title: Potential production of Hughlings Jackson's "parasitic consciousness" by physiologically-patterned weak transcerebral magnetic fields: QEEG and source localization.
abstract: Exotic experiences such as the sensing of another consciousness or the detachment of consciousness from the body are occasionally reported by individuals with partial seizures from a temporal lobe focus. The experiences display the characteristics of Hughlings Jackson's "parasitic consciousness". We have hypothesized that these experiences are encouraged by slight discrepancies in hemispheric activity that can be simulated by application of weak, physiologically-patterned magnetic fields across the cerebral hemispheres. Electroencephalographic and Low Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA) data revealed altered activity bands within specific regions within the cerebral cortices during these experiences. The clear changes in power of brain activity were discerned after consistent durations of exposure to specifically patterned weak magnetic fields. Millisecond range point durations were required. The technology may be useful to explore the subjective components associated with complex partial seizures.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6, Canada.
authors.forename: Kevin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Saroka
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Persinger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003243:Consciousness; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electromagnetic fields; Haunt-type experiences; QEEG; Sense of presence; Temporal lobes; sLORETA