Michael Persinger

Michael A. Persinger
Born	(1945-06-26) June 26, 1945 Jacksonville, Florida
Residence	Sudbury, Ontario
Citizenship	American and Canadian
Nationality	American and Canadian
Fields	Neurotheology, Neuroscience, Parapsychology
Institutions	Laurentian University
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin University of Tennessee University of Manitoba
Known for	Director of Laurentian University's Consciousness Research Laboratory. Notable for his work in the field of neurotheology.
Notable awards	LIFT (Leader in Faculty Teaching), 2007 TVO (Ontario) Best Lecturer 2007 Laurentian University Research Excellence Award 1989 Sudbury Regional Brain Injury Association Lifetime Membership Award 2001

Michael A. Persinger (born June 26, 1945) is a cognitive neuroscience researcher and university professor with over 200 peer-reviewed publications. He has worked at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, since 1971. He is primarily notable for his experimental work in the field of neurotheology, work which has been increasingly criticized in recent years.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} In 2016, Persinger was controversially removed as the instructor of a first year psychology course. The provost at Laurentian said they objected to his asking students to sign a statement of understanding that vulgar language might be used in the class. The Laurentian University Faculty Association filed a grievance against the school for violating Persinger's academic freedom.^[6] Current and former students also protested the decision.^[7]

Early life

Michael Persinger was born in Jacksonville, Florida and grew up primarily in Virginia, Maryland and Wisconsin. He attended Carroll College from 1963 to 1964, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1967. He then obtained an M.A. in physiological psychology from the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba in 1971.^[8]

Research and academic work

Much of his work focuses on the commonalities that exist between the sciences, and aims to integrate fundamental concepts of various branches of science.^[9] He organized the Behavioral Neuroscience Program at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, integrating chemistry, biology and psychology.

Research in parapsychology

Persinger has published reports of rudimentary 'telepathic' communication between pairs of subjects in the laboratory.^[10][11] He has also published increases in remote viewing accuracy of remote viewer Ingo Swann, as measured by a group of ratings of congruence (between Swann's drawings and the locale being 'viewed') by 40 experimentally blind participants^[12] during stimulation with complex magnetic fields using a circumcerebral (around the head) eight-channel system.

Research in neurotheology

During the 1980s Dr. Persinger stimulated human test subjects' temporal lobes with an artificially-created weak magnetic field, to see if a religious state can be induced (see God helmet or Religious experience). Persinger claimed that properly tuned magnetic fields can produce the sensation of "an ethereal presence in the room". This research has received wide coverage in mainstream media, with high-profile visitors to Persinger's lab Susan Blackmore and Richard Dawkins reporting positive^[13] and negative^[14] results respectively. The evidence base Persinger's theory draws on has been criticised for being too dependent on religiosity studies of temporal lobe epileptics.^[5]

The first published attempt to replicate these effects failed to do so and concluded that subjects' reports correlated with their personality characteristics and suggestibility. They also criticised Persinger for insufficient double-blinding and argued that there was no physiologically plausible mechanism by which his device could affect the brain.^[1][15] Persinger responded that the researchers had an incorrect computer setup^[16] and that many of his previous experiments were indeed carried out double-blind.^[17] Both claims are disputed.^[2]

Other researchers succeeded in replicating^[18] the effects of one of Persinger's early studies.^[19] They reported that their experiment had ruled out suggestibility as an explanation for Persinger's effects, and that analysis of their subjects’ verbal reports revealed significant differences between those of subjects and controls, and also less robust effects for suggestion and expectation.

Commercial versions of Persinger's devices are sold by his research associate Todd Murphy. One experiment with one of them found no changes in emotional responses to photographs whether the device was on or off, although the researchers concluded that "additional investigations ... are warranted.".^[4][20] Regarding Persinger's claims, the psychologist Richard Wiseman has written they have not been replicated and the "scientific jury is unconvinced".^[21]

Geomagnetic theories

Persinger has also come to public attention due to his 1975 Tectonic Strain Theory (TST) of how geophysical variables may correlate with sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) or Marian apparitions. Persinger argued that strain within the Earth's crust near seismic faults produces intense electromagnetic (EM) fields, creating bodies of light that some interpret as glowing UFOs or The Virgin Mary. Alternatively, he argued that the EM fields generate hallucinations in the temporal lobe, based on images from popular culture, of alien craft, beings, communications, or creatures.

Persinger's claims regarding the effects of environmental geomagnetic activity on paranormal experiences have not been independently replicated and, like his findings regarding the God helmet, may simply be explained by the suggestibility of participants.^[3]

Persinger has recently proposed that changes in the Earth’s magnetic dipole moment are driving increases in carbon dioxide levels and global warming. This view has been criticized for a potential mathematical error in modeling the causal mechanism identified.^[22]

Books and publications

• Persinger, Michael (1974). ELF and VLF electromagnetic field effects. New York: Plenum Press. ISBN 978-0-306-30826-0. 
• Persinger, Michael (1974). The paranormal. New York: MSS Information Corp. ISBN 978-0-8422-5212-6. 
• Persinger, Michael (1977). Space-time transients and unusual events. Chicago: Nelson-Hall. ISBN 978-0-88229-334-9. 
• Persinger, Michael (1980). The weather matrix and human behavior. New York: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-03-057731-4. 
• Persinger, Michael (1980). TM and Cult Mania. North Quincy Mass.: Christopher Pub. House. ISBN 978-0-8158-0392-8. 
• Persinger, Michael (1987). Neuropsychological bases of God beliefs. Westport: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-275-92648-9. 
• Persinger, Michael (1988). Climate, buildings and behaviour. Winnipeg: Institute of Winnipeg. ISBN 978-0-920213-60-5. 

See also

• Electromagnetic theories of consciousness
• Neurotheology
• God helmet

References

External links

• Persinger's publications page
• Persinger's webpage at Laurentian University
• Persinger's C.V. (PDF)
• Wired Article about Persinger, July 11, 1999
• Laurentian University's Michael Persinger wins TVO's 2007 Big Ideas' Best Lecturer Competition
• BBC article on "God on brain"