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Permalink Reply by Loop Johnny on December 6, 2010 at 11:11am

Hmm. I am skeptical about this. However, I think the helmet might cause a feeling of relaxation. Electromagnetic induction transforms the electromagnetic field of the helmet into electrical signals into the brain, messing it up a little. With some control you can aim certain spots of the brain to relax it.

Also, Dawkins got relaxed by this but because he wasn't a believer he didn't associate the experience with god. Please point us with the Swedish Psychologist experiment so we can validate it. If not, Persinger's result is valid.

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Permalink Reply by Full name on August 20, 2011 at 12:03am

Persinger's response to the Swedish experiment is here:

http://www.innerworlds.50megs.com/The_God_Helmet_Debate.htm

There's always to two sides to a story.

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Permalink Reply by Martha Everett on December 7, 2010 at 4:12am

Ah well thanks for enlightening me everyone. It seemed like a great study but the previous participants weren't shown on the documentary, only Richard Dawkins. I thought it might be a bit suspicious when it didn't work on him but I wanted to believe it... I'm ashamed to admit!

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Permalink Reply by Martha Everett on December 7, 2010 at 8:12am

It does seem plausible, it would have to be a very well designed study to prove it either way. When you're dealing with studies in perception it must be monstrously hard to get clear data. I would love to see more research on this.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Minion on August 20, 2011 at 7:49am

When meditating there is a release of endorphins in the brain that would explain the feelings that people have.

It can also be produced with music. I could see where there could be a possibility that Persinger's helmet would trigger that same release of endorphins.

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