title: Positive associations among dichotic listening errors, complex partial epileptic-like signs, and paranormal beliefs.
abstract: The numbers of complex partial epileptic-like signs were moderately (rs = .50) associated with strength of paranormal beliefs but not conservative (religious) beliefs in a population of young males and females (13 to 20 years). Dichotic listening errors were also significantly correlated with both complex partial epileptic-like signs and paranormal, but not conservative, beliefs; the females demonstrated the strongest intercorrelations (rs between .54 and .63). These results support the hypotheses that dichotic listening errors reflect a continuum of complex partial epileptic phenomenology in the normal population and this process encourages the acquisition of paranormal but not traditional beliefs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Skirda
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Persinger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004007:Dichotic Listening Tests; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010268:Parapsychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology