1, EEG is is neither PET, nor
MRI: but it has it's place, for brain activity localization. And is a relatively
low cost acquisition tool. [The "low cost" is a term, that would imply
institutional usage.] On the actual cost comparison scale: There is a 128
channel[?] system for around 40K. HTTP:// BioEEG232.htm English
www.eegbiofeedback.cz /
[About the same over-all
price, are the used EEG-s ( about 18 channels), (available locally), that could
be multiplexed.]
This can be compared to the excellent (& undoubtedly not inexpensive) turnkey
system at
2, To get hands on experience
w/ high density EEG, I took a graduate class at the U of Oregon. Gained an
overview of the "state of the art", though not a congruence by the University or
Electrical Geodesics, Inc. to Neuro-Kinetik's goals.
3, A "low cost tool" via
Thoughtware.com [from Australia], combined Skinner & Rhine. The result: A
freeware prog, that gives positive reinforcement when one guesses a random card
right, and negative on a miss. This approach has some problems, of course. It
might be, that the "just noticeable difference" between the hit and the miss is
too low. [This is the one of the reasons for the brain mapping program:
unambiguous & large signals, as the brain is in the parapsy mode.]
(Spoon benders can induce a "psychic" event, at first and (at times) subsequent
occasion(s). Further, as the event unfolds at a later "metal bend", most of them can "feel" a
related "something". Thalamocortical, mappable connections here. By extension,
pointing to receptor/effector areas.)
Also, operant conditioning is mostly for the autonomic nervous system.
[Seemingly, parapsy is not at this level; yet.]
Classical conditioning is equally problematic, and (again) calls for brain
mapping. Ie: What is the unconditioned stimuli & the unconditioned response?
Site of action: hippocampus minor?
As mentioned in the literature, the initial "induction" can be at an unconscious
level, thus is not "learned", but "accepted" or "released".
However, learning [conscious or otherwise] + improvement, are also a worthwhile
goal.
4, Was an entry on "things
experienced by humans". But, raw experiences are interpreted, communicated, &
acted upon. Thus, the spectrum includes transpersonal psychology and
Schneiderian symptoms, etc, etc. Dissecting the neurological underpinning of
"true" parapsychological functioning [easily and endurably documentable
via PK, teleportation, etc.], still needs real-time brainmapping, as the
phenomena unfolds.
5, Returning to the academic hi tech: "Averaging" does amplify, as does "subtraction". And, statistics as well as well thought out experiments are informative. (Though laborious.) [See the slideshow, associated w/ the LORETA link in #6 below. Awesome, again.]
6, If one has zero idea of what's going on, LORETA [low_resolution_tomography] will identify active 'principal components', [sort of]. (The freeware seems to exclude the cerebellum, from the computations.) Nova Tech EEG Inc., has an inexpensive system, that is built around it. Supposedly, LORETA is a relative of linear optimization: It will find multiple regions, active during the time-slice. Nicely explained by Darren Weber (formerly of Australia, now at U of Calif at San Francisco). An other algorithm (not so widely distributed in usage), that does this is FOCUSS. [ I. F. Gorodnitsky and B. D. Rao (1997), "Energy Localization in Reconstructions using FOCUSS: A Recursive Weighted Norm Minimization Algorithm,'' IEEE Trans. on Signal Processing, vol. 45:3, pp. 600-16, March 1997 ] An off-the-shelf product is EEGFOCUS, derived via the of Univ. of Heidelberg. Its expanded version is the BESA package. [Brain Electric Source Analysis.] They seem to have a lot in common w/ the Curry software [http://www.neuro.com]: Impressive, and somewhat expensive. Of the demo-s and tutorials, Patrick Berg's Dipole Simulator is very well made. Scherg has a nice intro to his system. It does a sort of "what if" type stuff. Ie: If the focus of electrical activity in the brain was at xyz, the instrument would show pattern abc. This can be extended into "what if" type, spatio-temporal macro sequences. (the micro modeling [Curry] has been extended to include not just dipoles w/ various orientation, but also "rotating" dipoles. The presumed logic (similar to wavelet filters), is to catch the nerve impulse train, as it arrives from direction A, and leaves to new & possibly numerous other sites B, C, & D.
Anyhow, the German people are affiliated w/ a Netherlands site: the BrainVoyager ( MRI/fMRI.). [A nice, thorough prog.]
7, Eventually, these notes should be reorganized, since updates are usually "random access".
8, LORETA has a built in
Talairach "dictionary". A click on an xyz coordinate returns anatomical info. (Expl:
Brodman 42)
9, Got to read more (of course.) But, it's like the math section of a library: Getting one to almost despair at the magnitude of the undertaking. [An equally large tasks: Finding the free time {and motivation}, to do the reading. Also relevant: Tuition, and other "quality of life"/"housekeeping" funds.]
10, The ElectroGeodesic sensor
cap is approx. necessary for EEG. (Variants exist:
11, The "validity vs. precision" problem is somewhat acute, for EEG/MEG. Supposedly there is a 300 electrode system out there. It is needed! [See the BESA poster fair summary & explanation is given about the some of the conceptual approaches. The results however speak for themselves. There is an "inversely" related MRI algebraic prog "out there", that has its input a real measurement, and its output an artificial, adjustable T1/T2 mix. It gives the type of results for structural imaging, that MEG/EEG ought, for localization. ] In summary, *any* MEG/EEG stuff needs to be cross checked w/ PET and fMRI, ultimately. (But, see Pappanicolau on experimental design: The PET/fMRI folks have as much inconsistent data, as any. Yet, some replicability [inter-subject, inter-experiment, etc., etc.] is broadly believed to exist.)
11, The "multisensory" folks
have a small database of possible interest: I.e.--- Sight, sound, tactile, etc.,
will have to co-register at some point. (Thus the N100 or P300 type stuff.) But,
if multimodal sensory monitoring is localized, the ESP stuff would connect to it
also. Likely, some raw signals would be sent to other centers, for the brain to
ruminate about, & the 'procedure'/'function call' (to use computer vocab.),
would return the resolved/interpreted data. Related: Conscious & unconscious
memories. Think, that the multisensory stuff is in/near the "blindsight"
abstract at the MIT neuro site. In any event, there are the search engines to
locate subjects. Plus, think that the cerebellum has to connect to (at least to
short term) memory, & might be the "library" of the brain. "Blindsight" of
course is a very crude form of visual localization, present in those w/ a
damaged visual system, so that they are essentially blind. Patternwise, the
signals that are "not accessible to the conscious", but are perceptible. In
this, it is similar to post-hypnotic suggestions. And, as tools go, hypnotism is
not 100% ineffective, & is even ESP connected. [Via the multisensory synchro
route.] (This seems to be resolved at #-s 39, 40, etc from Finch U; there are
distributed "heteromodal" areas of the brain that do synthesis: hypnotism &
conscious/unconscious info processing are nicely outlined there.) [More things
in search engines, via "feedforward" . Ie: the brain readies subsystems, to
anticipate planned events to be soon generated, etc. Mechanism: "corollary
discharges".]
Entry #92 is here., in relation to a subliminal event. (Meanwhile, a personal
predilection to search for PK in the brain, preferentially...)
12, Meanwhile: The M/EEG and fMRI people seem to converge, far as getting comparable results. I.e.: Even though the detectable fMRI signal (due to a stimulus) is 6 seconds after the fact, it has to start sometime/somewhere. Thus, Friston, Worsley, Frankowiak et.al. use a Taylor series, to extrapolate back to the time [& location] of anatomical origin. (Supposedly, accurate to tenths of a second.) Also, methods are offered to aggregate results from multiple subjects for similar trials. [And/or, same subject, w/ multiple trials; (w/ the identical protocol, of course). Looked at it a bit: To make problems fit the present tools, they use a math model, & go from there.] Further: A lot of these results are arrived at by rather sophisticated hardware/software. The Wellcome folks in England got parametric & non-parametric freeware, along w/ intro to both the logic, & the code usage. Anyhow, even though they are fMRI oriented (the EEG equipment is far cheaper), some of the methods/logic is likely to transfer. (The Matlab is also helpful, via some condensed info on algebra.)
13, Via #7: Was stuff on the SPM from Aston.
14, W/ antibodies & ligands, histologic areas can be identified. The Talairach is stereotaxic, and a 'generic', structural brain model. Thus, a 3D analogue of the "raw" brain structure. Mosher et al, in IEEE Transactions on BioMed Eng. Vol. 47, No 9, Sept. 2000 "Paired MEG data set source localization, using recursively applied and projected (RAP) MUSIC" might to do better than SAM (the synthetic aperture magnetometry). They also use algebraic matrices, and operations, just like the parametric/nonparametric statistic folks. However, the MUSIC people separate the experimental variables from the control/'background noise' via a signal to noise ratio in subspaces and using orthognality. It works experientially.
15, Related (but distinct) from the multisensory stuff is a 'decent' site on neural prosthesis [http://www.neuroprosthesis.org/index.htm] . (Have not checked this in a while, but the subject is perennial.) Our agendas are similar (though mine is not based on medical necessity). Thus, they have some excellent stuff on sensory substitution (audition for sight). and in general are learning and physiology oriented. The diff is, that they try to restore known functionality or range. I'm hoping for the exploratory, and developmental, in the "extrasensory" realm.
16, The web has several sites
like
17, Via search engines (Vivisimo
is nice [clustering], Google with the setting: "images " retreives aptly named
illustrations to articles, lectures, etc., while retaining an easy link to the
original context), resources can be scanned for "associatively". [People,
institutions, and hardware abound.] Thus, a price shopping comparison for EEG
systems [ Curry is a good "baseline" for quality], located the Amsterdam
18, MATLAB has arrived. The Zhukov [Utah] experience is a SimuLink analogue. [The 'flow chart'/'control block' engine.] Anyhow, MatLab is a "plug in" for the to USC-s Brainstorm package. [Which I never could get to run; it is a localization package, that is easily up to the current state of the art]. It uses matrices extensively. Looking a bit into matrices, the singular value decomposition (Aston/Zhukov) is starting to become intelligible. Along these lines, completed part of an algebra tutorial from Murdoch U; it was quite useful.
19, A Portuguese pharmaceutical company [Bial], has a real live "physiology & parapsychology" research grants available. 5,000 to 50,000 euro-s. Could have been a 3 yr. project. Looked at the list of past grantees: It is almost a "who's who", of contemporary physiological parapsy [such as it is]. As of yet, this list is not extensive. Still, they are not trying to build a de novo student base.
20, From the "rumor has it"
dept.: Gary Swartz, at U of Ariz. psychology dept. redid Hauck's "spoon bending
by thought power" experiments, w/ some success. [more than 3 out of 60 students]
He mentioned (in correspondence) that brain scanning was being
done/contemplated, but offered no results. Currently he is "featured" at the
Thought Technology web site.
21, While #20 above is usual for parapsychology, but is (to use student vocabulary), approximately awesome in a metallurgical context. The same holds about the work of the Aston [Statistical Parametric] folk. (Thus, see chapter five in SMP 97, about eigenimages and multivariate analyses, available from their site.)
22, Sean Harribance, in Sugarland Tx, has several science articles on his site, of the sort: J. of Parapsychology, Vol. 62, No. 2, 1998, pp 102-104; EEG and SPECT data of a selected subject during psi test: The discovery of a neuropsysiological correlate. As far as the authors: Basically, Roll seems to have been an mainstream psychophysiologist. Did OK work. (He is also into poltergeist.) One of his extrapolations, i.e.: that the brain actively scans the environment, in a "parapsychological mode", (periodically), seems to have immediate explanatory power. This, via gradients. I.e.: Persinger (at the Neuroscience Laboratory, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, seems to place info at the scalp level (of minimal magnitude), that can become available. This is the "inverse" of the Statistical Parametic Map method. Hence, during the 1/2 hour protocol, the subjects occasionally sense the intent/pattern presented, & react. [In contrast to a "high energy" type stimulation, like the transcranial magnetic folks, that kicks in immediately, when the switch is thrown.] Cheryl seems the postdoc type. Extended/replicated the original findings (I think).
23, Historical to Neuro-Kinetik:
The attempt to become an electro diagnostic EEG tech. has terminated. [Lack of
cash.]
24, Meanwhile, there was the
Central Florida Hypnosis Institute. (Suggested via the
Russian
information, in the Tucson [1996], "Consciousness" conference.) Since there are
hypnotists everywhere, the current plan is to consider this methodology as an
option, to elicit parapsychological phenomena for the anatomical studies, once
the the brainscan training is completed. (Still valid.)
25, There is an other set of
tutorials:
26, The Biofeedback Certif. Inst. website is kind of nice. They have an EEG certification, which is essentially the same as the ElectroNeuroDiagnostic Technician people. It has a clinical bent, but they welcome researchers and academics. So, internship positions had been sought from certified practitioners. [No real results here.]
27, The Germans are chipping away at parapsychology. [http://www.igpp.de/english/welcome.htm] As "chipping" goes: The downloaded BrainStorm program [from months ago], seems inoperative. So, looked at the latest available LORETA program. [sLORETA has come on line.] It is less automated than the Brainstorm, and the resolution (of course) is way lower. But, (most likely), the freeware is functional. [Even if the cerebellum is unreachable, w/ LORETA.] Anyhow, the LORETA prog wants xyz coordinates for the scalp electrodes. (Also, it uses the 10/10 system of electrodes.) The exact xyz coordinates can be obtained by various methods, if needed. The easiest xyz is photographic: Take 5 pictures of the scalp (as if a box was placed over the head -- thus 5 available sides). Externally, have a portion of a millimeter rulers in each picture, orthognally. The xyz coordinates follow.
28, Found a tutorial on
Wavelets.
Also: Scott Makeig( w/ Arnaud Delorme) at U Cal San Diego has an EEG program
suite that uses Matlab. The Independent Component Analysis package is on line,
as freeware. (Among other things, it does automatic artifact deletion.) So far,
like the Brainstorm package, could not get the sample data to load. And, as a
Windows vs Unix/Linux approach to software usage, the EEGLAB tutorial (http
version), goes into admirable (or overwhelming; given one's preferences) detail
on demand, on how to use/modify the various subroutines.
29, Continuing w/ #22... About
the same time as the Harribance studies were conducted:
30, Funds are severely limited
for Neuro-Kinetik. Nevertheless, there is the idea [perhaps futile], of building
a high density [64 channel] EEG system. (Some data on the amplifiers is
trickling in. [On schematics and op-amp chips.] A good power supply would also
cost.) Electrodes are fairly simple (comparatively). LORETA et.al. need
digitized info;
31, Meanwhile, as these notes
are updated, things are edited in & edited out. So, the "mindset.html" in the
last paragraph has (in the display produced by that page), a pic of Einstein,
[as a well known symbol]. Dr. Radin's "emotive weather": hot & cold dice tables,
(how & when events are random), "brought in" a reference to an other science
icon ....Newton. [Via:
32, Less cosmically, looked at the Schlerg FOCUS a bit. His spatial filter for EEG seems to be like the Aston people's matrix weightings. Except, that instead of generic experimental variables, he uses scalp patches.
33, Listened to the "Basic Qeeg" talk from Lexicor (streaming media). Pretty nice. (My goal is somewhat different, of course.) My first impression, from evaluating various equipment mfg-s was not initially in favor of Lexicor. [this has changed] High density eeg seemed to be at odds w/ a single electrode eeg-biofeedback protocol. But, in the abstract, they can collect and stimulate anywhere on the 10-20. So, while not source location, it is a nice clinical tool, w/ competent practitioners.
34, This was an entry similar to the distance learning Ph.D. from Bircham University. A year of effort, $5000, supervision by European profs, and a 70 page thesis. [A veridical template.]
35, The BrainStorm freeware package has been upgraded. (It has been tried and abandoned before, since it would never get past the first few steps. It still does not.) Likely, a routine user could get it to run w/ some small & "obvious" modifications. Since such help is unavailable, LORETA is still the freeware of choice. [And, w/o the EEG hardware, software is mostly an "ordered pattern of electrons".]
36. Downloaded the "random
card" ESP program
* The "door buzzer": This is where a solenoid is activated by a current, after
the "master switch" is closed.. The solenoid pulls on an other, spring loaded
switch, that breaks the circuit. The spring (that is weaker than the active
solenoid), now pushes the switch to a closed position. This completes the
circuit again. Then, due to the new flow of the electrical current, the solenoid
pulls the switch down, breaking the circuit yet again.. (The spring will close
it soon, completing "one cycle".) The result of this on-off activation yields
the "buzz". Compare this to the "time traveler", who accidentally zeroes out the
"younger edition" of his own grandfather. Since now, (as the result propagates),
he will not be born (thus not do any "time traveling"), enabling his grandpa to
sire him. Hence (in the next cycle), he again time travels, and anew causes his
own non-being, by destroying his origin [grandpa], etc., etc., etc. This
"ringing" in "cosmic" time continues, until the event/"standing wave" runs out
of energy and/or is overwritten/damped. [Master switch. Etc.]
* The "Oracle software": This is a database program, with some limited, low
level AI (artificial intelligence) components built into it. Thus, it can (at
minimum), filter the database, producing results thusly. [Name all the
employees, hired after June, etc.] Further, it has "spinal chord level"
reflexes, called triggers. (Expl: Memorize when the database was changed last
time. Or, next time that someone does abc, automatically do xyz.) However,
Oracle's "claim to fame" is on a different structural level. It attempts to
limit data loss (via extensive "backup" capabilities) and to preserve "global"
consistency in the data structure. So, if user A declares, that the company car
is a Ford, while user B says, that the company's only car is a Chevrolet, there
is a potential global consistency problem. Oracle creates "parallel" universes
for users A & B. These universes can be quite huge. However, the "backup"
capacity (to save data), allows for the "back out"/"black out" feature. One of
the possible universes becomes the "actual" one, when the proper command is
given. [Quantum collapse, of sorts.] This model allows for "deja vu",
precognition, free will, indeterminacy and determinism. All at the same time.
Positively cute!
37, Via #36... As Wm. Calvin ( the cognitive psychology guy) pointed out: Until now, a defining characteristic for humans was [among other things], the possession of (language) grammar. "I hit ball." Permutations and additions to the basic template of "subject, verb, object", did a lot for the species. Parapsychology (possibly) will [also] do a lot for our kids: human, android, clone, extraterrestrial, [etc.].
38, Looked at some commercial sites for focused ultrasound. Also, info on transcranial magnetic stimulation. The ultrasound people are into tumor ablation, but might expand their product offerings to target the academic [brain stimulating] community. The clinical transcranial stimulation folks are duplicating electroconvulsive therapy, with less side effects. [Sort of like re-booting a computer.] Again, similar to a gamma knife, the field strength [w/ the transcranial magnetic stimulation] could be made supra threshold at a specific point. Meanwhile, they do have some nice work, w/ SPECT, etc., using the non parametric approach, mapping out connections in the brain. (Not sure if LORETA can distinguish the insula. It should, given Pasqual's sophistication.) Meanwhile, Neuro-Kinetik has still has yet to perform "experiment one".
39, Netscape 7 can read some
Power-Point presentations.. [not so with Netscape 7.1; yet to check "Opera": a
competent browser.]
So: Finch University Psychiatry Dept. (Chicago) has a very admirable neurology
course. Expl: Magnetoencephalographic studies in normal humans have demonstrated
characteristic electromagnetic activity in the awake and REM sleep states. This
activity, a magnetic oscillation of 40 Hz, can be reset by sensory stimuli when
awake. The oscillation moves over the cortex in a front to back direction every
12-13 milliseconds. It represents a resonance between thalamocortical loops:
specific loops for content, and a nonspecific loop for temporal binding needed
for units of cognitive experience. (Quite something, if true. The statement
itself is intelligible, after review of the anatomy tutorial by Diamond,
Scheibel & Elson: The human brain coloring book.) So: supposedly, the thalamus
sweeps across the sensory primary and unimodal cortices and activates neuronal
pools into percepts. This process is like a search light beacon that sweeps
across the sensory cortex. Each sweep recruits sensory pools of neurons to form
multiple millisecond sensory pictures. Resetting by sensory stimuli may provide
awareness of consciousness (Joliot et al, Neurobiology, 1994; Llinas and Ribary,
Neurobiology, 1993; Bressler et al, Nature, 1993).
40, (Still barely scratching the surface, from the info mountain at Finch.) Hypnotism has as its hallmark, the loss of personal volition. The description of the anatomical "dorsolateral prefrontal circuit" abnormalities seems to be a verbatim description of the (temporary) hypnotic state. To wit: a,) a-volitional b,) no generation of new ideas c,) executive function deficiency: no planning or verifying d,) inability to shift cognitive set [no fluency/flexibility of thought] and e,) degraded motor performance [task sequencing].
41, Was Persinger related.
42, Meanwhile, electrophysiology is effort and equipment intensive. (Looked through "Fast cortical oscillations in cortical circuits" by Traub, et. al.). There (among a multitude of other things), they also refer to Joliot/MEG [#39 above] to the effect, that gamma waves (40Hz w/ the 13 millisecond window) are a necessary component of conscious perception.
43, Local/Global: Lubar at Tennessee U. has been training future PhD-s w/ LORETA; whilst the U of Freidburg in Germany (medical radiology) has comparative fMRI and high density EEG cortical localization. The tools/users (if not the parapsy application) are developing apace.
44, Looked at Experimental
Psychology programs. Apparently the Electro Geodesic folks are well received
there.
Through the generous help of Peter Line (Brain Lab, Swinbourne U, Victoria,
Australia), LORETA was preliminarily tested. Apparently, subjects were
constantly "primed" w/ 13 Hz photic stimuli. (At minimum, a stress.) However,
there was extensive/implicit reasoning behind this. The original Australian
experiment involved a button press, on the onset of auditory hallucinations,
from some schizophrenic subjects. (Neuro-Kinetik had access to the data from the
control group. These were normals, who had things read to them, on & off. They
also had the lights, & did a button press marking the start/stop of the auditory
stimuli.) The results looked positively fine on the LORETA scalp map. The global
field power had 3 cycle per second burst, through out. [In retrospect, not
particularly meaningful: the occipital routinely does alpha, the vertex area [Cz]
does beta, whilst the frontal works w/ delta. Meanwhile, only knew of delta, in
connection w/ sleep or lesions....]
So, the logic of the delta, at the time: Sleep has burst phases, and culminates
in 3Hz delta waves. During sleep, one can "hallucinate": hear/see, etc..
Similarly alpha blocking is related to vision, alertness & 13 cycles/second.
Thus, the schizophrenic group was facilitated, to induce/evoke an "on demand"
hallucination, so that the neurological studies might yet bring cures a step
closer. On a related note: Sleep or various trance states are mostly *not*
easily amenable to voluntary control, and are vaguely connected w/ the direct or
the symbolic in the parapsychological realm. Shamans, mediums, lucid dreamers,
self hypnosis folks, etc. have roamed this frontier. These guys are relatively
sane. As are various religious practitioners, populating this corner of the
human experience.
45, W/ #44 in mind, revisited LORETA. About the only limitation [for voltage visualization], (other than voxel size) is: It does one subject and condition at a time.[This might have been upgraded] (Even more sophisticated progs can pool data, from several subjects, etc..) [LORETA does this for the Statistical nonParametic Analysis, in the frequency domain.] Related to the pooling of data (external to LORETA) is the "subtractive technology" to locate anatomical sites of interest. Mechanically, there are photo processing progs, that allow adding/merging of pictures. [The standard "A and B roll" technology.] The negative of B [a LORETA_voltage at time T2 from a single subject, superimposed on A [a regular display of a LORETA_voltage at time T1 from the same subject], yields the subtraction and hence displays the neural activity of interest, [mostly] separated from the "background". But, via a fine article from Christoph Mulert, the software already has this "subtractive" capability equivalent. However, due to time limitations, this has not been followed up. NeuroImage 13, 589-600 (2001).
46, Meanwhile (#45) continued [sort of]: The Berg/Schlerg Dipole Simulator is a "superposition" program. It is useful, if one is knowledgeable about anatomical connections. One can test sequential activations of connected brain regions, etc., by a "what if" type modeling. [Hopefully extrapolatively exploring/explaining.] (This expertise is rather advanced. A lot of "a priori" knowledge of neuroanatomy is needed here.) Since LORETA and BESA have the Berg/Schlerg commonality, one can obtain differential (temporally longitudinal) mappings of frequency generators, per anatomy. OS: Windows 95/NT. Frequency mapping generates spatio-temporal separation: anatomical loci have characteristic firing frequencies, when activated. [Modulated by (the primary, "external") signal type and intensity as well as feedback from other sites.] So, confounding "background" signals are a potential problem. (LORETA can calculate [and possibly correct for {directly or indirectly}] background effects. This, since data pooling (from various subjects or time periods) adds the dimension of statisticality. Baselines, average error, etc., follow.) Meanwhile... Neuro-Kinetik presently runs on Windows 98. Earlier the Brainstorm/MatLab configuration also had possible operating system and version related incompatibility difficulties. A file fetch [non system] GUI directive seemingly disabled the system.
47, Found the original LORETA
article. Pascual-Marquis rightly states that his grid (later replaced by voxels),
easily outperforms single or multiple dipoles (in general). Presumably the
RAP-MUSIC folks, w/ principal component analysis (and a natural cutoff limit),
could reproduce the best of Schlerg/Berg as a hybrid of LORETA and BESA. (I.e.:
a dipole for each principal component.) Not really knowing [or having reviewed
the math lately], it seems that MUSIC is a simplex type approach, while LORETA
is closer to an analogue, parallel procedure. Also, seemingly the MUSIC folks
try to make up for lack of a multitude of dipoles, by having better dipoles.
[For real: Thus exfoliating the sulci, to get a better spatial orientation for
the dipole.] (Thus, Makeig w/ independent component analysis) Of course, the PET
folks, with the Statistical Parametric are also nice, with an analogue of
finding the mean temp of the brain, and using this standard, to locate "hot"&
"cold" spots.
Anyhow, as a first guess: principal component analysis gets strong responses,
or perhaps bunched temporal responses. While independent component analysis
obtains connections, and/or temporally more distant, though "connected" events.
48, Found Peter Anderer's
LORETA tutorial from the Key Institute such as
49, The intent of imaging some
mentalist is rather firm.
In any event, hypnotism, as a tool, also may surface due to the seemingly
non-conscious nature of psi. Of course, while currently psi is not a conscious
ability, this has no real bearing on brain source localization for it, or the
characterization of the energies used to cause "psychic" events, in the world at
large. Being removed from consciousness does have some effect on being trained
to use this skill "on demand". (Sort of like trying to train people to alter
hormonal secretions, gastric motility, and the like. Presumably, active
psychophysiology at its finest.)
Hypnotism becomes as relevant as Pavlovian, or operant conditioning here. And,
since mentalist (as observed), are fully conscious while they achieve, others
could be also. [The point of "mentalist are fully conscious while they achieve"
is likely to be at least partially true. How much of the achievement is
(possibly) precognitively premanufactured in a non conscious state, could be
explored further.]
(For example, the Bierman study [entry #52] on "presentiment", w/ the data
gathering locked at about seven seconds before the randomly chosen & delivered
stimulus is "foreshadowed"[?]. I.e.: The schema of seeking a "result" before an
observation [approximation theory, in application], also is a standard w/ the
Aston MEG/non-parametric folks. They mention, that the hemodynamic response is
coupled to the electrical events at regions of interest. Thus [or so the
explanation seems], they find the "true" temporal occurrence of the physical
event, by seeking the first term in a mathematical representation of the
experiment. Somehow, a harmonic(?)/Taylor series converges to several seconds,
before the data points available, from the hemodynamic response.)
In any event, Marco Congedo (a recent Ph.D. from Tenn. & Dr Lubar) has developed
a biofeedback prog that could be applied to to train any specific ROI [Region Of
Interest] discernible via LORETA: cortical or intracortical. Coupled w/ the
Bierman study (from the previous paragraph), people could be presumably be
sensitized to have faster, or better, or "neurally stronger" presentiments.
(Apparently, via the
[Preliminarily keeping in mind the Garcia "taste aversion" experiments, from
psychology folklore, ie how much can some regions of interest be trained
Secondarily, along w/ the optimal performance folks: long & short range optima,
interactive effects etc, etc. Presumably Marco's prog is extensible to train
multiple sites, simultaneously....] Upon reading Congedo's dissertation, he did
not elaborate on some of the technical details of how any ROI can be hooked up
to specific biofeedback protocols. But equipment, programs, or visually derived
manipulations by neuro-feedback practitioners seem attainable.
50, A nice intro (among many) to inferential statistics is
51, Continuing w/ #49, the anatomical study of mentalist: The tools are barely adequate (LORETA: lacks fine resolution), possibly inappropriate (MEG: deep brain structures are unreachable), economically inaccessible (PET: this tool might also lack sufficient spatial & temporal focus). On the other hand, a good knowledge of functional neuroanatomy would go quite a ways to guide/supplement. Thus, courses from most med schools on the Net, etc.
52, The U of Oregon, home of
ElectroGeodesic & Dr. Tucker, has agreed to allow independent study courses, to
master the EEG machinery. The type of brainmapping results sought, (once
accepted and properly educated) are typified
here. [This is a study on "ordinary" people, using one explicit sensory
modality. Variants might be even more instructive.]
This is a Radin inspired, & Bierman executed/coauthored experiment on
precognition. [The "machine work" seems to have been done by a Ph.D. student.]
53, Was recommended to search
PubMed. The results were few, but nice. (essentially, Persinger & Schwarz only).
However, an oldie, as relevant as:
[NB, via (Neuro-Kinetik) : routine/established action/perceptulal patterns, vs
de novo. Same as the "mouse telepathy" experiments.]
54, On one hand: Several
sources were located on the Net, claiming to replicate the Hauck experiments in
the present. Thus, a set of samples were obtained from a "fork bending party"
[Dec 14, 2002], through the www.retrokat.com website. [& from a related site,
later.]
On the other hand: The high density eeg source localization is still quite a
ways away. Likely, the immediate effector/receptor regions acting at the time of
the event might be easily located. But, very soon after(?) that would come a
combinatorial burst (sort of what the particle physics folks deal w/). Thus the
biological version of the physics analogy (for ordinary events), as described
via the Petersen Lab at Wash State U (St Louis):
"The other area of interest is in identifying fMRI signals related to different aspects of task organization. These processes might produce several different types of task-related signals including: 1) a task implementation process that might produce signals only at the beginning of the performance of a specific task 2) several processes that would span trials of a task and would be expected to produce prolonged fMRI signals (including biasing signals that provide input to specific pathways and might modulate item or trial based activity) as well as 3) signals related to each trial of a task. Certain patterns of results might be expected: 1) Some brain regions could show "task-related" signals in a broad range of tasks, and potentially could be related to more central executive processes such as the buffering of task demands. 2) Other regions might show task related effects specific to particular task domains, and be providing biasing signals for the selection of task-specific pathways. 3) Some regions might show transient signals at the beginning of a series of trials of a particular task, and may reflect task implementation. 4) Some regions might show a combination of task- and item/trial-related signals, and may be sites where top-down biasing signals interact with bottom-up processes. The experiments in this area of interest will survey several task domains within memory with the purpose of providing an empirical base for understanding signals related to task organization."
55, Excellent explanations,
facts and videos about sensory physiology at
56, Had stuff on algebraic
"generative language" type things.
57, An other tie in w/ imaging,
from a non self evident source: Economics. (Leading to entry #59, below.) For,
economics is strongly dependent on decisions, both on the macro and micro level.
Thus, the environment is actively sampled, all tools are considered, models are
utilized, etc, etc.
58, Via Dr. Cannon at Marywood U: At least 2 brain mechanisms exist for analgesia. And... acupuncture & placebos work through the opioid system, while hypnosis does not work through the opioid system. Therefore, it seems evident that as/(if) technology advances, the diffusion tensor folks will trace acupuncture. Similarly, hypnotism (imaged), will "reveal" ESP.
59, A qualitative (directionally related) avenue has arisen, as a result for studying for the GRE Psychology subject test. In particular: the anatomy and abnormal psych folks see brains & behavior, in its "native state". Several of their observations are relevant to individual ESP related events/effects. [Sociological/societal effects arise from these.] Thus, even though Neuro-Kinetik strongly favors "physical phenomena" (such as metal-bending by 'mind power') for study and subsequent anatomical localization, the findings (& implications) from the clinical people merit some attention. Essentially, #59 deals w/ the idea(s) that the brain a, As a whole, or its parts (both on macro & micro levels) can change/fluctuate in size. [Significantly. Expl:15% during pregnancy.] (Also, compositional, and geometric fluctuations can exist.) Concommittantly, functional effects are observed. (The simplest example: the ventricles.) Until now, only blood flow, and other extremely fleeting effects were considered. b, Satiety (for anything: food, body size, pleasure, etc.) can have "set points". And (of necessity), "sensors" or equivalents have to exist, for recognition/regulation. The idea of set points, of course, generalizes. c, Schizophrenics, pass set points in the prodromal phase. (Unfortunately.) Their very existence, like that of broken cars, inflationary economic cycles, etc., etc., point to presumed [and unexplored] "appropriate" states, w/ ESP components.
60, Nova Tech EEG. ----------
URL: www.NovaTechEEG.com has their demo programs available. It prompted for a
comparison w/ Brainstorm, and Makeig's ICA freeware. So: Novatech makes Loreta
accessible to an interested audience. [biofeedback folks]. W/ some statistical
sophistication, the MHyt3! subcomponent can yield useful info.
LORETA & Brainstorm both aim for " component source localization": finding
dipoles etc., that are the active sources of momentary electrophysiological
activity. Makeig does have a Graphic User Interface also for his Independent
Component Analysis approach. (Yet to be tested for its localization
capabilities.) Yet, (in passing), his EEGlab article in the J. of Neuroscience
Methods 134 (2004), 9-21 does elaborate on techniques in contemporary EEG
research, that are basic to neuroscience literacy.
Ie: the "color tapestry" display of a single channel ERP, collected repeatedly.
(Vocab: "ERP image"; a longitudinal study of a single channel) Supposely, it is
a raster scheme: each line is a single EEG record, w/ voltage mapped into color.
{cf: the Aston nonparametric folks, w/ their greyscale "relevance"-exporatory
matrix} The raster (as a numerical matrix), can be sorted. Each line vector can
have "marker" values inserted. (The "columns" have an implicit temporal metric,
of the data collection rate. Thus, for ERP-s the [variable] reaction times of
the subject can be time locked to the applied physiological stimuli, and sorted
to show a smooth "range". A somewhat more elaborate massaging of the data yields
phase angles for the brain waves [at various frequencies or electrodes]. (Via
Makeig: connectivity between anatomical sources can be recovered from this
info.) Yet/also, while a single channel seems hopeless for true source
localization, it can be used for biofeedback successfully; cf: Lexicor. And,
it's data is surprisingly dense. Thus, similar to Congedo's "variable focus" for
EEG sources (by applying weighting methods) to emphasize signals from deep brain
sources, the ICA can uncover the major contributing electrode signal components
in this single "color tapestry" electrode, [as contributed from other specific
electrodes in the experimental ensemble.]
61, Looked at the abstracts
from the International Society for Neuronal regulation. "HEG",
hemoencephalography (an early variant of brain mapping by near infrared) was used
w/ success, as a biofeedback protocol. Etc, etc.
62, Consciousness studies are
coming to be somewhat significant in psychology. Hypnotism (a semi conscious
procedure) is a technique w/ a niche. While anatomically, various body systems
are linked to differing degrees, the somatic nervous system: voluntary muscles &
the skin, seems to be the main anchor for consciousness. [Along w/ the defined
sensory cranial nerves: audition, vision, etc.] Thus, no clue (yet) as to where
parapsy connects/resides systemically. By default, the autonomic nervous system
is a candidate. Or, similarly to the lymphatics, a distinct system might be
operational. Thus, the guess at eh neuroglia, using a different energy/signal
modality.]
63,
The Human Brain Mapping folks are doing fine at the journal: NeuroImage.
The
International Society of Life Information Science (ISLIS) publishes some "real"
research, although 65% or more of their stuff would be considered "fringe", at
best. Yet...:" Physiological Analysis for Consciousness Power (Non-visible
Recognition and Pill Moving through Glass Bottle without any Physical Touch)"
from their August 2002 Human PSY Forum. Original article is on order.
This complements the the western norm: Talairach every day; without study of
robust "psychic" phenomena.....
More studies (of subjective reports)...
Sheldrake R. The "sense of being stared at" does not depend on known sensory
clues.
Riv Biol. 2000 May-Aug;93(2):237-52. Persinger MA, Tiller SG, Koren SA.
Etc, etc...
64, While being totally (& rightly) absorbed w/ EEG, an occasional glance toward
mentalist (Garry Kurtz,
65,
66, The Disorders of Volition conference
[If these educated folks wanted to localize PK, it would succeed in half a
year.]
67, Again, items being "edited in" or being "edited out": Thus the oriental "chi
exercise" book of Stand Like A Tree.
Result of the "tree" exercise: sensory integration with the cerebellum
[voluntary/involuntary systems]; increased "will power"; etc...
More of "editable in/out": apports/teleportation of small objects ["markers"],
or changes of state in the nearby physical environment seem to be like an
"exteriorized" memory, validating "psychic strength" or the imposition of a
world view or script. The overall result seems to be instantaneous to the
senses, at times symbolic/"communicative". Neural substrates are still sought.
Thus, in relatively recent history: all the works of: Berthold Schwarz and the
SORRAT group.... Superb & consistent phenomena production, but a spiritualist
mindset, ultimately. At least, like Geller, shows the limits of what can be
accomplished, via naive, gifted and diligent folks.
Search engines could inform more, but a typical entry would be similar to
http://www.metamind.net/sorrat.html.....
68, The brain is pretty well mapped out. And, neuronal (electro-related)
events are pretty much regarded as the norm. But, via the "unknown": energies
and location of the PK related neuronal substrates ===> maybe the glial system
actively participated here. [This, impelled via #67, etc: with the semi
subjective "chi"/chakra [sympathetic/parasympathetic/non-conscious] concepts
that deal w/ energetics (sort of) and lack of well correlated anatomical loci
vis-à-vis the currently standard explications of the body.]
69, This entry was of an archival nature...Upon "turning over a new leaf"
(assured academic access to EEG equipment), the NEWS section for Neuro-Kinetik
was altered. The older content is preserved here.
When aiming for a parapsychology doctorate, (along the lines of Dr. Dean
Radin. See: "http://www.psiexplorer.com/radin.htm"), Neuro-Kinetik had selected
The Union Institute and University , in
Cincinnati for this effort. They are accredited nationally out of Chicago. Some
of the
documentation used in the Ph.D. application process, are
here. The Union
Institute and University is essentially mainstream, but is mostly geared toward
the "belles lettres". They encourage custom made curricula, but have no resident
expert in the neurosciences. Since the cost of the requisite research equipment
precludes the amateur/gentlemen scientist model, it was hoped that an
experimental psychology degree would provide the opportunity to be among the
first, who will explore the brain, seeking for the neural substrates for PK, and
the like. Formal applications for admission into a doctoral program for
experimental psychology have not met with success, for various reasons. Even so,
an effort is under way to realize the overall goal for Neuro-Kinetik:
learning/applying high density EEG for brain activity localization.
The current state of the art for the label "parapsychology" is typified at [www.rhine.org/journal/jpab9806].
This is far removed from the robust phenomena documented, researched and/or
recounted by Sudre, Imich, Zorab, etc.
Experimental psychology can reclaim this. For example, on the grassroots (though
non academic) level are mentalist such as
Thus:
Titulo/Title: Biochemical Characteristics Associated to Rabbit Telepathy
Investigadores/Researchers: Prof. Carlota Saldanha, Dra. Teresa Raquel
Pacheco
Instituio/Institution: Instituto de Bioquimica, Faculdade de Medicina
Lisboa
Whilst awaiting published results
from the above, one is reminded of the "semi classic" work at:
The mindspring.com source is a summary of one of the finest moments of
the Rhine research labs. They did "mouse telepathy".
I.e., if the reticular arousal system of a rodent can be influenced by a human,
it is evidential/existential proof for ESP.
(Unfortunately, the Rhine people did not follow/attempt any histology/cytology
to do exploratory studies, w/ perfused brains, etc..)
They did breed a strain of mice, that reacted predictably to anesthesia.
Further, the mice were "telepathically" rousable from the induced coma.
Thus, were there a concerted effort at the time, the anatomical roots of
"parapsychology" could have been localized, w/ invasive technologies.
70, Downloaded Makeig's preprint
"Mining Event-Related Brain Dynamics" , from his U of Cal San Diego lab. Mostly
pretty good. His independent components do seem to show activated sites, while
principal components (should they overlap, would indicate magnitudes for the
activation. Frequency/time & phase info would/could be used in a BESA manner;
indicating spread of activations: now confirmed, rather than guessed at. (No
detailed idea on how he pruned his components...The Brainstorm people have some
ok cutoff threshold...)
Anyhow, information from detectors, processed & sent to effectors... The psi
system might [via guessing] might overlap the peripheral nervous system,
even to the extent of major processing [rather than pre-processing], semi
independently of the CNS.
Other radical guesses would place the inert support in the brain (astrocytes) in
an active mode, via yet to be found energetics.
[a repetitive, but interesting entry, as a commentary...]
In any event: since at times (transliminally or otherwise), parapsy info
penetrates/overlaps consciousness in an intergrable "sane" mode, the anatomical
sites where the parapsy connections to/in the thalamocortical loops are could be
located via current technology. [Even non invasively.]
From Makeig's bibliography from the current article: (related to funtional
connectivity), obtained by imaging methods:
Tass, et. al. (2003) in Phys Rev Letters 90 (8); Synchronization tomography: a
method for 3-D localization of phase synchronized neuronal populations in the
human brain, using MEG.
71, The Brainstorm people have
upgraded: both software, + extended support etc.
However.... U of Oregon has OK-d an independent study set up, to get hands on
experience w/ high density EEG.
[Thanks to Dr. Tucker; he also runs Electronic Geodesic Inc. They use a
different set of algorithms, but are also an industry standard themselves.]
NovaTechEEG abandoned as a venue, as upon contacting Leslie there, Marco was
non-responsive to Neuro-Kinetik.
72, Neuro-Kinetik seemingly missed
the deadline for the ISLIS conference [see http://yeics.yonsei.ac.kr/islis2004/].
(The proposed publication is on the web at http://neuro-kinetik.com/ISLIS_submission.htm).
73, Re: #72
above.....[publications]
Firstly, one has to have real results available.
(Such as real EEG measurements on "spoon benders")
Secondarily, this has to be delivered to the "right" audience.
Thus: Community channel public TV is mandated to carry grassroot productions,
approximately at minimal cost.
This medium is non-enduring, but disseminates.
A more expensive (to include library of congress catalogue #) route is: the "publish
on demand" technology,
coupled w/ order fulfillment houses, such as amazon.com. Thus, the sapphire plan
from
74, Re: #73 -- Publishing:... the
public, legitimacy, amateurs & professionals. [and dynamic equilibrium]
And: emergent technologies w/ the use of the same on the borders of the known
[interfacing w/ the realm of the desired].....
(and desires are somewhat contentious: varied, regulated
[internally/externally], group and individual goals/subgoals, etc, etc.)
75, via the "brain coloring book"(s);
the memorable shapes of the basal ganglia, +, that *functionally*: the model of
the cerebellar organization generalizes/analogizes to the cerebrum..
Ie, the cortex on both has specific topological connections, etc.
&: Purkinje to cerebellar nuclei [w/ axons] are reminiscent of pyramidal cells.
[w/ the six cerebral laters being a collapsed/duplexed topological version of
the cerebellar cortex + it's deep nuclei.] In both: cerebellum & cerebrum, there
is a paralell, horizontal fiber system. [Also, of course, striated
musculature has micro linkages, horizontally.]
And the basal nuclei, like cerebellar nuclei, topologically funnel impulses from
the cortices to medial structures.
(Significantly: the thalamus, from the telencephalon.)
[And as art imitates nature: the early computer memory storage mechanism w/
orthognal wire grids & magnetic rings at every intersection, is highly
reminiscent of the paralell & Purkinje microstructure of the cerebellum. Like
terrycloth towels, breakfast loop cereals, & the printing on the M&M candy:
technologically cute.]
76, This # is currently vacant.
77, Meanwhile: Korsakof, animism
and confabulation. (A step up from organizing experience, as a gestalt, which
may result in and at times include optical illusions, etc..)
"Parapsychology" often gets sidetracked: social unknowns ("aliens",
spirits/entities, conspiracies) drawing attention away or even discrediting
physical unknowns: apports, metal bending, etc.
78, Via Braude, found a description
of retro-psychokinesis.
Ie: one experimenter [Schmidt] had a protocol, wherein subjects attended to
stimuli (visual or auditory), while attempting to alter the rate of arrival of
these randomly generated signals. [Randomness obtained via atomic decay, or the
effect of thermal noise on electric circuits.]
The subjects were able to alter the random signals recorded, as a "speed up"
effect.
This result could be obtained not only in real time, but also with pre-recorded
random sequences.
From the secondhand account of the experiment, it seems that the pre recorded
sequence segment was not checked explicitly for randomness, before being given
to the experimental subjects. (Though the overall series was random.)
The randomly generated sequence was recorded as both a micro and macro record:
magnetic impulses on a tape, and holes punched in a paper tape. To my knowledge,
no photographic "backup" of the paper tape was made. In any event, it was
assumed, that the paper tape record remained unaltered throughout the time
course of the trials.
Thus, the speed-up effect observed using pre-generated signals was ascribed to
the subject "reaching back in time", to effect the original generation: atomic
or thermal.
While having a "back up copy" of the original signals does not guarantee that in
real time the subject did not alter all
records "psychically", energetically or physiologically it is easier to change a
fewer number of records, than a larger number.
In any event, while "reaching back in time" is a possible explanation for the
events observed, altering the [possibly random] original record (in real time)
should not have been ruled out.
79, In the process of looking at
some articles by Dr. Tucker in various journals: Emotion, Cognitive Brain
Research.
Essentially, dealing w/ the role of emotion in executive control functions
[likely at just about every level of processing/proceeding], and a methodology
compatible with the Berg/Schlerg/BESA placement of dipoles. (Inferential
statistics on the data collected dictate a minimal, acceptable and plausible
configuration.)
Likely: a way to go.
80, Very briefly, looked at the vol
20, #2, Sept. 2002 Journal of international Society of Life Information Science.
(main topic: Human PSI Forum)
It shows an incremental, systemic use of available technology to gather data
about human psi. [Especially in Japan and China.] The overall impression of the
work is reminiscent of the ectoplasmic era researches: serious attempts at
quantification.
In the Journal: Similar to the last western superstar Geller, the oriental Mrs.
Sun exhibits effects that are extemely far from ordinary experience.
Methodologically: measurements applied specificly at the acupuncture points
[oriental "common knowledge"], are on par w/ the western "common knowledge"
results from PET, fMRI, and scalp maps.
Thus, the use of the 10/20 system of EEG on "psychics" likely yielded data for
later researchers.
Nevertheless,
to effect source localization [as a
specific goal], high
density EEG recordings are yet to be obtained.
Some "standard" (landmark) current westerners are included in the Journal: Radin
et. al..
81, Being in a school environment
(U of Oregon) has highlighted the "student" part of this "Student_note_book.htm".
A review/summary article by Peralta at
Definitely: valid localization does not equate to simple measurement.
82, The Vol. 22, No. 2 of the ISLIS
journal has an article, claiming of replication/extension of the anatomical
localization of the acupuncture flow system, originally reported from Korea.
(The initial findings, like the cold fusion folks, fell out of favor for
"various reasons".) Neuro-Kinetik is too busy with its own agenda, to check the
status of many a claim.
Yet, the obvious importance/utility of some presumed findings is rather huge.
83,
Whilst searching on the net for
insight into Principal Component Analysis,
various tutorials
were found. Each, with it's own approach and level of formalism.
(Some of these tutorials eventually might be eventually re-visited.)
The
84, The tutorials initially located,
to help w/ PCA were helpful. Steering one toward facts, such as: the
BESA
machinery offers both RAP-MUSIC and a
genetic algorithm for source localization. To further explore these search
methods, we located [via google] decent descriptions of tabu search, Monte Carlo
approaches to Simulated Annealing, and other automated optimizations for the
minimum norm placement of multiple dipoles to EEG/MEG data.
85, Trickled through the NetStation
tutorial, downloadable from the web, from egi.com. Thus (in the abstract), now
somewhat familiar w/ data collection w/ the sensor net, simple experimental
coding for repetitious "stimulus/response" protocols via the E-Prime software,
and the procedures for arriving at a grand averaged segmented data, that could
be imaged w/ various other tools, such as BESA. (Should actually perform this
complete process.)
Incidentally, to get "commercial grade" results, the electrode locations &
information about the actual brain are needed.
(Thus the Netstation links to BrainVoyager & the Geodesic Photogrammetry unit.)
Meanwhile: while the complexity of the system should not overshadow the results
sought (ie brain localization of PK, etc).
In any event, all the documentation available from EGI was reviewed. (And
appreciated.)
The sensor net, the amps and the post processing software are deservedly
considered among the top-of-the-line EEG imaging components. (As preprocessing
or adjunct to MRI localization packages.)
86, Meanwhile, as mentioned on the
NEWS and Extrapolation pages: California seems to be approaching the status of
the Orient, in parapsy research (potentially). [Ie: just a step shy of source
imaging, via EEG.]
Thus, Palo Alto has a PhD prog in Transpersonal Psy, that is comfortable w/ such
ideas.
&, while they seemingly lack equipment, undoubtedly they have contacts. So:
inspired by Hauck, a Calif. organization [non-profit] has sprung up, that has
metal benders in its membership (& a strong link to "alternate/complimentary"
MD-s.)
Acting on this, sent e-mails to both of the above named groups, as well as to
the Samueli Institute, about future research.
However: People and/or organizations responding within "five business days" are
usually ready to interact.
On the other hand: Neuro-Kinetik is mostly a web page also.
87, Had a brief opportunity to
interact w/ BESA. It is relatively user friendly, and mostly plausible.
(Procedurally: Using the PCA feature, to seed the putative dipoles, almost
automates obtaining a spatio-temporal localization of dedicated electrical
activity.) Actual co-registration w/ specific MRI-s, (thus: BrainVoyager) can
yield anatomically valid determinations.
Brainstorm is a likely candidate for dipole localization (as a training tool.)
Genuine pros & cons: In a benchmarking note by Fuchs, ICA was grossly superior
to PCA. However, he used a small number of known sources. (In passing, he
mentions that "naively" ICA can yield as many components as there are channels.)
Equating magnitude of signal source to functional importance is a common
approximation in brain studies.
Scherg's "principle of mutual exclusion" eases one toward the use of PCA derived
dipoles. (Possibly excluding relevant, low strenght signals supplied by any
methodology, particularly ICA.)
Not sure on the methodological derivation of this exclusion principle. However,
in demonstration, it supplies a stable answer set to scalp to 3D solutions,
after other possible candidate sites are volunteered to the algorithm.
Ie: a "*retained* invariant minimal basis"/ "global minima" analogue.
88, Meanwhile, just like there
might be edge, peak duration, rate of firing, time of arrival, specific
route/neurotransmitter availed, etc.' when considering signals from nerves ---
the PCA, ICA, pre-processing, anatomic information, case studies and
experimental design all provide different information about brain event
processes/locations researched at the more macro level.
In various contexts, any one of them might be closer to the "actual". And, at
times these tools/modalities can agree (or not) to various degrees.
However, as a practical matter, EEGLAB (the freeware supplier of ICA components)
strictly only does point instants for EEG. (Obviously, this can be aggregated,
preprocessed data. Thus a peak or onset or "maintenance" wave slices can be
evaluated for any & all components, at any rejection threshold for residual
variance. A fair tool.
89, E-mail to Dr. Joe Gallenberger.
A real psychology PhD, living a New Age life. Cf #86 above. He is in North
Carolina, etc.
90, An other archived segment
extract from the NEWS page:
A, http://www.geocities.com/misaha93923/sun.html
B, Journal of ISLIS, Vol.20.
No.2, 2002 English, September
Physiological Analysis for Consciousness Power
(Non-visible Recognition and Pill Moving through Glass Bottle without any
Physical Touch)
Yoshio MACHI , Chao LIU, Chang WANG and Bin WANG
Graduate School of Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Tokyo Denki University
(Tokyo, Japan)
We carried out clairvoyance experiments and obtained several physiological
values to clarify the phenomenon of clairvoyance. We found that the subjects
sympathetic nervous system acted strongly and that her parasympathetic nervous
system strengthened instantaneously. At this time, the blood flow in both her
neck and forehead increased. Furthermore, her blood pressure increased, and the
oxygen level in the blood decreased. We thought these effects were due to her
brains consumption of so much oxygen as well as energy. A vibration phenomenon
was found in the GSR data. EEG topography showed that her visual area and the
frontal lobe became active when this phenomenon appeared. The electrical
potential of those areas rose quickly; when the potential between two points
rose, those points were connected. We found that the physiological data changed
greatly when the activity of the right side of the brain became high,
particularly in the frontal lobe. We also conducted an another experiment in
physiologically moving an object without any physical contact. When she showed
her skill, the oxygen density in blood decreased, and it was similar to
non-visual recognition, even if the blood flow in her neck increased. As for the
time that she was in the practice period, the temperature of her left hand and
her left foot decreased. In the time when she used her power, her state of
breathing changed. The vibration phenomenon seen in the GSR data appeared in
this experiment. This vibration frequency was in the domain of δ [delta] wave
for brain waves at 1.4 Hz. Brain waves such as an EMG were sometimes seen, and δ
[delta] waves appeared powerfully, though a short time at a area with a possible
period. These δ [delta] waves occurred in the middle of her left frontal lobe
and her temporal field, and a range active at the left coronal section of the
head opened. It is thought that when the object moved to other place, action
potential of the δ [delta] waves were the highest. Although non-visual
recognition occurred in her right brain, this activity domain during moving a
pill was reversed. Keywords: clairvoyance, physiology, EEG, ECG, blood pressure,
temperature, blood flow, autonomous nervous system, vibration signal from GSR,
mind
91, Via #90, item C, and non accessibility: allergies and viruses are
instrumentally confirmable.
Since "parapsycholgy" is not yet at an instrumentationally measurable stage,
Tourette syndromes are essentially idiopathic from the explanatory vantage of
"true" parapsy. Yet some "folk explanations" are ruled out: demonic-posessions/partial-abductions-by-aliens.
The model of a fragmented action sequence ("psychic virus") triggered by
sensitivity to the external ("psychic-allergen") seems to fit. [With the
"internally" triggered/maintained case attended to shortly.]
Also: "intentionality" or goals ascribable to the allergen are not a subject of
emphasis: irritants are irritants.
Similarly to Tourette-s, those portions of psychiatric difficulties that are
parapsychology connectable can be subdivided into: mainly internally maintained
vs mainly externally maintained. [W/ the transition stages
mundane/outlier/mundane meriting extra review.]
Thus, internally maintained (by-now-on-fire) processes [vs "non
self-maintaining"/externally-fueled states] that are a structural feature are an
other perspective/taxonomy in the parapsychology-as-biology schema.
So some cancers/schizophrenia, etc. likely overlap parapsy, just as they overlap
biochem or socially induced traumatic etiology.
But without a firm instrumentally verifiable confirmatory procedure in place,
#90 & #91 on this page are still only journal entries, rather than part of
legitimated diagnoses, etc.
Further: conditions/decisions of individuals can have social implications.
However, parapsychologically induced/maintained events ("raw" or symbolic) are
not yet afforded the same status as paleontology.
92, Revisiting the Web archives (Tucson II Conference on Consciousness
[Anomalies]): In case there are no spoon benders handy, other brain sources can
be localized...)
Differential brain responses to targets and
nontargets in a precognitive, forced choice task
N.S. Don
Event related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 22 subjects performing
a forced choice guessing task which was part of a larger study of pathological
gambling. On each trial, ERPs were elicited by four, sequentially presented,
graphic images. After the last stimulus was delivered, subjects guessed which of
the four images would later be randomly selected by the computer as the target
for that trial. On the basis of two previous studies, we hypothesized that on
`non wagering' trials the Late Negative Slow Wave (L- NSW; 400-500 ms post
stimulus) and the Early Negative Slow Wave (E-NSW; 150-400 ms) would have
greater negative going amplitude over five pre specified sites for targets than
for nontargets. The first hypothesis was marginally confirmed (p = .085, one
tailed); the second was strongly confirmed (p = .007, one tailed). The results
were interpreted as evidence of unconscious or preconscious psi. That is,
although differential brain responses to target and nontarget stimuli indicated
that psi information was detected by the subjects, it did not appear to strongly
influence conscious behavior, as indicated by nonsignificant, marginally below
chance, guessing accuracy. Importantly, these results represent a replication
and confirmation of our earlier findings with a group of unselected (for psi)
subjects.
93, Meanwhile: as an actual student
(this web page is labeled: Student_note_book), two things:
a, Always thought that an
inhibitory post synaptic potential was only functionally so, but that in other
respects, it was identical to an excitatory post synaptic potential. But,
according to Fernando Lopes da Silva, "at the synapse" these events are
accomplished by either a flow of positive, or negative ions. Qouting further:
"along the cell and at a distance....etc.", which I take to mean that opposite
polarity phenomena will be recordable at the scalp, depending on inhibition or
excitation. (If true: Hey!)
[This, over and above the "dipole superposition"/conservation-of-charge
principle, which like occluding objects in the visual field, can both inform or
hinder. Ie: According to this principle, a positive "dipole"charge frontally
[all things being equal], will necessarily also manifest a negative field,
caudally.]
b, Via Futurehealth & the
biofeedback folks, found the A620 biofeedback device, designed by Dr. Lubar.
Supposedly, it rewards "persistent" brain activation. (Likely measured as
a "frequency" event). Meanwhile, Congedo [a Lubar graduate] mentions
conditioning intracranial sources. (Still via a frequency paradigm. Also: Not
too many details supplied in his dissertation on how these sources in the brain
were located.)
Following this path:
At EGI (Electro-Geodesics Inc.) regions of interest in the brain are
localized/recorded with 128 or 256 channel EEG routinely. [Actually, they do the
pre-processing. The 3D localization, enabled by their hardware/software, is done
by some software like BESA, Brainstorm, EEGlab, etc.]
Nevertheless......Assuming that one was somewhat confident about having obtained
a representative snapshot of a brain activation (a la Dr. Makeig, etc.)
Therapeutic folks eventually
could target specific intracranial brain sites/ensembles [signifying particular
ailments] via biofeedback, since via the forward solution, an xyz coordinate in
the brain would translate into a specific matrix/montage on the 128 or 256
channel data harvesting machinery. (Enabling biofeedback to proceed.)
[However, given the accuracy of the localization process, variability of
individual anatomy, closeness of various brain centers (implying: mistaken de
facto targeting), making the tool available is a service, since it starts the
process of improving it. Obviously: The clinical usage stage clearly has not yet
arrived.]
So far, EGI did not jump on this idea. So, willing to wait a half a year or so
w/ this. If the idea does not find favor w/ them later either, then other
manufacturers migh be contacted.
94, edited out.
95, On & off, looking at Makeig's
EEGLAB. Due to the lack of the Signal Processing (MatLab) toolbox, many of the
functions are unavailable. Nevertheless, the program overall seems to be pretty
good. Yet to test drive all the available features.
96, Other than an enlightening
intro into complex numbers [Visual complex analysis; amazon + libraries], mildly
awaiting further interaction, e-mailed to
[Essentially, he is part of a unit of the U of Cal San Francisco Medical
school.]
As a medical doctor, and having firsthand acquaintance w/ "spoon bending", EEG
anatomical localization of such activities should be a natural procedure to
incorporate into their ongoing enlargement of their knowledge base.
A letter to a similarly strong representative of from the healing arts field, Dr
Marla Brucker (Hynotherapist; San Diego) has been sent. Again, EEG brain source
localization & spoon bending were mentioned. Zero response to e-mails. Being
physically nearby helps sometimes.
97, Wow... highly significant;
From U of Oregon: (Mostly visual work w/ monkeys, Dr. Marrocco)....."
Drugs that selectively lower brain NE levels exclusively impair utilization of
the temporal information, while those that alter ACh levels solely affect
attention shifting. "
98, As these footnotes are modestly
in cyberspace....
Possibly through the Auerbach and Brucker path: was able to exchange some
e-mails w/ the Boundary Institute. The appreciation of the overall plan by
Neuro-Kinetik was expressed, along with a regrettable lack of cash on both
sides. This has led to some e-mails to averagely prosperous mentalist, who a
certain percentage of the time do actual "psychic" acts.
As analogies go: Trees seem not to be self reflective, yet thrive as a group.
Mentalist need not know how their actions are based, on the science level. So
far, the ones contacted are too busy living, to devote time to making the
phenomena a massively distributed commodity, by contributing to basic research.
In the lack of eagerness for this type of self knowledge by humans, mentalist
are not unique. Nevertheless, wrote to some more people w/ the presumed means &
potential interest about brain imaging & parapsychology. While events will bear
themselves out (not super hopeful about progress), at least did find a nice
exemplar of an effect mentioned long ago.
99, Via the magic folks, drifted
over to the fringe/border/ignored people. One site tied together Wm. James and
multiple personality disorders as an occasional "spirit posession". While the
DNA/RNA model allows for broken/fragmented/hungry "action patterns" as
malignancies, viruses, & other pathogens: linking telepathy to self re-enforcing
and enduring difficulties has yet to be a part of parasitology. The DNA/RNA
model (explicating ordinary and pervasive life mechanisms) has not been
connected via a cause and effect chain to the "psychic" --- where illusions and
veridical perceptions, "politics" and various mental contructs
[group/individual] are found.
It well might be, that abandoning this avenue of potential interaction w/
segments of the "racial unconscious" [vis-à-vis legitimacy], (the current
paradigm), is most beneficial.
However, this is the essence of living + spheres of influence: Various niche
sectors "rightly or wrongly" attempt to exist.
And, the amazing thing is: that they can exist side by side (seemingly
indefinitely), without significant interaction.
100a, Via #99, drifted back into
acupuncture and "getting qi".
This is (on the subject's side), a particular set of sensations elicited by the
acupuncture piercing. [Paralleled by a feeling on the "operator" side, that the
needle feels "pulled", if inserted at the proper spot.].
(Things that are a totally commonplace knowledge on one level, are brand new on
other levels.)
This type of differential "knowledge levels" places Neuro-Kinetik very far
upstream.
Ie.: Initially, it was thought that Neuro-Kinetik might be pre seed, in a
commercial sense.
But a good case could be made, that what is being sought by NK is "proof of
principle", rather than "proof of concept". (Where only the latter is a possible
link to commercialization.)
In any event, the Noetic Institute in conjunction with Bastyr University and the
University of Washington did do a clinical study (paperwork taxonomy), on Neural
Energy Transfer.
Basically: a smell, or electric induction analogue...... Random lights flashed
at person A, yielded an activation of the visual cortex of an isolated person B.
A repeat of a Mexican experiment. Instrumental verification by EEG and or fMRI.
Taking this template: " transfer of unknown energy" from point A to point B
yields two experiment sets.
In acupuncture, one can use the conduction/transfusion analogue, connecting
various spots on the same or different people, and check the effects.
Neuro-Kinetik's favorite: doing brain-scans on people as metal is being softened
by "thought power", to find the neural substrates for the generation of new
energies, is the second set of experiments.
100 b, Bastyr has been invited. Financing this "proof of principle" seemed to
have halted however: spoon bending lacked legitimacy.
101, Found
Meanwhile, his consensus protocol seems slightly complicated, but is not
objectionable, per se.
Ie: he "displaces"/equates the experimenter random choice w/ the coin toss
"random choice".
Putting the experimenter in a slight quandry with his finite database of images.
For the two photos randomly picked might turn out to be the egg & starfish,
while the drawing supplied might be the spider web or the tug-of-war rope pull.
(Or indeed any drawing that is clearly not one of the two available and chosen
choices: such as a pure color, a uniform texture, a math equation, etc. )
And while a clear miss is a miss, I sure like metal softening: a defined "fuse"
threshold --- just as binary and detectable as a coin toss.
And the "deterministic" portion of metal softening is initiated with about
the same ease as "deciding" on which pictures to pick from the database in his
experiment.
Having said this, the "hits" demonstrated on the remote-viewing site (or Greg's
life) are an excellent demonstration of what can be achieved.
My guess on the coin toss mechanics is deterministic, however.
I model the (unknown) mechanism via the "side angle side" model from geometry.
(Used constantly w/ binocular vision.)
The "side " is the separation between Greg and the experimenter, the two
"angles" are their relation to the coin.
When/as they "agree", they force the coin to correspond to the heads/tails.
As usual, this is somewhat "cause-effect indistinguishable". Meaning: the coin
might (in some instances) move the two human's behavior/choices around, rather
than them outpowering it. [Depending on who/what else is tied to the system.]
Obviously, a real "proof" would be desirable.
102, Writing to the remote view
person in referenced in #101 produced no response. The e-mail to the Parapsy
Association, re: Dr. Gertrude Schmeidler's grant-in-aid that allowed some $$$
toward phenomenological, sociological, historical, and related approaches to
these.... phenomena" was declined by them, since the committee believed the the
funds were earmarked for "research"; not for writing a book about
parapsychology.
103, Via #72, the ISLIS
conferences: September 2005 will host one in Tokyo. Again, found out about the
deadline right at closure, or thereabout. Offered the (slightly ammended)
article from a year ago anew. [Since it is not yet obsolete.] Zero response.
104, Read the Margolis biography on
Uri Geller's website. Approximately: all new information. Geller is far better
than I thought. He certainly did a lot.
105, The Geller info was
sufficiently "high voltage"/high amperage" to enable the re-scanning of D. Lay's
Linear algebra and it's applications.
Originally, the algebra familiarization was undertaken to get an understanding
of singular value decomposition, used as a possible localization methodology for
the electrical dipoles in the brain. (As observed via the high density EEG
machinery.) So, as it turns out, (sort of), the measured data at the scalp can
be interpreted/clustered (even without a recourse to a forward solution step),
to be a factoring of the available raw data matrix, in various ways: via
orthonormality, triangular matrices, spectral, etc. Singular value decomposition
is one of the possible ways to look at the data. The candidate
clusters/factorings then become the elements in the possible localization for
the dipoles in the brain. Should some of these candidate dipoles (or a
combination of them), be found to be veridical, that would be progress. (Or, if
the difference between the methods was negligible, this also would be
information.)
106, Meanwhile, since access to
hardware is far away, commenced [sort of] on working on the book about "special
brains". (Spoonbenders & the like.) Thus, as early background data, looked at
While I only read most of the SRI section, it was cute & informative. Some
comments on the "Quark magnet" experiment....
As Sudre [Library of Congress Catalog Card # 60-13928] said, psychics tend to
produce effects anticipated, wished for.
Since P. was into "quantum collapse upon observation", as events unfolded (you
see what you want to see...), the equipment indeed was effected at the same time
that information was produced about the supercooled device. The alternate
explanation that the recording needle was "invisibly grabbed" and deflected
(rather than it recording distant events), is (of course) an inconsequential
distinction. Inasmuch as some effect was observed. But, useful info was not
delivered. (An EEG xyz coordinate from inside Ingo's brain, (at this exact
moment), would have been *useful* info. This equipment is available today.)
Secondly: That Ingo was allowed (might even have been somewhat "necessary") at
the experimental site....
The present is built on the past. Supercooled magnets, and early polar explorers
doing cutting edge telepathic experiments might have of necessity have "called
forth" Ingo. [As easily, as he could have inserted himself into events, via this
"semantic" connection.] (The 2 last sentences are references to data from Ingo's
"biomind" book.) However, this (possibly) necessary retracement of the past
[partially via Crookes of the Royal Society], seems to be built into "reality".
(Of course, just like advertising billboards can be overpainted, this
retracement can be "masked".) The construction of the human or natural world
notwithstanding for the moment: glancing at Crookes
107, Meanwhile, "scanning the environment" has shown some equipment/people, relevant to Neuro-Kinetik. Thus: The president of Taiwan National University had access to a psychic, who could identify written ideograms without the benefit of sight. (Ie: intuit.) He did some fMRI experiments, which showed activation of the visual "interpretive" areas of the brain, as the information was perceived by the psychic. The experiment was not designed to identify the "receiving" parts of the brain, vis-a-vis the anomalously sensed info. He also had some quite nice experiments about the psychology of his ESP subject(s). Thus: lexical retrieval of the material, age and percentage of (superficial) "trainability"/"phenomena elicitation". (Also: accompanying blood pressure data.) Lee-s findings are confirmatory, but he has not made "finger reading" part of the national elementary school curricula. Meanwhile, at the University of Virginia, Ed Kelly is still supposedly about to do fMRI and high density EEG studies on psychics. Also, on the equipment front, at Houston Texas (Baylor) a dual channel, real time fMRI --- labeled "hyperscanning" has become available. This should be as effective as a tool, to measure real time telepathic interactions between hypnotist & subject. [Should this experiment be undertaken.]
108, Finished Lay's Linear Algebra; so the formalism of Singular Value Decomposition and Principal Component Analysis for EEG brain source localization is now pretty much understood. The Curry folks (Kastner, Fuchs, & Wagner) speak highly of ICA. Of course, there is phase analysis and brain microstates. But, untill the technology and the psychics are brought together [in a "critical mass" for self sustainability], plans remain plans.
109, The Islis_Submission.pdf got expanded and revised. Via a possible inclusion into an on-line, peer reviewed journal. The publishing process did not complete, due to declined links to "card guessing parapsychology" and "quantum entanglement". The desired linkage would have been the "Margaret Mead"/AAAS connection. (Such as the student paper in physical anthropology paper discussing firewalkers. [http://www.soa.ilstu.edu/anthropology/theses/rdobrie/index.html]) Thus, besides quantifying skull size, blood types, etc., the brain tissues as functional neural centers could have been classified. (Some work is extant in this context, but not yet as related to para-psychology.) Meanwhile, the variant spelling of parapsy is on purpose: the Sudre intent.
110, Mishlove liked the "article", [currently in Neuro-kinetik/News.htm].
111, Sent a note to Rice in Georgia & to the folks at http://www.appinonline.com/coachpro.php (maybe some activity will be forthcoming). Meanwhile, just as an archival activity: (and an other reminder that one of the goals of of Neuro-Kinetik is to mechanize the generation of "psychic energies, along w/ developing/expanding conscious biological usage of the same, on a personal level.....) --- http://neuro-kinetik.com/Proposed_Doctoral123.htm and http://neuro-kinetik.com/Statement_of_Scholarly_Interest1234.htm
112,
113, As intellectual tools go: found the book Visual Complex Analysis by Tristan Needham. Although only looked at the first chapter (+ a few random ones), it seems that the math can model/vindicate Zolner [of the Transcendental Physics]. Ie: that there might be a physical 4th dimension equivalent, and quaternions might describe paranormal events. For example, parts of a mediums body disappearing [moving/rotating "up", out of the 3D sheet]. The "northern light" mediumistic phenomena [re: Imich], & temperature changes fit in well w/ this "surface tension" model. And, rising high into the next dimension, the current "timeline" of objects might become "visible". Thus: clairvoyance, precognition and the like. (Of course, teleportation and "making phantoms", etc. all are posited to proceed via this extra physical dimension too.) However, the physical realization of the above could be non trivial. || Got half way through Needham. Nice. Since he concentrares on statics, I glanced at http://www.theorem.net/theorem/lewis1.html (control theory). Lewis talks about phasors to calculate transients, etc.. So, do some calculations w/ complex variables, but only use the real component. Again: the goal is (in general) to find out about extension of complex analysis from statics to dynamics. [Yet keeping it as simple as Needham.] (Generic expl of simple control thry on Net: "PID without a Ph.D.)
113, s-LORETA is available, and is not irrelevant. Also not irrelevant: the newest EEG methodology from Makeig is a departure from earlier models. http://www.sccn.ucsd.edu/~scott/pdf/NI06_Tsai.pdf (Visually, it resembles BioEST.) The side by side comparisons of the results obtained via ICA vs EMSICA in the article referenced are reminiscent of the "connectionist" vs. "locationalist" approaches to functional brain anatomy in the historical development of neuroscience. EMSICA uses single event brain "snapshots" and decomposes each major ideational subcomponent into cortical regions [instead of point source like dipoles]. (Note: in the published paper no subcortical components were referenced. This might actually be accurate, given when the brain "snapshot" was taken.) For Neuro-Kinetik, both Makeig methods are approximately equivalent. Since the new & the older methodologies yield nearly the same EEG sensor "footprint" at the scalp level. Thus, for biofeedback training purposes (psi related), both methods are likely to be equally useful. [ICA or EMSICA] The older method hinted more strongly to narrowly delineated anatomical sites, represented by dipoles. The newer method since it deals with numerous components, can still locate (via overlapping regions), clusters of activation. Thus the possibility for accurate anatomical localization of psi energy related neural loci is open, either via EMSICA or Independent Component Analysis.
114, The British organizations: Society for Psychic Research and the historically co-originated Ghost Club provide a public venue to attempt to raise funds/awareness for the brain scanning project. A boost in this direction is anticipated, as Neuro-Kinetik puts out an announcement (eventually) in the SPR publication "Paranormal Review". Meanwhile, Si Chen Lee is also "going it alone", albeit w/ as much sucess as his academic position allows. [see the "Papers Download" section of http://sclee.ee.ntu.edu.tw/english/mind/mind.htm] His actions in this direction seem to be a "script"/echo/"memory trace -- in the collective unconscious", Re: Professor Crookes.
115, The Paranormal News (Soc for Psychic Research) might let me put a small anouncement out. Also, Mario Beauregard from U of Montreal Cognitive Science Dept displayed some interest in imaging psychics, were but money available.
Last update: 22, Feb 2007