Transfer of Neural Energy Between Humans

Completed

Conditions studied: Healthy

In brief

The purpose of this study is to determine whether visual evoked potentials generated in one human brain by photostimulation can generate a correlated EEG signal in the brain of another human subject who is located at a distance and who is not visually stimulated.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00029978

Run by

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

People needed

60

Starts

2000-09-01

Expected to finish

2004-01-01

Last updated by the study team

2006-08-18

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Pairs of healthy human volunteers 18-65 years of age who know each other and who each answered "yes" to the following statement: "I have had at least one experience of feeling the presence of a friend/relative/partner even when we are not physically together."
• Subjects have at least one year experience practicing meditation, relaxation techniques, contemplation or prayer at least once a week.
• Willingness to report to the University of Washington on at least 1-2 occasions and up to a maximum of 6 visits, for 1-2 hour sessions each visit.
• Willingness to undergo FreezeFrame relaxation training in a 8 minute session.
• Willingness to have EEG and EKG measurements.
• Willingness to undergo functional MRI evaluation for 45-60 minutes in a small horizontal chamber and to be exposed to high decibel auditory stimulation during the procedure (optional).
• Ability to provide informed consent.
• Visual acuity 20/20 or better in each eye, with correction.

You may not qualify if…

• Diagnosis of neurological disease, including epilepsy. History of epilepsy.
• Diagnosis of psychiatric disorder either past or current.
• Visual acuity more than 25/25 in each eye, with correction.
• Implanted devices or metal objects such as pacemakers, aneurysm clips, metal bone or joint pins, or shrapnel (in case of willingness to participate in fMRI part of the study).
• Current use of psychotropic medications, either prescription or illicit.
• History of self-reported claustrophobia (in case of willingness to participate in fMRI part of the study).

Where it is running

• Bastyr University — Kenmore, Washington, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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