The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox in the Brain: The Transferred Potential
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Plain English Summary
Could two human brains behave like entangled quantum particles β mysteriously linked across distance? Borrowing from the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox in physics (where paired particles instantly mirror each other no matter how far apart), seven pairs meditated together then were placed in shielded, soundproof chambers 14.5 meters apart. One person received light flashes while both had brain activity recorded. In about 25% of deeply connected pairs, the unstimulated person's brain produced patterns eerily matching the other's responses. Controls showed nothing. The paper became hugely influential, inspiring at least five independent replications. Poignantly, lead author Grinberg-Zylberbaum disappeared that same year, making this his final major work.
Research Notes
Foundational paper in the 'transferred potential' paradigm that launched an entire line of EEG brain-to-brain correlation research. Directly inspired replications by Wackermann (2003), Standish (2003, 2004), Radin (2004), and Achterberg (2005), and was included in Schmidt et al.'s (2004) meta-analysis. Grinberg-Zylberbaum disappeared in 1994, making this his last major publication.
Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) correlations between human brains were investigated to test whether the brain has a macroscopic quantum component. Seven pairs of subjects meditated together for 20 minutes, then were separated into soundproof Faraday chambers 14.5 m apart. Subject A received 100 light flashes while both subjects' EEGs were recorded from occipital derivations with high-pass filtering above 12.7 Hz. In ~25% of pairs reporting successful 'direct communication,' Subject B showed 'transferred potentials' morphologically matching Subject A's evoked potentials (r = 0.70-0.93, p < 0.005). All control conditions showed no transferred potentials. Interpreted as evidence for macroscopic quantum nonlocality between correlated brains.
Links
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Precursor
Extended By
- Correlations between brain electrical activities of two spatially separated human subjects β Wackermann, JiΕΓ (2003)
- Electroencephalographic Evidence of Correlated Event-Related Signals Between the Brains of Spatially and Sensory Isolated Human Subjects β Standish, Leanna J (2004)
- Event-Related Electroencephalographic Correlations Between Isolated Human Subjects β Radin, Dean I (2004)
- Evidence for Correlations Between Distant Intentionality and Brain Function in Recipients: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis β Achterberg, J (2005)
- EEG Correlates of Social Interaction at Distance β Giroldini, William (2016)
- Experimental evidence of non-classical brain functions β Kerskens, Christian Matthias (2022)
- Evidence of Correlated Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Signals Between Distant Human Brains β Standish, Leanna J (2003)
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- Of Two Minds: Sceptic-Proponent Collaboration within Parapsychology β Schlitz, Marilyn J (2006)
- Replicable Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evidence of Correlated Brain Signals Between Physically and Sensory Isolated Subjects β Richards, Todd L (2005)
- Experimental evidence of non-classical brain functions β Kerskens, Christian Matthias (2022)
- Biological Utilisation of Quantum NonLocality β Josephson, Brian D (1991)
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π Cite this paper
Grinberg-Zylberbaum, Jacobo, Delaflor, Montserrat, Attie, Leah, Goswami, Amit (1994). The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox in the Brain: The Transferred Potential. Physics Essays. https://doi.org/10.4006/1.3029112
@article{grinberg_zylberbaum_1994_transferred_potential,
title = {The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox in the Brain: The Transferred Potential},
author = {Grinberg-Zylberbaum, Jacobo and Delaflor, Montserrat and Attie, Leah and Goswami, Amit},
year = {1994},
journal = {Physics Essays},
doi = {10.4006/1.3029112},
}