Papers by Luciano Pederzoli
This study reports the results of a confirmatory experiment testing the hypothesis that it is pos... more This study reports the results of a confirmatory experiment testing the hypothesis that it is possible to detect coincidences of a sequence of events (silence-signal) of different length, by analyzing the EEG activity of two human partners spatially separated when one member of the pair receives the stimulation and the second one is connected only mentally with the first. Seven selected participants with a long friendship and a capacity to maintain focused mental concentration, were divided into two groups located in two different laboratories approximately 190 km apart. Each participant acted both as a "stimulated" and as a "mentally connected" member of the pair for a total of twenty sessions overall. The offline analysis of EEG activity using a special classification algorithm based on a support vector machine, detected the coincidences in the sequence of events of the stimulation protocol between the EEG activity of the "stimulated" and the "mentally connected" pairs. Furthermore the correlation of the power spectra of the five EEG frequency bands between each of the twenty pairs of data was analyzed using a bootstrap procedure. The overall percentage of coincidences out of 88 events was 78.4% and the statistically significant average correlations between the EEG alpha and gamma bands among the pairs of participants, which confirmed the results observed in a pilot study, support the hypothesis that it is possible to connect two brains and hence two minds at distance.
The evidence of after-death survival of human consciousness according to the winners of the Bigelow contest: a scientific examination
The aim of this study was to examine the strength of scientific evidence, reproducibility and rep... more The aim of this study was to examine the strength of scientific evidence, reproducibility and replicability of the 29 essays of the winners of the Bigelow contest.Six essays (20.5%) were included in the category with the high strength of scientific evidence. Four essays (14%) were included in the category with medium strength of scientific evidence and the remaining 19 essays (65.5%) in the category with low strength of scientific evidence. The overall agreement between our strength of scientific evidence categories and the Bigelow ones, was only 48.8%, sufficient to demonstrate a clear difference between our scientific criteria and those adopted by the judges of the Bigelow contest.The essays that obtained the highest strength of scientific evidence level were related to near-death experiences and mental mediumship.For other phenomena, more studies with refined experimental designs are necessary to increase the evidence of the survival of human consciousness.
Channeling experiences are often compared with Dissociative Trance/Possession Disorders and Disso... more Channeling experiences are often compared with Dissociative Trance/Possession Disorders and Dissociative Identity Disorders and more recent diagnostic criteria presented in the DSM 5 and ICD-11. From this comparison, it emerges quite clearly that, for most cases, channeling can either be considered an exceptional non-ordinary mental experience or a non-pathological Dissociative Trance/Possession experience. If this characterization is valid, the next step is to understand the origin of channeling experiences. Are they an expression of channeler's unconscious or voluntary mental mechanisms, or real connections with "other discarnate entities"? Given their peculiar characteristics, channeling experiences offer a unique opportunity for a scientific investigation and in particular, the origin of the information received by the channelers.
Four participants, chosen for their experience in reaching an Out-of-Body state of consciousness ... more Four participants, chosen for their experience in reaching an Out-of-Body state of consciousness via hypnotic induction, were asked to describe five different and unknown locations, at first using Remote Viewing conditions in an ordinary state of consciousness and then again using Remote Viewing in Out-of-Body state of consciousness. According to an assessment by two independent judges, the average percentages of information obtained in Remote Viewing were 55% for those correct and 35% for those wrong, while in Out-of-Body they were 54% and 35% respectively. The average percentage of identical information to both conditions was 14%. Furthermore, three out of four participants obtained a higher percentage of correct answers and a lower percentage of incorrect answers in the OB-RV condition.This study illustrates the possibility of also using Remote Viewing in an Out-of-Body state of consciousness that is induced and controlled via hypnosis to obtain accurate information about unknown...
Non-Ordinary Experiences of Consciousness: Expressions of Our True Nature
SSRN Electronic Journal
Aims of this work o Breaking a series of taboos about many experiences considered impossible or s... more Aims of this work o Breaking a series of taboos about many experiences considered impossible or simple suggestions and/or hallucinations caused by alterations of the neurological or psychological functioning. o To know these experiences with reference to the evidence obtained from scientific research conducted at international level and by our Science of Consciousness Research Group of the Department of General Psychology of the University of Padua, Italy in collaboration with EvanLab of Florence, Italy, directed by Luciano Pederzoli. o For those who experience one or more of these experiences, do not feel particularly different, let alone mentally dysfunctional and be able to talk about them without fear. o For those who have not yet experienced them, do not be afraid, but know them to help those who are experiencing them. o For all of us, as a minimum, to continue to discuss a series of phenomena with ‘knowledge of the facts’ and not with prejudices or preconceptions like "I believe / I do not believe".
Brain-to-Brain Interaction at a Distance Based on EEG Analysis
Journal of Consciousness Exploration & Research, 2018
This article presents a summary of research conducted between 2014 and 2018 regarding the possibi... more This article presents a summary of research conducted between 2014 and 2018 regarding the possibility of a distant mental interaction between pairs of sensorially isolated subjects. A total of 85 experimental sessions were completed, during which the EEGs of each subject of the pair were recorded (respectively called "Sender" and "Receiver"), all while the Sender was given a series of light and auditory stimuli of one second duration. Members of the pairs knew each other well and were also experienced in relaxation and meditation techniques. The cerebral response to a series of stimuli is well known and is called the ERP (Event Related Potential), but the aim of this study was to look for a possible-presumably weak-response also in the Receiver. Specifically, we studied the possibility of applying a frequency modulated stimulus (from 10 to 18 Hz) in accordance with the Steady-State method and observing any possible distant response to the same frequency. The over...
What is it like to be in Out-of-Body? Phenomenal accounts of experiencers
By using the description of the Out-of-Body experiences of 14 participants, we aimed to have a pi... more By using the description of the Out-of-Body experiences of 14 participants, we aimed to have a picture of what it is like to be in this particular state of consciousness. All information was grouped according to the following topics: consciousness status, self-boundaries, objects perception, colour perception, other types of perceptions, interactions with other people or beings, emotions, time perception and movement perception.From these descriptions a very different way to perceive and know emerge without the constraints of our brain and sensory organs, acting as special filters, giving rise to our everyday experiences. Bypassing these filters, different mental experiences are possible, like those reported by out-of-body experiencers.
Even though it is still difficult for many to accept that our minds have the ability to influence... more Even though it is still difficult for many to accept that our minds have the ability to influence and acquire information at a distance, that is to say, by unconventional means, there have already been several attempts to apply these abilities. This paper provides a review of state-of-the-art practical applications of our mind’s ability to obtain information at a distance, even from the future, and its ability to influence, always distantly and unconventionally, the behaviour, emotions, and physiology of human beings and biological and physical targets. Within the rich variety of these applications, some are already common outside the sphere of pure scientific research because their efficacy has by now been validated, while others’ applicability still require fine-tuning so that they too, in a not too distant future, become real mental technologies.
Mental Interaction at a Distance With an Electronic Device: A Pre-Registered Proof-of-Concept Study
SSRN Electronic Journal
This study was aimed at verifying the possibility of mentally influencing from a distance an elec... more This study was aimed at verifying the possibility of mentally influencing from a distance an electronic device based on a True Random Number Generator (TRNG). Thirteen adult participants contributed to 100 trials, each comprised of three samples of data each of 15 minutes’ duration: one for mental pre-interaction, one for mental interaction, and one for mental post-interaction. For each of these samples, at the end of each minute, the data sequence generated by the random number generator was analysed with two specific tests called “Frequency” and “Runs”, in order to determine the degree of randomness of the sequence. The only evidence of an effect of distant mental interaction is an average increase of approximately 50%, with respect to control data, of the number of samples within which the pre-determined statistical threshold was exceeded in both tests. Although the effect of distant mental interaction is still weak, we believe that the results of this study represent a proof-of-concept for the construction of electronic devices susceptible to distant mental influence.
The aim of this essay is to describe several ostensibly odd experiences considered implausible, i... more The aim of this essay is to describe several ostensibly odd experiences considered implausible, illusory or hallucinatory phenomena, largely considered to be disorders of the neurological or psychological functioning from the ruling mechanist-reductionist perspective of neurosciences. A rigorous but open-minded neurophenomenological approach is required to properly investigate and understand such Non-Ordinary Mental Expressions (NOMEs). Individuals who experience NOMEs should not feel like they are outsiders or abnormal and should feel free to talk about their uncommon experiences, and professionals should listen to them with an open-minded, non-prejudicial and non-judgmental approach. NOMEs challenges the ruling stance of medical and psychological science and suggest intriguing properties of human consciousness, which are likely to be incompatible with the accepted axioms and theories, showing the inescapable epistemological implications of their proper investigation and understand...
Frontiers of Hypnosis for Research Purpose
SSRN Electronic Journal
After exposing the various opportunities offered by modern hypnosis, hypnosis for research purpos... more After exposing the various opportunities offered by modern hypnosis, hypnosis for research purposes is examined and the most advanced possibilities offered by it, such as Psychic Archaeology, Regression and Hypnotically Induced OBE (HypnOBE-Hypnotic Out of Body Experience). In fact, after having demonstrated the possibility to control the OBE through hypnotic suggestion, it has been possible to deepen the knowledge of this kind of experience realizing many OBE with different subjects and with some of them the experience has been repeated many times, so much to add together some hundred hours of HypnOBE. This allowed to define well not only the induction modalities, but also the standard reactions and the tricks to get around fears and obstacles. Finally, we examine in more detail the new unexplored panoramas on which HypnOBE has opened a window, such as the bidirectional channelling controlled in hypnosis, which, with about sixty hours now accumulated on some particularly gifted subjects, has shown a perfect reproducibility, so much so that this technique is now also applied in other research centres. HYPNOSIS Ὕπνος (hypnos) in ancient Greek means 'sleep' and the term 'hypnosis' derives from the fact that this state of consciousness, known since ancient times but which became fashionable in the last decades of the 18th century and since then studied and deepened up to the present day, can induce a state that appears similar to sleep and favours the putting into practice of the suggestions provided by the hypnotist; unfortunately, it has also been used to make the hypnotized people act in a 'strange' way. However, it is not sleep, but anything else: while sleep is a state of reduced concentration characterized by an obnubilation of consciousness, in hypnosis the concentration is much higher than normal and this makes the subject particularly receptive to the suggestions. For therapeutic and research uses-illustrated below-this type of hypnosis has long since been abandoned in favour of the so-called 'Ericksonian hypnosis'. It allows, thanks to the depth of attention and the strong reduction of sensitivity to distractions, the connection with the unconscious of the person under hypnosis, but leaves him/her perfectly lucid, while inducing him/her into a modified state of consciousness, so as to allow an almost normal 'conversation'. Since this type of hypnosis is based on collaboration, the person under hypnosis is able to reason and remains able to use his or her will, so much so that it is not possible to force him or her to act against his or her will; if he or she so desires, he or she can even come out of hypnosis autonomously at any time.
Contents of Dialogues with 'Him
SSRN Electronic Journal
The following contents are the result of, as at the 30th September 2018, 19 dialogues for a total... more The following contents are the result of, as at the 30th September 2018, 19 dialogues for a total of around 22 hours, with an Entity referred to as “He”/“Him” channelled by N.R. while in an OBE induced by Luciano Pederzoli (LP) by way of hypnotic techniques. This procedure is fully described in “Guide to OBE induction” (http://www.evanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/A-GUIDE-FOR-OBE-INDUCTION.pdf) A distinctive feature of this technique is that, apart from allowing contact with a non-physical Entity by people who have never experienced it before, it also allows direct dialogue with the channelled entity, establishing actual interviews about subjects of interest to the interviewer and collaborators. Contact with the entity referred to as “He”/“Him” is described on page 3. The contents of these various dialogues have been grouped into subjects for ease of understanding and are not in chronological order. It is possible that they may also be updated, if these experiences continue further. As a cautionary note, although the channeller, interviewer, and other author of this introduction have little doubt that the contents reproduced herein originate from a real non-physical Entity, we should bear in mind that they could be a product of unknown mental processes of the channeller and/or the interviewer. We therefore suggest assessing them based on their informational value, rather than taking them as absolute truths. One certainty however, due to the other channellings carried out for a total of 36 hours with different channellers, is the perfect repeatability of the phenomenon.
From N.R.’s Hypnobes
SSRN Electronic Journal
The aim of this paper is to compare the exteroception and general phenomenology of naturally aris... more The aim of this paper is to compare the exteroception and general phenomenology of naturally arising, or spontaneous out-of-body experiences (OBEs), sometimes also referred to as extra-corporeal experiences (ECEs) with those that have been induced via the use of hypnotic induction in order to compare their phenomenology. The similarities and differences emerged from this comparison offer a very rich description of what it is experienced in this particular state of consciousness
SSRN Electronic Journal
In this paper, data from two studies relative to the relationship Background: between the electro... more In this paper, data from two studies relative to the relationship Background: between the electroencephalogram (EEG) activities of two isolated and physically separated subjects were re-analyzed using machine-learning algorithms. The first dataset comprises the data of 25 pairs of participants where one member of each pair was stimulated with a visual and an auditory 500 Hz signals of 1 second duration. The second dataset consisted of the data of 20 pairs of participants where one member of each pair received visual and auditory stimulation lasting 1 second duration with on-off modulation at 10, 12, and 14 Hz. Applying a 'linear discriminant classifier' to the first Methods and Results: dataset, it was possible to correctly classify 50.74% of the EEG activity of non-stimulated participants, correlated to the remote sensorial stimulation of the distant partner. In the second dataset, the percentage of correctly classified EEG activity in the non-stimulated partners was 51.17%, 50.45% and 51.91%, respectively, for the 10, 12, and 14 Hz stimulations, with respect the condition of no stimulation in the distant partner. The analysis of EEG activity using machine-learning algorithms Conclusions: has produced advances in the study of the connection between the EEG activities of the stimulated partner and the isolated distant partner, opening new insight into the possibility to devise practical application for non-conventional "mental telecommunications" between physically and sensorially separated participants.
Mental Technologies: Distant Mental Influence on the Behaviour, Physiology, and Emotions of Human Beings, and on Biological and Physical Targets
SSRN Electronic Journal
Even though it is still difficult for many to accept that our minds have the ability to influence... more Even though it is still difficult for many to accept that our minds have the ability to influence and acquire information at a distance – that is to say, by unconventional means – there have already been several attempts to apply these abilities. This work provides a review of state-of-the-art practical applications of our mind’s ability to obtain information at a distance, even from the future, and its ability to influence – always distantly and unconventionally – the behaviour, emotions, and physiology of human beings and biological and physical targets. Within the rich variety of these applications, some are already common outside the sphere of pure scientific research because their efficacy has by now been validated, while others’ applicability still require fine-tuning so that they too, in a not too distant future, become real mental technologies.
Hypno-Death-Experiences: Death Experiences During Hypnotic Regressions
SSRN Electronic Journal
Aim: In this work we analyze 44 death experiences between incarnations, as reported by 36 partici... more Aim: In this work we analyze 44 death experiences between incarnations, as reported by 36 participants during hypnotic regression sessions with the same hypnotist. Method: The descriptions of the experiences were evaluated using the Italian version of the Near-Death Experience Scale. Results: A large part of the reported experiences can be categorized as “Affective”, with a majority reported as: “Feeling a sense of joy” and “Seeing and being enveloped by a bright light”, as well as in the ’Transcendental’ category, with all experiences showing a similar frequency. Regarding the ‘Paranormal’ category, the most often reported experience is that of: “The feeling of being separated from one’s physical body”. With respect to the total score, 18% fall inside the range commonly used to identify true NDEs. Conclusions: The death experiences undergone during the hypnotic regressions contain very similar characteristics to those reported in classic NDEs. Whether these experiences were actually lived or were, instead, accounts of events previously learned through conventional means remains unknown.
Hypno-Channelings: A New Tool for the Investigation of Channeling Experiences
SSRN Electronic Journal
This study describes for the first time, a procedure to channel and interview various discarnate ... more This study describes for the first time, a procedure to channel and interview various discarnate Entities obtained by initially inducing the participants into an Out of Body Experience via hypnotic inductions. We report the conversations with seven different Entities, three of which were done individually and four in group sessions, channeled by different participants with no previous channeling experience. This procedure, we named Hypno-Channeling, allows to contact and interview with easy various Entities and it represents a good tool in order to determine whether the acquired information derives from a discarnate Entity, the channeler or the interviewer.
Inducing out-of-body experiences in hypnosis (H-OBEs) offers an almost unique opportunity to inve... more Inducing out-of-body experiences in hypnosis (H-OBEs) offers an almost unique opportunity to investigate them in a controlled condition.OBEs were induced as imaginative task in resting conditions (I-OBE) or in hypnosis (H-OBE) in 15 high hypnotizable subjects. A 32-channel EEG was recorded and the spectral power and imaginary coherence were calculated. At the end of each session, the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI) was administered to check the phenomenological aspects of their experience.Significantly higher scores in the Altered State, Positive Affect, Altered Experience and Attention subdimensions of the PCI were reported in H-OBE than in I-OBE, which were associated to a significant decrease of power in beta and gamma band activity in right parieto-temporal derivations. Our result suggest that H-OBE may be an appealing model of “true” OBEs, including an alteration of multisensory integration in right parieto-temporal brain areas.
SSRN Electronic Journal
This article evolved from another I had previously written in March 2011 for a conference I held ... more This article evolved from another I had previously written in March 2011 for a conference I held in Bologna on the subject of "Research and private citizens", and is aimed at answering the question: Can an individual or small group of people do research work under significant budgetary restrictions and still achieve important results? Obviously the planning and construction of a huge particle accelerator such as the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) in Geneva requires vast financial resources, greater than the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of some developing nations. While the purpose of such a construction may be debatable it is nonetheless intellectually challenging. Less intellectually appealing, but still of great technological importance, are for example the planning and construction of aircraft, missiles, or warships, and these evidently require large financial resources (almost always from taxpayers). Research in universities is often very intellectually attractive but also needs significant investment, which in some countries comes mainly through public funding for basic research or from private companies for applied research. Research is a challenge to the unknown, a conquest of knowledge, an aid to humanity and draws many to it but, as the media constantly remind us, it seems to always be hungry for enormous amounts of money, way beyond the means of individuals or small companies. This discourages most from entering the field and for others within the field can lead to flawed planning and implementation. I will now explain why this is so. Can someone still carry out research work if he/she is sufficiently educated and capable, not employed by any large research centre, not part of the academic world and therefore with no access to any real funding (unless from a wealthy family)? The "discouragement" comes from the fact that to these people any possibility of work in research and of contributing to human knowledge seems to be undeservedly blocked, because only a fewnot always deservedly-have access to the necessary funding.
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Papers by Luciano Pederzoli