Anomalous Experiences, Psi, and Functional Neuroimaging
⚡ ContestedPlain English Summary
If you scan someone's brain while another person tries to influence them telepathically, does anything show up? By 2013, six studies had tried this. This sharp review dismantles them one by one. Five of six reported psi-consistent results; only Moulton and Kosslyn (2008) found nothing. Sounds impressive -- but the authors flag serious recurring problems: poor counter-balancing, bad randomization, inadequate information shielding, and tiny samples. After this forensic look, only two studies pass muster. One found psi-consistent results; the other didn't. The honest takeaway? Neuroimaging evidence for psi is too flawed to support firm conclusions. Notably, co-author Rabeyron later published a major broader critique of psi evidence, placing this review within a pattern of careful skeptical scholarship.
Research Notes
Critical methodological review of fMRI psi studies. IMPORTANT: This paper was mis-attributed to Watt et al. in the original catalog — actual authors are Acunzo (Edinburgh), Evrard (Strasbourg), and Rabeyron (Nantes). Rabeyron later published a major psi evidence critique (rabeyron_2020_most). The 5 fabricated catalog authors (Watt, Dawson, Tuber, Gyollai, Tressoldi) appear to be from a different paper. Edited by Cardena, reviewed by John Palmer.
Opinion article reviewing six functional neuroimaging studies testing the psi hypothesis: Standish et al. (2003), Richards et al. (2005), Achterberg et al. (2005), Venkatasubramanian et al. (2008), Bierman & Scholte (2002), and Moulton & Kosslyn (2008). Five of six reported psi-consistent results; only Moulton & Kosslyn (2008) reported null results. Identifies four categories of methodological weaknesses: inadequate counter-balancing, improper trial randomization, insufficient information shielding, and small sample sizes. Concludes that only Bierman & Scholte (2002) and Moulton & Kosslyn (2008) are methodologically sound, and no firm conclusions about psi can be drawn from the neuroimaging corpus.
Links
Related Papers
Critiques
- Evidence of Correlated Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Signals Between Distant Human Brains — Standish, Leanna J (2003)
- Electroencephalographic Evidence of Correlated Event-Related Signals Between the Brains of Spatially and Sensory Isolated Human Subjects — Standish, Leanna J (2004)
- Evidence for Correlations Between Distant Intentionality and Brain Function in Recipients: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis — Achterberg, J (2005)
- Replicable Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evidence of Correlated Brain Signals Between Physically and Sensory Isolated Subjects — Richards, Todd L (2005)
Companion
- Using Neuroimaging to Resolve the Psi Debate — Moulton, Samuel T (2008)
- Searching for Neuronal Markers of Psi: A Summary of Three Studies Measuring Electrophysiology in Distant Participants — Hinterberger, T (2010)
- Neuroimaging during Trance State: A Contribution to the Study of Dissociation — Peres, Julio Fernando (2012)
Also by these authors
When the Truth Is Out There: Counseling People Who Report Anomalous Experiences
A Preregistered Multi-Lab Replication of Maier et al. (2014, Exp. 4) Testing Retroactive Avoidance
Feeling the Future: A Meta-Analysis of 90 Experiments on the Anomalous Anticipation of Random Future Events
More in Methodology
Paranormal belief, conspiracy endorsement, and positive wellbeing: a network analysis
Planning Falsifiable Confirmatory Research
Addressing Researcher Fraud: Retrospective, Real-Time, and Preventive Strategies — Including Legal Points and Data Management That Prevents Fraud
Quantum Aspects of the Brain-Mind Relationship: A Hypothesis with Supporting Evidence
Paranormal beliefs and cognitive function: A systematic review and assessment of study quality across four decades of research
📋 Cite this paper
Acunzo, David J, Evrard, Renaud, Rabeyron, Thomas (2013). Anomalous Experiences, Psi, and Functional Neuroimaging. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00893
@article{acunzo_2013_neuroimaging_psi,
title = {Anomalous Experiences, Psi, and Functional Neuroimaging},
author = {Acunzo, David J and Evrard, Renaud and Rabeyron, Thomas},
year = {2013},
journal = {Frontiers in Human Neuroscience},
doi = {10.3389/fnhum.2013.00893},
}