John PALMER , Vernon M. NEPPE : A Controlled Analysis of Subjective Paranormal Experiences in Temporal Lobe Dysfunction in a Neuropsychiatric Population

This research extended to a neuropsychiatric population findings by Neppe and by Persinger that subjective paranormal experiences (SPEs) are associated with temporal lobe dysfunction (TLD) in the brain. The sample consisted of 100 of Neppe’s patients at the Pacific Neuropsychiatric Institute (Seattle, WA). TLD was defined as a composite of 4 diagnostic criteria : (a) symptomatology as measured by 16 TLD items from Neppe’s INSET questionnaire ; (b) predisposing conditions (recreational drugs, brain damage) ; (c) anomalous electroencephalographic activity ; and (d) response to anticonvulsant drugs. SPEs were measured by questions on the INSET referring to ESP, apparitional, and out-of-body experiences. TLD criteria and SPEs were coded independently by 2 raters who were each sent portions of patient files from which information relevant to the other rater had been removed. Sixty patients classified as having TLD had significantly more SPEs than 27 patients who were not. Thirteen patients indeterminate on T LD were removed. Supplementary regression analyses revealed that this result was due entirely to symptoms (INSET) as predictor. Females reported significantly more TLD symptoms and SPEs than males, but this confound did not destroy the INSET-SPE relationship. Phone interviews of 20 patients reporting SPEs confirmed that most had at least 1 credible ESP experience.