The Science Behind Psychic Phenomena - Time Magazine

[ShadowRain]

Time Magazine printed a short article and interview (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1868287,00.html) with Diane Hennacy Powell, author of The ESP Enigma: The Scientific Case for Psychic Phenomena, which was released yesterday (December 23rd). It's nice to see these type of abilities (telepathy, psychokinesis, clairvoyance, and precognition were mentioned specifically) getting some attention--especially non-dismissive and non-fluffy attention.

There's more info on the book here (http://dianehennacypowell.com/books/). I haven't read it, but it looks promising.

She also wrote an article that specifically mentions psi abilities and theories on how they might work neurologically that can be read here (http://www.noetic.org/publications/shift/issue9/S09_WeAreAllSavants_Powell.pdf) (pdf). It was a very interesting read, and don't worry it's fairly short.

[Shiningwolf]

Hurray for the gradual acceptance of psionics.

[crackerjake]

Now I know what I should've asked for Christmas, lol

[mrco.gllrdo]

Hurray for the gradual acceptance of psionics.
Second that claim. Sort of makes you want to smile, don't it?

[voiddragon]

She also wrote an article that specifically mentions psi abilities and theories on how they might work neurologically that can be read here (http://www.noetic.org/publications/shift/issue9/S09_WeAreAllSavants_Powell.pdf) (pdf). It was a very interesting read, and don't worry it's fairly short.

I have a lot traits, neurologically, that they mention in their autism section. That being the case, I don't agree with this article. Autistic people, including myself, favor linear and literal thinking over associative or arational thinking. I have a really bad concept of abstract or applied logic, however, I am very good at linear forms of math, linear forms of logic. I have the ability to basically store entire books in my head and regurgitate them, but due to problems with heuristics and linguistics, I can not tell you what it means in terms of interpretation if it uses a lot of associative patterns. Not to mention I have a fascination with symbols, letters, and sounds for that sensory and aesthetic value.

If you speak to me, personally, you will see oddities in my speech pattern. Instead of using a word to refer to a concept, I will describe the concept separate from the word. I will use the word, correctly, but the subtle connotative differences I am oblivious, too, so I will use the proper word in the proper way, but in the wrong contact, because I am oblivious to them. I actually speak very slowly, verbally, because it takes me some time to match concepts to words and I react to spoken language very slowly, because it takes me a while to decipher what it is that you are saying. Those associations are not instant.

Savant syndrome is not medically recognized, and, in autistic people, is a manifestation of their narrowed scope of interests and compulsive fascination of things. Yes, it is common sense that autistic people can function like everyone else, but use different parts of their brain. Our brains are wired differently, for one, and I have to work, function, and live you know. I am capable of doing everything that a neurotypical person can do, BUT my brain is wired differently, so of course I would use different parts of it.

That article is slightly irritating me, because she has it backwards. Autistic people think linearly and classically with little conceptualization and abstractions whereas neurotypicals don't. Research into autism has linked savant like abilities to a stripping away of the top level of conceptual thinking in which the raw information can be worked with without prior interpretation.

None of this has anything to do with psi, at all, either. That and she draws some biological conclusions and links them to autism which are not that sound. For example, the quantum components of the brain only effect synchronous firing of neurons and NOT synchronous functioning and the only quantum components are the superposed states at the base of the neurons in terms of potential charge AND this do not make up for the classical systems; rather, they compliment them.

Quantum entanglement in the brain only produces synchronous firing in SOME neurons and NOT synchronous functioning and it DOES NOT alter the neurons itself. It adds onto a potential charge in those superposed states.

The Brain Is Both Neurocomputer and Quantum Computer (http://psionslair.co.cc/pdf/quantumbrain.pdf)

[Winged_Wolf]

You should also remember that autism manifests differently in males and females. This is why many autistic females go undiagnosed for much longer. She used Temple Grandin as her primary example in that section, so that may be responsible for the parts you don't find personally relevant.