To our knowledge, this is the first fMRI study to examine the brain correlates of telepathy. Previous studies have employed other functional brain mapping techniques such as Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)[8] and electroencephalography (EEG) and MRI[9] to investigate paranormal phenomena in selected individuals. In our study, telepathy was associated with significant activation of the right parahippocampal gyrus; whereas the control subject without telepathic ability, activated the left inferior frontal gyrus under similar task conditions.
A previous study[9] on Mr. Ingo Swann (who had the special ability of remote-viewing) showed that the proportions of unusual 7-Hz EEG spike and slow wave activity over the occipital lobes per trial had a correlation with the ratings of response accuracy. Neuropsychological and MRI analyses suggested a differential structural and functional organization within the parieto-occipital region of Mr. Swann’s right hemisphere.
Another SPECT study[8] examined Mr. Sean Harribance, who routinely experienced "flashes of images" of objects that were hidden and of accurate personal information concerning people with whom he was not familiar. The "extrasensory" processes in Mr. Harribance correlated quantitatively with morphological and functional changes involving the right parietotemporal cortices (or its thalamic inputs) and hippocampal formation.

 

Together, these two studies suggest that paranormal phenomena might have a relationship with the right cerebral hemisphere, especially the right posterior cortical and hippocampal regions. The parahippocampal region is very closely linked to the hippocampus, both structurally and functionally.[21] So, the current study findings also support the association between the right hippocampal system and paranormal phenomena.
In our study, the control subject activated his left inferior frontal gyrus during his unsuccessful telepathic task performance; this brain area is implicated in the “Theory of Mind [ToM]”.[22] The attribution of mental states, such as desires, intentions, and beliefs, to others has been referred to as ToM.[23] Empathy, conceptually related to ToM, is described as the ability to infer and share the emotional experiences of another.[24] An earlier study reported that
psychic mind readers had greater cognitive empathy than individuals without these abilities.[5] Importantly, hippocampal brain regions are important for empathy.[25]
Thus, our observations derive indirect support from this earlier study.[5] Superior empathizing abilities have been hypothesized to be important for both telepathy[5] as well as for distant intentionality.[7] Interestingly, the cuneus (a brain region associated with empathy[26]) has been reported to be linked with distant intentionality.[7] Also, in our study, the hippocampal region (associated with empathy[25]) is implicated in telepathy. These observations support the
hypothesized link between empathy and special abilities. It is possible that people with telepathy or distant healing abilities might possess the ability to activate differentially specific brain regions (in localization, e.g., anterior vs posterior brain regions or in lateralization, e.g, right vs left brain) related to the empathy circuit in comparison to individuals without these abilities.
On the contrary, empathy deficits[27] and cuneus[28] and parahippocampal abnormalities[29] and anomalous right hemisphere overactivation[30] have been reported in schizophrenia. Most of these “left-hemisphere dominance failure” findings have been conceptualized as being “abnormal” in their tendency to increase a person’s proclivity towards psychosis. Paradoxically, evolutionary theories on psychosis propose an alternative possibility that some of these traits might be of crucial utility.[31] It has been proposed that this dominance failure (and consequent right hemisphere overactivation) facilitates the emergence of paranormal and delusion-like ideas by way of right hemispheric associative processing characteristics, i.e., coarse rather than focused semantic activation. Interestingly, the ability to detect subtle magnetic field energies might underlie paranormal phenomena.[32] Moreover, magnetic field abnormalities have been described to be the underlying basis for psychotic symptoms.[33,34] However, it is yet to be examined whether a conglomeration of these features (i.e., reduced left hemispheric dominance, paranormal beliefs) are also indicative of an inherent advantage towards acquiring “special” abilities in some people (of course, with enhancement towards psychosis in others) possibly due to an enhanced tendency to perceive subtle geomagnetic energy alterations.
Ours is probably the first fMRI study to examine the neuroanatomical correlates of telepathy. fMRI offers methodological advantages of nonradioactive and
noninvasive real-time imaging of the brain. We have employed a well-researched and validated image analysis paradigm with optimal correction for false positive results. Our study methodology strictly adhered to the guidelines for research on paranormal phenomena proposed by Hyman and Honorton.[11] These include rigorous precautions against sensory leakage, extensive security procedures to prevent malpractices, full documentation of all experimental procedures and equipment, and complete specifications about statistical analyses.
Nonetheless, one has to be cautious while interpreting the study findings due to the following limitations: i) ideally, it would have been methodologically more rigorous if Mr. Gerard had replicated the successful telepathic task with similar brain activation during another session of fMRI on a different occasion. As Mr. Gerard had reported some inexplicable discomfort in the few days following the fMRI, this could not be done; Ii) examination of just one control subject is another limiting factor.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, this study’s findings are suggestive of an association between telepathy and the right parahippocampal gyrus. The methodological rigor, isolated and robust brain activation with telepathy, and established theoretical relevance of this brain region with reference to paranormal phenomena highlight the need for further studies using advanced fusion imaging techniques (simultaneous fMRI, EEG, and magnetoencephalography) to examine telepathy.