journal of Clinical Psychology November 1, 1996 DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1996.tb01218.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 102 |
| Population | University students |
| Topics | Mystical experience |
| Keywords | Temporal lobe Humans Epilepsy Parapsychology Psychological tests Models, psychological Adult Female |
| Key findings | Complex partial epileptic signs correlated positively with peak experiences and paranormal beliefs (r = .35 to .42), and with paranormal subscales such as precognition (r = .43), psi beliefs (r = .40), and spiritualism (r = .40). The authors state the pattern is consistent with previous research linking temporal lobe signs to paranormal and peak experiences. |
Abstract
Data obtained from a sample of 102 university students were used to calculate Pearson product moment correlations between measures of complex partial epileptic signs, peak experiences and paranormal beliefs. Significant correlations ranging from .35 to .42 (p < .001) were found between all three measures. Moreover, notable relations were obtained between complex partial epileptic signs and a number of subscales of the paranormal measure including precognition (r = .43), psi beliefs (r = .40), spiritualism (r = .40), extraordinary life forms (r = .26) and superstition (r = .22). The results are consistent with previous research linking temporal lobe signs to paranormal and peak experiences.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on mystical experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neural correlates of a mystical experience in Carmelite nuns Carmelite nuns | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| EEG activity in Carmelite nuns during a mystical experience Carmelite nuns | 2008 | Observational cohort | n = 14 |
| Neural correlates of mystical experience Vietnam veterans with penetrating traumatic brain injury and matched healthy controls | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 148 |
| The Peak Experience Variable in DPT-Assisted Psychotherapy with Cancer Patients Cancer patients | 1977 | Observational study | n = 128 |
| Psilocybin-Induced Mystical-Type Experiences are Related to Persisting Positive Effects: A Quantitative and Qualitative Report Healthy volunteers | 2022 | Observational cohort | n = 28 |