DISTANT HEALING:

Intentionality and Brain Function in Recipients

using fMRI Analysis

Jeanne Achterberg, PhD

The Marriage of Science The Marriage of Science and Spiritualityand Spirituality

• It is no exaggeration to say that the future course of history depends on the decision made by this generation as to the relationship between science and religion.

Alfred North Whitehead

Consciousness and HealingConsciousness and HealingHigh Tech EvidenceHigh Tech Evidence

• Mind/body/spirit Connections

• Human Interconnections of Consciousness

Consciousness and HealingConsciousness and HealingHigh Tech EvidenceHigh Tech Evidence

• Mind/body/spirit Connections

• Human Interconnections of Consciousness

DefinitionsDefinitions

• Distant Healing Intentionality=prayer, “energy” healing, transpersonal imagery, nonlocal healing

• Healer= someone who works with others to help them return to health

• Neurotheology=field dedicated to understanding the relationship between spirituality and the brain

Science and WisdomScience and Wisdom

• The problem with technology is that as knowledge increases, wisdom fades.

Bertrand Russell

Healing and Consciousness: Healing and Consciousness: Lines of EvidenceLines of Evidence

Substantial number of controlled studies Substantial number of controlled studies showing positive effects of prayer, showing positive effects of prayer, distant healing, healing intentions on distant healing, healing intentions on health and behaviorhealth and behavior

New Large Well-Controlled Studies: Duke and Harvard

NEGATIVE RESULTS

Larry Dossey: This type of research must be conducted in environments atnatural as possible

(Context validity)

Healing and Consciousness

• Placebo research

• Opiates, placebo responders & non-responders

Petrovik, et al. (2002)

Correlated or co-consciousness

• Twin Study (correlated EEGs)• Duane & Behrendt, 1965

• Bonded or close couples • Grinberg-Zylberbaum, 1987 (EEG)• Standish, et al., 2003 (fMRI)• Wackermann, et al., 2003 (EEG)

Neuropsychology of Mystical StatesNeuropsychology of Mystical States

• Review: Newberg & D’Aquili (2001) Why God Won’t go away.

• Kundalini/Zen, Lazar et al. (2000) fMRI

• Tibetan Monks, Newberg (2000)

Evaluation of Potential Effects of Evaluation of Potential Effects of Prayer and Healing Intention on Prayer and Healing Intention on

Brain Function, using fMRIBrain Function, using fMRI

North Hawaii Community Hospital

Bakken Foundation

Study DesignStudy Design

• Pairs of “Sender” and “Receivers”• Random intervals of experimental and

control conditions• Receiver “blind” to send/no send

conditions• Statistical comparison of experimental

and control conditions using BOLD analysis

RESULTS

• Significant findings in 9 of 11 pairs of healers and receivers of distant healing intentionality when comparing send vs. no send conditions

• Group significance in a cluster of brain areas--

P=.000127

CONSULTING INSTITUTIONS

• Univ. of Washington

• Univ. of Hawaii

• Univ. of California, Irvine

• Univ. of California, Los Angeles

• Oxford

Scanner at North Hawaii Community HospitalScanner at North Hawaii Community Hospital

MRI scanner

Head position of (Receiver)

Window

Healer(Sender)

13 feet distance between Sender and Receiver

Figure 1: Experimental set up showing fMRI scanner and positions of Sender and Receiver

Control Center

Scanner Operator

““Raw Data” fMRI ScansRaw Data” fMRI Scans

#00

Qi GongQi Gong

Anterior Cingulate Cortex#00

Healing TouchHealing Touch

Posterior Cingulate Cortex

#10

Vibrational Sound HealingVibrational Sound Healing

Left Temporal Lobe andLeft Cerebellum

#30

Traditional Hawaiian HealerTraditional Hawaiian Healer

Cerebellum

(KahunaKahuna)

#40

Traditional Hawaiian HealerTraditional Hawaiian Healer

Hippocampus

(KahunaKahuna)

#40

Psychic HealerPsychic Healer

Hippocampus#50

Psychic HealerPsychic Healer

Lingual Gyrus, Lingual Gyrus, CerebellumCerebellum#50

Prayer & Energy HealerPrayer & Energy Healer

#60

Neck Muscles(Inverse)

Prayer & Energy HealerPrayer & Energy Healer

#60Right Inferior Frontal

Prayer & Energy HealerPrayer & Energy Healer

#60Cerebellum

ReikiReiki

#70Thalamus

ReikiReiki

#70

Anterior Cingulate Cortex

ReikiReiki

##70Olfactory Area

ReikiReiki

##70Occipital cortex

ReikiReiki

##70Surface Image

Peruvian / Brazilian HealingPeruvian / Brazilian Healing

#80

Cerebellum

Peruvian / Brazilian HealingPeruvian / Brazilian Healing

#80Superior Frontal

Peruvian / Brazilian HealingPeruvian / Brazilian Healing

#80

Surface: Positive - frontal lobeNegative - Occipital, parietal,

cerebellum

Peruvian / Brazilian HealingPeruvian / Brazilian Healing

#80

Surface:Positive Frontal Lobe (left)

Group ActivationGroup Activation

Group activation in the precuneus and cingulate area

Group activation in the anterior cingulate and frontal regions

Qi Gong -- Master Teacher

#00

FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH

1. Could similar results be obtained from non-healers?

2.Do different types of healing yield different responses?

3.Is there a concordance of brain activity between pairs?

4. Are there anticipatory responses to these standardized randomoutcomes?5. What is the experimenter effect in such research?6. Can the finding of care, knowledge, bonding, and compassion be replicated?7. Can the results be replicated?