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Dark Cognition: Evidence for Psi and its Implications for Consciousness

Dark cognition A brief history Belief in psi Mainstream view of psi Prevailing view of consciousness Outline Useful online resources References Psi as science The nature of science Epistemological glasses Paradigms of science Science as a process Scientific evidence Testimonial/anecdotal evidence Case study Experimental evidence Occam’s razor vs Occam’s broom Extraordinary evidence Methodological issues Experimenter effects Inconsistent results Replication issues Replication - what is it and why do it?Replication - is it always possible?Replication - types Replication - failures Deception and/or fraud Is deception/fraud possible?Evidence of fraud File drawer effect Overview Reflective questions References Telepathy and scopaesthesia Telepathy Crisis telepathy Early lab studies of telepathy Twin telepathy Dream telepathy Ganzfeld Immersive virtual reality Communication Telephone SMS/text Email Physiology EEG fMRI Autonomic response Scopaesthesia Direct staring Remote staring Staring and physiology Mediating factors Target Distance Feedback Belief and ability Behavioural characteristics Emotional closeness Geomagnetic field fluctuations Overview Reflective questions References Clairvoyance and remote viewing Clairvoyance Clairvoyance as a distinct aspect of psi Testing for clairvoyance Evidence for clairvoyance Mediating factors Feedback Psi ability Targets Judging Remote viewing Types of remote viewing Project Stargate Evidence Evidence for ARV Mediating factors Experience/training Targets Distance and shielding Feedback Single vs multiple Overview Reflective questions References Precognition Precognition Precognition as the only form of psi Experimental research Retroactive facilitation Unexplained anticipation Precognitive preference/avoidance Precognitive priming Presentiment Dream precognition Non-human animal precognition Mediating factors Theories of precognition Multiphasic model of precognition (MMPC)Consciousness induced restoration of time symmetry (CIRTS)Block universe model Overview Reflective questions References Psychokinesis Psychokinesis Macro PK Spirit manifestations Rhine's lab and dice Exceptional individuals Spinning PK detectors Micro PK Schmidt's lamps Use of RNG and REG devices Animal micro PK Direct mental influence on living systems (DMILS)Physiological effects Remote helping Animal behaviour Mediating factors Mechanisms of PK Overview Review questions References Fields of consciousness The noosphere The global consciousness project (GCP)Field REG/RNG studies GCP Evidence for GCP Terror and tragedy Religion and ritual Concern and compassion Celebrations Mediating factors Distance Size of the event Emotive response Timing The Maharishi effect (ME)Evidence for the Maharishi effect Reductions in crime International conflict Reduced mortality Influencing factors Time Size and experience Potential confounds Mechanisms Selection model Field model Holographic model Overview Reflective questions References Energy healing Subtle energy healing Types of energy healing Johrei Reiki Therapeutic touch Prayer Conscious intention Prevalence and demographics Evidence Human physical Human psychological Non-human animal studies In-vitro studies Mediating factors Repetition of sessions Skill/experience of healer Mechanisms Placebo Biological mechanisms Psychological mechanisms Subtle energy Overview Reflective questions References Out of body experiences What is an OBE?Characteristics of the OBE Physical experiences Sensory experience Vividness Control Number of OBEs Duration Demographics Prevalence Conditions Individuals Experimental research Detecting the OBE subtle body Veridical reports from an OBE Psychophysiological profile Induced OBE Explanations Psychological Reduced proprioceptive input Lucid dreaming Altered model of reality Dissociation and absorption Neurological Abnormal TPJ Projection Need for a multi-etiological approach Implications Overview Reflective questions References Near-death experiences A near-death experience (NDE)Phenomenology of the NDE Classification of the NDE Prevalence of NDEs Demographics Cultural influence Situations Evidence of an NDE The NDEs of children Veridical perceptions during an NDE Perceptions not possible during consciousness NDE meetings Explanations Neurological Cerebral anoxia Temporal lobe activation/dysfunction Neurochemical reactions Massive cortical disinhibition Psychological Expectation Depersonalisation Timing of the NDE Motivated fantasy Survival of consciousness Implications Overview Useful online resources Reflective questions References Post death phenomena After death communications Categories of ADC Demographics and prevalence Experients of an ADC Frequency of an ADC Occurrence of ADC Impact of ADC Evidence for ADC Explanations for ADCs Neurological abnormality Hallucinations Extraordinary experiences Mediumship Profile of a medium Types of mediumship Proxy sittings Discarnate directed Drop-in communicators Xenoglossy Cross-correspondences Laboratory based investigations into mediums Psychophysiological research Lab-based sittings/readings Contemporary research Explanations Electronic voice phenomena (EVP)History of EVP Characteristics of EVP Evidence Explanations of EVP Contamination Radio interference Auditory pareidolia Psychokinesis Discarnate entities Overview Reflective questions Websites References Implications for consciousness Reflections on the evidence for psi Accounting for psi in terms of consciousness Defining consciousness Consciousness is the brain Accounting for psi A paradigm shift Consciousness is fundamental Accounting for psi Interacting with the field of consciousness Issues regarding the wider field of consciousness Implications of the wider field of consciousness Conclusion Review questions References

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