Mysterious Minds: The Neurobiology of Psychics, Mediums, and Other Extraordinary People
• Looks at the cutting-edge science behind reports and experiences that have inherent appeal to a wide audience, as demonstrated by the popularity shows likeThe X FileS≪/i> andMedium</i>• Provides an accessible scientific assessment of activity often dismissed as spurious or psychotic• Looks at controversial topics such out-of-body experiences and the use of psychotropic drugs to examine psychic claimants• Proposes viable new paradigms, based on contemporary scientific models, for acknowledging the potential of the mind to engage in activity that appears to transcend usual concepts of time, space, and energy• Includes essays from several expert contributors, each an accomplished scientific researcher in the fields of parapsychology, neurobiology, and cognitive neuroscience• Offers case studies on definitive episodes of both fraudulent and not-easily-disproven psychic events• Provides a bibliography of references and additional readings, including print and online resources"Krippner (psychology, Saybrook U.) and Friedman (psychology, U. of Florida, Gainesville) assemble nine articles that examine claims of parapsychological experiences like telepathy, psychokinesis, and precognition from a neurobiological perspective. Instead of promoting a position on the existence or non-existence of these phenomena, they aim to introduce readers to pioneering efforts exploring the mind through neurobiological perspectives and technologies like neuroimaging and EEG. They consider such phenomena as ESP, trance, and paranormal experiences, as well as the skepticism of mainstream scientists, the neurochemistry of these phenomena, and the relationship between the mind and the body. Contributors are psychologists, neurobiologists, and specialists in behavioral medicine and parapsychology from North America, Europe, Australia, and Brazil."-Reference & Research Book News"Recommended."-Choice"There isn't space here to review every chapter in this timely volume, but each one offers worthwhile perspectives on psi and neurobiology. The editors are to be applauded for assembling this range of informative material. The anthology shows that there could be real value in bringing neuroscience into the realms of parapsychology, with potential benefits to both areas of research…"-The Noetic Post