JAnom Vol. 24 (2024), No. 2
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.COMP2
Journal of Anomalistics 24-2 as PDF (10 MB)
Journal of Anomalistics 24-2 as PDF (compressed, 2,6 MB)
Journal of Anomalistics 24 (2024), No. 2, pp. 291–302
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.291
Editorial
Gerhard Mayer
Fiction, Facts and the Disenchantment of Psi
Fiktion, Fakten und die Entzauberung von Psi
PDF full text (English, pp. 291–297)
PDF full text (German, pp. 298–302)
Main Articles
Journal of Anomalistics 24 (2024), No. 2, pp. 303–322
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.303
VR Video Game-induced Psi Communication With Red and Green Ganzfeld: A Proof-of-Principle Study
Yannick Lieb, Benjamin Schult, Marc Wittmann
Abstract
In this proof-of-principle study, we intended to employ the ganzfeld psi method with two novel features. (1) We used a set of four different interactive video games randomly selected for each trial to be played in a virtual reality (VR) setting by the sender, while the receiver was wearing goggles producing either (2) a red or green ganzfeld, randomly selected. N = 48 young couples in a romantic relationship were recruited as sender-receiver pairs, resulting in 48 trials. Regarding the main confirmatory hypothesis, across all trials the experiment registered 15 hits out of 48 attempts, where the chance level lies at 12. According to a binominal test, the probability of having exactly, or more than, 15 hits (K) out of 48 trials (n) is p = .199. The receivers’ hit rates in the green as compared to the red ganzfeld were not significantly different (χ² = .814; p = .367). Assessed experiential state variables for the video game and the ganzfeld sessions as well as the measured trait variable absorption did not affect the hit rate. An analysis of participants’ responses revealed that independent of the hit rate the four games were identified as targets a strongly unequal number of times. The design of potential future studies is discussed.
Keywords
ganzfeld – VR video games – precognition – altered states of Consciousness – psi
Journal of Anomalistics 24 (2024), No. 2, pp. 323–356
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.323
The Apparatus for Meridian Identification (AMI): A Promising Electrodermal Device for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Biofield Science. Part I
Federico E. Miraglia
Abstract
This is the first part of a research work to study the reliability of the Apparatus for Meridian Identification (AMI), an electrodermal device that measures the response of acupuncture points (acupoints) located on the tips of fingers and toes. The AMI was invented by Hiroshi Motoyama, a Japanese scientist who dedicated his life to studying the bioenergetics of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) meridians. In this first part, the literature reviews on TCM and the AMI, as well as the functioning of the device, are reported. Specifically, medical and biophysical studies supporting the meridian theory are discussed, as well as biofield experiments performed with the AMI. The working of the AMI is explored, explaining in detail its parameters and their relation to the skin electrical activity. In the second part, previous reliability studies on acupoint electrodermal devices will be reviewed, supporting their use in biofield science, and comparing their characteristics and performance with those of the AMI. An original experiment will also be presented: The AMI was used on 100 healthy participants, to evaluate whether it could provide meaningful assessments of their biofield and subtle energy anatomy, in accordance with TCM principles. Results were positive, confirming the usefulness and reliability of the AMI for biofield science.
Keywords
AMI – electrodermal devices – electrodermal activity – TCM – Chi – subtle energy – biofield – biofield devices – electrophysiology – bioelectromagnetism
Journal of Anomalistics 24 (2024), No. 2, pp. 357–395
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.357
The Apparatus for Meridian Identification (AMI): A Promising Electrodermal Device for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Biofield Science. Part II
Federico E. Miraglia
Abstract
This is the second part of a research work to study the reliability of the Apparatus for Meridian Identification (AMI), an electrodermal device that measures the response of acupuncture points (acupoints) located on the tips of fingers and toes. In the first part, the literature reviews on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the AMI, as well as the functioning of the device, were discussed. In this second part, previous reliability studies on acupoint electrodermal devices are reviewed, reporting their positive findings, and an original experiment is presented, to study the performance of the AMI. The measurement variability and working of this device were investigated, evaluating its capacity to assess human bioenergetics and Chi energy activity throughout the body meridians. The experiment involved 100 healthy participants, who were measured 5 times in the same psychophysical condition: In the analysis, it was determined whether the AMI could provide informative, meaningful, and repeatable assessments of the participants’ biofield and subtle energy anatomy, in accordance with TCM principles. Results showed that the AMI parameters return accurate and valuable information about the human bioenergetic system and psychophysical status. Among the results, it was found that the Chi energy relationships between Yin and Yang meridians are consistent with those predicted by TCM, thus validating this millenary philosophy and practice. This trend is best reflected in the acupoint Before-Polarization (BP) current, compared to other electrodermal parameters, revealing its importance for subtle energy research. Considering their reliability, scientific investigations and clinical applications with acupoint electrodermal devices are encouraged.
Keywords
AMI – electrodermal devices – electrodermal activity – TCM – Chi – subtle energy – biofield – biofield devices – electrophysiologyie – Bioelektromagnetismus
Journal of Anomalistics 24 (2024), No. 2, pp. 396–426
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.396
Confirmatory Study of Anomalous Experiences in Enchanted Spaces
James Houran, Brian Laythe, Cindy Little
Abstract
This pre-registered study tested the concept of an ‘enchantment–psi loop’ via distinct immersive visits to sacred, haunted, and augmented reality environments. In particular, we specified four hypotheses based on the premise that anomalous experiences and cognitions would significantly shift by applying a Paranormal Belief × Transliminality × Enchantment formula. A vetted sample of thin-boundary participants (n = 22) organized into small tour groups completed measures of environmental features, real-time encounter experiences, enchantment levels, and a computerized test of putative psi after counterbalanced exposure to each of the three ‘enchanted’ conditions, as well as paired testing sessions within a purposely ‘disenchanted’ environment. Our hypotheses received mixed support. Consistent with predictions, participants’ scores on both encounter experiences and psi performance increased in the enchanted vs. disenchanted conditions, though situational-enchantment levels correlated positively with encounter experiences and negatively with putative psi. Participants also tended to have above-chance scores in the enchanted conditions, but many of our predicted effects did not reach statistical significance. Tangential analyses revealed that both encounter experiences and putative psi were also influenced differentially by various emotional (i. e., feelings of happiness), motivational (i. e., attentional focus), and environmental (i. e., sentimentality and presence) factors. The results lend credence to aspects of the enchantment-psi loop yet indicate the need for future research to clarify important nuances or complexities with the model that likely affect the reliability or robustness of its predictions.
Keywords
enchantment – immersive experiences – interactionism – liminality – psi
Journal of Anomalistics 24 (2024), No. 2, pp. 427–468
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.427
Alien Encounter Narratives in a Forensic Environment
Michael Bohlander
Abstract
The reluctance of the vast majority of SETI researchers to take non-repeatable personal alien encounter narratives into account is a staple trope in the alien encounter debate. However, the proof of the pudding would seem to lie in investigating the very practical consequences of the use of encounter testimony of all sorts in legal proceedings, for example, when examining how courts would react to a claim that somebody had a car accident because she was buzzed by a UFO or distracted by a sighting while driving etc. The German Federal Court of Justice in the famous “Sirius”case already had occasion to test the impact of a victim’s firmly held belief in the alien origin of a fraudster on the latter’s criminal liability. In the age of increasingly ubiquitous dashcam footage, for example, we might now even have new sources of evidence to complement the personal narrative. The paper will engage with the rules of the holistic evaluation of evidence in court proceedings and take a look at the principles of forensic witness psychology and how the interplay might influence the outcome of a case in real life. After an initial survey of past court cases involving alien encounters of any kind, it will focus on the German legal system, because trial judges there have to give extensive reasons for their judgment, there is no “black box” of secret jury deliberations, and because the author will be able to draw on his own experience as a German trial and appellate judge.
Keywords
UAP – UFO – alien encounter narratives – rules of evidence – court proceedings – forensic witness psychology
Journal of Anomalistics 24 (2024), No. 2, pp. 469–498
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.469
Erlebnisse sterbender Tiere: Parallelen zu End-of-Life-Erlebnissen beim Menschen
Rupert Sheldrake, Pam Smart, Michael Nahm
Abstract
There has recently been an increased interest in end-of-life experiences (ELEs) in humans, but ELEs in non-human animals have not yet been assessed. In this paper, we present findings from a study we performed to collect and analyze reports about remarkable behavioral aspects of animals during their last phase of life. After public appeals in which we asked for reports about ELEs in animals, we received numerous responses from pet owners. We were able to group these experiences into specific categories, which we termed the last goodbyes, last visits, last rally, retreating into solitude, unusual premonitions of death, somatic surprises, terminal lucidity in animals, and potential near-death visions in animals. We present 43 case reports pertaining to these different categories. Many of them show striking similarities to remarkable behavior reported by dying people. This similarity between animal and human ELEs might be a sign of a common physiology underpinning such experiences and could also increase the recognition that animals share an inner life similar to that of humans during all phases of life. This could lead to a more respectful treatment of pets, as well as of animals in farms, zoos, and in the wild. However, as our study was of a preliminary character and only the first of its kind, we encourage further systematic research in this field.
Keywords
animals – end-of-life experiences – near-death phenomena – terminal lucidity
Book Reviews
Journal of Anomalistics 24 (2024), No. 2, pp. 499–504
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.499
Sammelrezension:
Harald Atmanspacher, Dean Rickles (2023). Dual-Aspect Monism and the Deep Structure of Meaning
Thomas Rabeyron (2023). Codex Anomalia. De l’énigme du psi à la relation psyché-matière
Reviewed by: Marc Wittmann
Journal of Anomalistics 24 (2024), No. 2, pp. 505–510
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.505
Davide Torri, Sophie Roche (Hrsg.) (2022). The Shamaness in Asia. Gender, Religions and the State
Reviewed by: Gerhard Mayer
Journal of Anomalistics 24 (2024), No. 2, pp. 511–515
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.511
Margo deMello (2024). Bigfoot to Mothman: A Global Encyclopedia of Legendary Beasts and Monsters
Reviewed by: Meret Fehlmann
Journal of Anomalistics 24 (2024), No. 2, pp. 516–519
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.516
Jonathan Downes, Richard Muirhead (Hrsg.) (2023). CFZ Yearbook 2024/5
Reviewed by: Ulrich Magin
Journal of Anomalistics 24 (2024), No. 2, pp. 520–523
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.520
N. Cincinnati, A. Kramer, R. Poeschel (Hrsg.) (2024). Jahrbuch für Kryptozoologie
Reviewed by: Ulrich Magin
Journal of Anomalistics 24 (2024), No. 2, pp. 524–527
DOI: 10.23793/zfa.2024.524
Bruno von Flüe (2023). Gestaltordnungen der Seele. Neun astrologische Deutungen
Reviewed by: Gerhard Mayer