We Can Evolve Within Our Lifetime?!

© 2011 By Gary Vey (http://www.viewzone2.com/morphogenetic.html)

Part 1 

Inherited Programming: How does it work?

A farmer I know often goes out to shoot possums that invade his garden in the middle of the night. His dog chases them up a tree and, with a flashlight reflecting in their eyes, they are easy to spot and dispatch. But not always. Increasingly, more possums are apparently learning not to look at the light and they remain invisible -- and continue to live. He joked that this was an example of natural selection, with nature favoring the successful strategy for survival.On the surface this seems to make sense. But does it really?

Offspring inherit lots of characteristics from their parents' DNA. There are genes for size, hair color and brain development -- but was there somewhere in the possum's genes that stored the strategy of not looking at the hunter's flashlight?

This is not a new question. Survival behaviors of animals have been studied by many researchers, but their inherent programming has never been fully explained. How exactly is this strategy coded and passed on from one generation to the next? Can DNA do this?
The most famous study of survival strategies is outlined in Richard Dawkin's book, The Selfish Gene. Let's take look.

Evolutionay Stable Strategies (ESS) One of the most interesting ideas in The Selfish Gene originated from another researcher, Maynard Smith. He described what he termed Evolutionary Stable Stategies, or ESS. These are programmed behaviors which specific species use when they are threatened. These strategies are not taught or learned. They are carried out unconsciously by each organism in a particular species, suggesting that they are imparted to each generation at birth through genes. Smith listed five main strategies which are observed in the animal kingdom (including humans): The Hawk -- If threatened, attack and fight to the end. This strategy is to fight an opponent with the maximum effort, unrestrained and for as long as it takes to either win the battle or to quit because of death or injury. Dog and cock fights are examples of this kind of aggressive strategy. While one party will always win, the other party will suffer extreme losses, and possibly death. The Dove -- If threatened, threaten back but never fight. Run away if attacked. This strategy involves making threatening gestures but inflicting no real harm to the opponent. The threats are usually a kind of ritual or symbolic "gesture" which continues until one of the animals doing this gets tired, bored or simply gives up. No one is injured, one party wins, but often there is a loss of energy and time if each animal has equal stamina. The Retaliator -- If threatened, act like a dove. But if seriously attacked, respond like a hawk and fight to the end. In this strategy, the animal reacts differently to the threat, depending on which strategy is being used against it. If it encounters a dove, it will respond with a dove strategy and threaten with gesture. But if it encounters a hawk, it will act like a hawk, aggressively fighting to the end. By acting initially as a dove, actual conflict and injury is avoided when the threat is small. But if there is to be a fight, the risk of injury or death is significant. The Bully -- Act like a hawk when threatened (and hope the opponent is scared away). But if challenged, run away like a dove. This strategy works pretty well as the animal can "fake" that it is willing to fight to the death. And if it comes to a fight, it runs away to safety. The survival potential of the bully is pretty good, unless it encounters a real hawk. The Prober Retaliator -- Act like a retaliator with most encounters...but be unpredictable and sometimes switch to the hawk strategy -- even if the opponent is a dove! This is perhaps the most successful strategy for some animals because the outcome of an encounter with them is uncertain. Other animals will think twice before challenging them. Do any of these strategies sound familiar to you? They are exhibited in human competition, such as gaming (poker), government policies and even war games. The last one, Prober Retaliator, is the tactic used by many terrorist organizations. Not every strategy is the best for all animals. The strategy used by a particular species is determined by which outcome enables optimal survival and more replication of its own kind. It varies depending on the size and strength of the animals, the potential enemies it might encounter and the environment it lives in. Somehow, each species finds the precise strategy that maintains its numbers in a stable, viable population. When it is carefully analyzed, it is always the best choice for that particular species. While these strategies are interesting in themselves, the fact that they seem to be intelligently designed and unconsciously implemented by the species is even more so. But... designed by whom? And transmitted to each generation by what means?

A maze of possibilities
There is some evidence that strategic behavior can be transmitted by genes. A classic example is Tryon's experiment on the maze-running ability in rats [1][2]. Tryon managed to breed two groups of rats by selectively mating the "best" maze runners with each other and, conversely, the "worst" maze runners. After seven generations he could show that he had produced two distinct heredity groups with a vast innate differences in their maze running abilities. This was believed by many to be proof that behavior was inherited, and therefore a product of DNA. But his results were soon challenged.

When the "worst" maze runners were subjected to an enriched environment with more objects to explore and more social interactions to enjoy, their maze running abilities were restored. What's more interesting is that their offspring continued to have improved maze running abilities -- even without the stimulating activities [3]. In just one generation this "inherited" deficit was earased. This result suggested that the maze running ability was the product of an interaction of genes and environment, where the genetic effect is only seen under some environmental conditions. If that is true, how can genes change so quickly -- even in the sameorganism?

Small changes have big results
Scientists continued to examine how small genetic changes could alter complex behavior. Their first success was in explaining how an animal could be programmed to be more "hawkish" or "dovish". As reported in Principles of Neural Science (1992):

"Most animals, including humans, become aggressive when threatened, such as when their territory is invaded, their offspring are attacked, or sexual interactions are prevented. The importance of serotonergic transmission in aggressive behavior is clearly evident in studies of mice in which the gene for the serotonin 1B receptor has been ablated by targeted deletion. 

When mice lacking serotonin 1B receptor are isolated for four weeks and then exposed to a wild-type mouse, they are much more aggressive than wild-type animals under similar conditions. The mutant mice attack intruders faster than wild-type mice or mice lacking only one copy of serotonin 1B receptor gene, and the number and intensity of attacks is significantly greater than that of the wild-type mice. Thus, the serotonin 1B receptor plays a role in mediating aggressive behavior in mice... [4]

While the mechanism for generalized behavior strategies (like being more or less aggressive) seemed to implicate genes and their ability to alter certain neurotransmitters, it was still not known how genes could also modify specific behaviors -- like making the possum turn its eyes from the hunter's flashlight.

Some amazing examples of genetically encoded, complex behaviors have been studied in monozygotic twins -- siblings with the exact copies of their DNA -- who were separated at birth and reared in different environments.

Identical Twins Reared Apart Human monozygotic (MZ) twins account for 1 in 250 live births. The origin of MZ twins is attributed to two or more daughter cells of a single zygote (fertilized egg) undergoing independent cell divisions, leading to independent development and births. Although they are considered genetically identical at birth, significant differences between MZ twins may exist, becoming more evident with age. But the main focus of study has been on the remarkable similarities which involve complex behaviors, personality and interests. These are, after all, strategies that humans use to survive conflicts. The Minnesota Twins, as they are known, are perhaps the most reported case involving two male babies who were monozygotic twins, separated at when they were only 4 months old, and each adopted by a different family. At age five, Lewis learned that he had a twin, but he said that the notion never truly "soaked in" until he was 38 years old. Springer learned of his twin sibling at age eight, but both he and his adoptive parents believed the sibling had died. The two were finally reunited at age 39. The similarities the twins shared not only amazed one another, but researchers at the University of Minnesota as well. The very fact that you had twin siblings separated at birth bearing the same name, both 6 feet tall and weighing exactly 180 pounds is pretty incredible. But there's more. Consider these coincidences: As youngsters, each Jim had a dog named "Toy." Each Jim had been married two times -- the first wives were both called "Linda" and the second wives were both called "Betty." One Jim had named his son "James Allan" and the other Jim had named his son "James Alan." Each twin had driven his light-blue Chevrolet to Pas Grille beach in Florida for family vacations. Both Jims smoked Salem cigarettes and drank Miller Lite beer. Both Jims had at one time held part-time posts as sheriffs. Both were fingernail biters and suffered from migraine headaches. Each Jim enjoyed leaving love notes to his wife throughout the house. Both Jims had abilities in mechanical drawing and carpentry The Jims, like other identical twins, are not carbon copies of each other. Some obvious differences were discovered. Each styled his hair differently; one Jim wore it combed straight, hanging down over his forehead and the other Jim wore it combed back and sported sideburns. One Jim more clearly conveyed himself through speech, while the other was better suited to writing. While both Jims had been married twice, one Jim had taken vows with a third wife (called "Sandy"). Daphne and Barbara are also examples of subtle behaviors that are apparently transmitted through genes. Daphne Goodship and Barbara Herbert first met when they were 40. Debbie was raised Jewish and Sharon was raised Catholic. According to Barbara, "We discovered we had a miscarriage the same year, followed by two boys and a girl in that order." They joke that they've also cooked the same meal from the same recipe book on the same day, without knowing it. Daphne and Barbara have been called the "giggle twins" because they laugh and fold their arms the same way. Identical twins Tom Patterson and Steve Tazumi met four years ago. Tom is from rural Kansas, he was raised Christian and his parents were janitors. Steve, raised as a Buddhist, lives in Philadelphia. His father was a pharmacist. However, Tom and Steve chose the same careers. "It's phenomenal," says Steve. "He owned a body building gym and I owned a body building gym. We're both 100 percent into fitness." But there are differences in these twins, too. Steve says he's more party oriented while Tom is more family oriented. Heredity vs Environment Although there is ample documentation for these similar personality traits in identical twins, it is not without some controversy. In her book Identical Twins Reared Apart: A Reanalysis, Susan Farber noted that many of the cases studied were based on subjects who were recruited by asking television viewers to refer people who were identical twins. She claimed that these twins would have been the most obvious to look and act similar. In other words, the selection was not unbiased. She attempted to set the record straight and based her own research on a study that selected twin births from the Danish registry, between 1954 and 1959, and found 12 identical twins that were reared apart. Farber summarized her review by stating that identical twins who shared the same home life were almost 80% similar, while those reared apart were only 60% alike. Although this certainly proves that environment has a role in shaping behavior, it still makes a strong case for genetics. In the examples above, interests, professions, and even the way we laugh seems to be encoded in our genes. Yet, the environment can modulate this genetic expression. How is that achieved?

Epigenetics: the new frontier
If the genes can be likened to long list of instructions, we have learned that some of these instructions can be marked "to do" (activated) or "ignore" (inhibited). Scientists have recently come to understand that, although the list itself remains intact, the various instructions undergo activation and inhibition in a process called epigenetics.

This process is vital when a single fertilized egg (zygote) divides and the cells differentiate to become muscle, tissue, nerve cells skeletal cells, etc. Each different type of cell requires a different set of proteins and different sets of instructions are activated or inhibited. These sets of instructions stabilize and continue over the life of the cell and over many generations as the cell divides and reproduces.

Epigenetics is the result of turning a set of DNA instructions on (activated) or off (inhibited). The process is well understood for the methylation process, where a molecule containing one atom of carbon and three atoms of hydrogen (CH3) attaches to specific genes to turn them off (inhibit) and prevent their instructions from being used to make specific proteins. The histone modification of genes is less understood but involves a molecule that attaches to part of the gene, causing it to deform and interfering with its ability to make a specific protein -- essentially turning it off. The attachment of these switching molecules is achieved through the control of ion charges at the specific site. The charges then facilitate the molecular bond and inhibit the gene from replicating and producing its specific protein [8]. The production of specific proteins is critical to life and even minor changes at the genetic level can have dramatic consequences. Much of our genetic code is not completely understood and so-called "junk DNA" may contain instructions that have very specific roles to play in our behavior and thinking. In our earlier example of the possum, it is possible that some kind of epigenetic change causes increased light sensitivity, making the possum turn its head to avoid the glare of the hunter's flashlight. This subtle change in gene expression becomes a survival strategy and is passed on to offspring.

Scientists were surprised to discovered that epigenetics was an on-going process, not limited to differentiating cell types. In fact, they found that environmental factors, such as toxins, temperature or the availability or scarcity of food, could cause epigenetic changes that modified the behavior and form of the organism. These adaptations happened quickly and within the lifespan of the same organism. In some cases, the changes to "activate" or "inhibit" certain instructions were passed to subsequent generations implying that our Darwinian concept of multi-generation evolution needs amending. Evolutionary adaptation can occur in a single generation!

Back to the twins...
It was always assumed that our DNA was an unchanging set of instructions. And because of this, MZ twins were assumed to have been born with identical sets of genes. But scientists were curious about some cases where one twin would develop certain types of diseases and the other did not. When they examined the DNA of older twins they were shocked -- their DNA was different! [5]
A study published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, conducted by scientists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and universities in Sweden and the Netherlands examined the genes of 10 pairs of MZ identical twins, including 9 pairs in which one twin showed signs of dementia or Parkinson's disease and the other did not. According to Professor Jan Dumanski:

"These epigenetic changes -- which accumulate over a lifetime and can arise from things like diet and tobacco smoke -- have been implicated in the development of cancer and behavioral traits like fearfulness and confidence, among other things. Epigenetic markers vary widely from one person to another, but identical twins were still considered genetically identical because epigenetics influence only the expression of a gene and not the underlying sequence of the gene itself...

When we started this study, people were expecting that only epigenetics would differ greatly between twins. But what we found are changes on the genetic level, the DNA sequence itself." [5]

The study showed that the longer DNA is exposed to environmental influences, the more likely it is to develop epigentic adaptations. It also suggests that these epigenetic changes can stabilize and be passed to subsequent generations upon birth [6]. But the remarkable thing is that these epigenetic changes can also manifest in the actual genetic code of the DNA -- making the changes permanent -- and do this within the lifespan of a single organism! [7] The mechanism for this appears to be something called cytosine deaminase which can change both epigenetic code and the base DNA code.

So it appears that nature has equipped the organism with a two tiered approach to adaptation. First, temporary changes in gene expression can be implemented through epigentics. These will take effect quickly and can be passed to subsequent generations to help the organism adapt, but they are NOT permanent. However, if these changes persist and prove successful in the adaptation of the organism, permanent genetic mutations will follow and constitute a form of natural selection.

Who designs these adaptive changes?
We ask the question with "who" because we recognize that the specific genes involved in the adaptation of the organism appear to be selected intelligently. Intelligence usually signifies sentience and consciousness. But perhaps we err in our inquiry.

The intelligence of natural selection is not in each specific choice of adaptation. Rather it is in the grand design of the natural selection process which appears to involve something as yet illusive to mechanistic science.

How does the possum adapt to the hunter's flashlight? Initially it may be a random case of over-sensitivity to the light resulting from some anomaly in protein synthesis. Because this anomaly proves to be a successful strategy for survival, its epigenetic code endures until it has reached a certain saturation in the population of possums. At this point, presumably, some mechanism is able to make the gene expression permanent.

But there is also the possibility that the sensitivity to light was not a random anomaly.
In the next installment of this series, we will examine a theory which explains how the organism's cells "know" when a particular epigenetic change has been an effective survival strategy. We will explore the so-called mitogenetic and morphogenetic fields, how an organism communicates with the field and how epigenetic changes can spread throughout a species -- even when there is no physical contact or reproductive lineage.

We'll be treading on hollowed ground as we explore the possibility that fields of energy permeate the universe, unifying and coordinating everything.

Part 2

Less is more, more is less...

The general public was made aware of the discovery of epigenetics through an article in Time Magazinein 2010.

The feature article began with the story of an European farming village that endured several years of crop failure and famine. But there were also a couple of extremely plentiful years, during which the inhabitants over-ate and became gluttonous. During the glutton years, some of the children were entering puberty and subsequently got married and had families.
When researchers first looked at this population, they were expecting to find birth defects and inherited deficits from the near starvation conditions that persisted for years. Instead, they discovered that the offspring of the pubescent gluttons had an amazing decrease in lifespan of more than 32 years!

"Once Bygren and his team controlled for certain socioeconomic variations, the difference in longevity jumped to an astonishing 32 years. Later papers using different Norrbotten cohorts also found significant drops in life span and discovered that they applied along the female line as well, meaning that the daughters and granddaughters of girls who had gone from normal to gluttonous diets also lived shorter lives." [1]

Animal studies have long confirmed the relationship between eating less and longevity (see viewzone article), and it is accepted that over-eating and obesity can shorten an organism's life through diseases such as diabetes and heart attacks. But these outcomes usually are apparent only to the offending organism -- not to their offspring.

The Time Magazine article used this research to illustrate how epigenetics, caused by environmental factors, can have hereditary consequences that ripple through many generations. But there were two important questions that were not addressed: first, why would epigenetics punish the offspring for their ancestor's over-eating by shortening their lifespan? Second, how is it that the offspring of both males and females were effected?

In mammals, the male produces sperm as needed during puberty and so the DNA is subject to environmental effects and presumably epigenetic adaptations. Research has shown, for example, that boys who smoked cigarettes at age 11 had male offspring that were more unhealthy and obese than children of non-smoking fathers. The toxins in cigarette smoke are suspected of altering the genes (Y chromosome) in their sperm [2]. Females, on the other hand, are born with a lifetime supply of eggs that are stored in their ovaries. These unfertilized eggs are complete. Their DNA is already established. Are their eggs still subject to epigenesis?
Let's examine these two questions more carefully.

The Wrath of Epigenetics... Remember the Evolutionary Stable Strategies (ESS) we discussed in Part 1 of this article? The strategies that organisms use for survival all follow a basic law.The words, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few (or the one)", are found in the motion picture Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, and were spoken by the character Mr. Spock, and attributed to the Vulcan philosopher Surak. They describe (even better than Dowkins) the operational motive at work in the strategies implemented by epigenetics. Here's how Dowkins described the same thing: "By some unspecified mechanism, the animal behaves as if he were following these instructions.An evolutionarily stable strategy or ESS is defined as a strategy which, if most members of a population adopt it, cannot be bettered by an alternative strategy. It is a subtle and important idea. Another way of putting it is to say that the best strategy for an individual depends on what the majority of the population are doing. Since the rest of the population consists of individuals, each one trying to maximize his own success, the only strategy that persists will be one which, once evolved, cannot be bettered by any deviant individual. Following a major environmental change there may be a brief period of evolutionary instability, perhaps even oscillation in the population. But once an ESS is achieved it will stay: selection will penalize deviation from it . [3] In the case of the gluttonous ancestors, their action signalled a danger to the group. Sensing that food was normally scarce, an over-eater would have threatened the survival of offspring if they were allowed to exist beyond their reproductive and child-rearing years. Since the normal life span is well past 60, cutting their lives by 32 years provides assurance that they will replicate. After that they are, to the group, "useless over-eaters." In the case of the pre-teen smokers, the wisdom of epigenetics is also at work, culling the offspring of those individuals who engage in damaging habits that threaten to spread unhealthy activities within the group. Remember, second-hand smoke is also toxic. I hope, like me, that you are beginning to see some type of overcontrol and active intervention at work here. These genetic changes are very real and adhere to their mission with intelligence. But we'll have more to say about that later. The Kindness of Epigenetics... Not all effects of epigenetics are bad. When a strategy benefits the group, as within a species, genetic changes can be positive. Consider the work of Harvard psychologist William McDougall who spent 15 years training rats how to escape from a tank. His first group of rodents made an average of 200 mistakes before learning the correct way out and being rewarded with food. With successive breeding, McDougall arrived at a generation that could complete the task with only 20 mistakes. He repeated the same experiment many times and felt that he demonstrated that learning could be passed along in genes. [4] On the other side of the planet, in Australia, researchers were anxious to replicate McDougall's work and so secured a population of the same species of rats to begin the breeding experiment. To their surprise, the rats could immediately find their way out of the tank in just 20 trials! Further tests demonstrated that this was the new baseline for rats as a species. There are many such reports, including the case of the 100 monkeys that we described in a recent viewzone article. In each case, positive survival adaptation (i.e. securing food) is transmitted to members of the group or species even if there is no direct genetic inheritance. Yet, because subsequent generations exhibit the new behavior, it seems probable that it is the result of some genetic change which mechanistic theorists are at a loss to explain. Sex is not a factor... Although we should expect that male sperm can be affected by the environment, the fact that offspring of gluttonous females had a severely reduced life span is remarkable. It suggets that epigenetic changes can exist within the eggs of a woman's ovaries. Taken together with the fact that the older MZ twins showed changes in DNA code throughout their entire body, this suggests that epigenetics is not a mere accident, mistake or anomaly that happens to a local group of cells. It is systemic. All DNA is changed! So what could be going on here? We will next examine a theory that expands on the morphogenetic field as a kind of "intelligence" which coordinates the response of a group of organisms to environmental challenges. Because this theory deals with a "field" (action at a distance) it has little empirical support. But keep an open mind and see if it makes sense.

The Morphogenetic Field (again)
On average, every human being consists of approximately 10 trillion cells. Inside each cell there are chemical reactions happening at the rate of more than 100,000 every second! [5] In every second approximately 10 million cells die. These dead cells must be replaced in a short period of time in order to prevent entropic decay. It cannot be predicted where and when a cell will die, but if the replacement rate is only slightly lower (or higher), the body will disintegrate quickly. A good example of this are the cells that line the intestines, which have an unusually large turnover rate. If the replacement rate should exceed the cell death rate by only a small percent, the body would rapidly die from an obstruction.

Mechanisms such as bio-molecular control or chemical "messengers" are clearly not efficient enough to coordinate this life process. This activity requires a level of organization, coordination and overcontrol that must happen at the speed of light. Viewzone covered this topic extensively in our feature Does DNA Emit Light?.

Rupert Sheldrake, with a PhD in biochemistry from Cambridge, is a fellow of the Institute for Noetic Sciences, founded by former astronaut Edgar Mitchell. In his 1981 book A New Science of Life: Hypothesis of Formative Causation he coined the term "morphogenetic field" for coordinating fields that govern the development and cooperation of living organisms. Sheldrake believed that DNA might actually function like a resonance coil (the double helix even looks a bit like radio coil) and receive instructions from the field.

While this might explain the intra-cellular communication, it does not explain how an organism -- made of trillions of individual cells -- can send and receive information and use this information to create genetic alterations and adaptations. To make this theory plausible, we need to find some organ capable of communicating with every cell in the body, having some type of ion capability (since the methyl and histone molecular "switches" attach and inhibit the genes because of altered ion charges on the DNA)[8] and having the ability to interact with the electromagnetic spectrum to communicate with the so-called morphogenetic field.

The Pineal Gland
The pineal gland is a pea size structure in the brain that, amazingly, meets all of the above requirements needed to interact with the morphogenetic field and effect changes to the genes on a systemic basis.

• It has the richest blood supply of the body, second only to the kidneys [*]. The blood is the only method whereby every cell in the body can be reached -- even those in the ovaries. The pineal gland already functions in this manner as the "master regulator" of day-night rhythms as well as the most significant producer of neurotransmitters like serotonin and melotonin.


• The pineal gland contains calcite piezoelectric crystals which accumulate with age.
  

  "Length dimensions of the crystals varied from 2-3 to about 20 micrometres. These results (referring to various forms of analysis described in detail) and the electron diffraction measurements definitely prove that the microcrystals are calcite. These calcite crystals bear a striking resemblance to the otoconia of the inner ear. The calcite in otoconia has been shown to exhibit piezoelectricity. If piezoelectricity were to exist [in the pineal calcite microcrystals], an electromechanical coupling mechanism to external electromagnetic fields may be possible." [6]

  One of the earliest types of radio was the "crystal set" [right], in which a mineral crystal was made to resonate (by tuning with a "cats whisker") with an incoming radio wave, which is simply an electromagnetic wave, propogating at the speed of light.

Piezoelectric crystals are material that has the ability to generate electric charges when their shape is deformed. You probably have experienced this phenomenon when you lit your barbeque grill. There is usually a spring mounted button that slams a piece of metal against a piezoelectric crystal and sends a spark to the burner, igniting the propane. Piezoelectric is also used in many microphones and guitar pick-ups. The movement of sound waves is enough to cause the crystals to deform, ever so slightly, and the resulting electrical charge is then amplified.

The pineal gland could possibly use its piezoelectric crystals to receive electromagnetic waves, converting the signals to electrical energy. It could also transmit this energy by some kind of resonance. Again, we just do not have enough serious research in this subject, but the existence of some type of interaction between an organism and a field is quite compelling.

The Field of God
Now we really leave solid ground -- and venture off to space.
Taken to its extreme, the existence of cellular fields, organism fields, species fields, etc. seem quite apparent. If we know these fields exist, perhaps there are even more fields which control larger populations of life. Some esoteric literature like The Keys of Enoch speak of a galactic field, capable of organizing and coordinating life and consciousness within the Milky Way [7]. They suggest that genetic evolution is intelligently manipulated by this field, and that the galactic field has been responsible for effecting beneficial and evolutionary changes to our DNA. In fact, the Keys describe what is been called a "system upgrade" that will soon be "downloaded" to humanity by means of this energy field, evolving us to another type of material and spiritual existence.

Some theorists have explained that it is only necessary for the galactic field to communicate one way (i.e. to transmit only) and that the pineal gland will receive the signal and adjust the organism to resonate with it. The idea is that the vibrations of the galactic field evolves life within its realm and does not need feedback from each organism or species that it influences. Others argue that every location in a field is local, so that the interaction between a small pineal gland and the galactic field is very plausible.

Along this line of inquiry, the Cognitive Sciences Laboratory in Palo Alto, California, has discovered a cycle during which ESP practitioners are "more" and "less" accurate in their abilities to "see" or predict events. When scientists examined the accuracy of thousands of ESP predictions, along with documented times these anomalous cognitions took place, the precognative cycle coincided with a specific Local Sidereal Time, or LST. This is the galactic time whereby the center of the Milky Way is used instead of the Sun.

The peak of efficiency was not, however, at galactic "high noon" when the center of our Galaxy is directly overhead. Peak efficiency was repeatedly at 13:30 LST. This would place the center of our Galaxy on the opposite side of the sky, essentially being obscured by the earth. It may or may not be significant but it suggests that some field, with its origins in the Milky Way, is influencing our minds and inhibits psychic abilities. The same has been found for solar radiation and electromagnetic disturbances from the Sun. Psychic abilities seem to be most efficient when these activities are at their minimum.

Perhaps the most interesting idea is to think of God as the originator of the universal field -- the ultimate technique whereby all energy and matter are controlled and maintained. The possibilities are truly amazing.

We started this story with the possum sitting in the tree. The adaptation of this animal shows that, although we really do not fully understand the methods at work, the Darwinian concept of random mutations and millions of years of natural selection is a paradigm whose days are numbered. The techniques of life and matter are now reaching their limits with mechanistic and non-spiritual impositions. Hopefully we will some day realize our role in this unfolding drama and have a better understanding of ourselves and our destiny. Then we will be at play in the field of God.

What are your thoughts?

---

Part 1 Notes[1] Tryon RC (1942). Individual differences. In F. A. Moss (Ed.), Comparative psychology (Rev. ed.). NY: Prentice-Hall.
[2] Tryon RC (1940). "Genetic differences in maze-learning ability in rats". Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education 39: 111-119.
[3] Cooper RM & Zubek JP (1958). "Effects of enriched and restricted early environments on the learning ability of bright and dull rats". Canadian Journal of Psychology 12 (3): 159-164. PMID 13573245.
[4] Principles of Neural Science, ER Kandel, JH Schwartz, TM Jessell, S Mack (1991) - (available on columbiauniversity.net)
[5] O'Connor, Anahad (2008-03-11). "The Claim: Identical Twins Have Identical DNA". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/health/11real.html. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
[6] Fraga, M. F.; Ballestar, E; Paz, MF; Ropero, S; Setien, F; Ballestar, ML; Heine-Suner, D; Cigudosa, JC et al. (2005). "Epigenetic differences arise during the lifetime of monozygotic twins". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 102 (30): 10604-9.
[7] O.J. Rando and K.J. Verstrepen (2007). "Timescales of Genetic and Epigenetic Inheritance". Cell 128 (4): 655-668. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2007.01.023. PMID 17320504.
[8] Lauren E. Heystek, Hui-qiang Zhou, Prasad Dande, and Barry Gold, "Control over the Localization of Positive Charge in DNA: The Effect on Duplex DNA and RNA Stability", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1998, 120 (46), pp 12165-12166

Part 2 Notes

[1] Time Magazine

[2] European Journal of Human Genetics (2006)

[3] The Selfish Gene, Dowkins, p92

[4] McDougall (1938), Forth report on a Lamarckian experiment, Brit. J. Psychol. 28, 321-345

[5] The Real Bioinformatics Revolution: Proteins and Nucleic Acids Singing to One Another? (Paper available at report@i-sis.org.uk)

[6] Bioelectromagnetics 23:488495 (2002) "Calcite Microcrystals in the Pineal Gland of the Human Brain -- First Physical and Chemical Studies", Baconnier, Lang et al.

[7] Keys of Enoch, JJ.Hurtal, Key 3-1-3, p469.

[8] Lauren E. Heystek, Hui-qiang Zhou, Prasad Dande, and Barry Gold, "Control over the Localization of Positive Charge in DNA: The Effect on Duplex DNA and RNA Stability", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1998, 120 (46), pp 12165-12166

Who's The Sociopath Next To You?

by Dr. K. Dillard (http://www.viewzone2.com/sociopath.html)

Another Mass Murderer: The Criminology of "What makes them tick?"

The December 2012 shootings at Newtown, Connecticut, of 20 pre-teen children and six adults -- including the shooter's own mother -- have had repercussions all over the globe. People are horrified that anyone could do such things. They wonder why it happened. Is it a symptom of something? Can we prevent it from happening to our family?



Twenty year old Adam Lanza. who apparently killed himself after the shootings, is described as a nice, quiet, intelligent kid who showed no apparent motive for his rage and deadly violence. The same was true of Cho Seung who massacred students at Virginia Tech. We are reminded of other senseless massacres and of insane killers like Jeffrey Dahmer, Charles Manson. How can they do these things? What goes on in their mind? How are they so different from the rest of us?


 Charles Manson & Jeffrey Dahmer, mass murderers with apparently no conscience.
Psychiatrists and those who study criminology, tell us that these people are different from the rest of us. They are called sociopaths, or antisocial personalities. Eventually, when they act on their violent impulses, they are full-fledged psychopaths.
The American Psychiatric Association defines a sociopath as follows:

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a lack of regard for the moral or legal standards in the local culture. There is a marked inability to get along with others or abide by societal rules. Individuals with this disorder are sometimes called psychopaths or sociopaths.

Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-IV) 1. Since the age of fifteen there has been a disregard for and violation of the right's of others, those right's considered normal by the local culture, as indicated by at least three of the following: A. Repeated acts that could lead to arrest. B. Conning for pleasure or profit, repeated lying, or the use of aliases. C. Failure to plan ahead or being impulsive. D. Repeated assaults on others. E. Reckless when it comes to their or others safety. F. Poor work behavior or failure to honor financial obligations. G. Rationalizing the pain they inflict on others. 2. At least eighteen years in age.3. Evidence of a Conduct Disorder, with its onset before the age of fifteen. 4. Symptoms not due to another mental disorder.

This definition doesn't quite tell the whole story, though. Sociopaths are often disguised as ordinary, even likable people; but a closer look at their lives shows that they often cause heartbreak and catastrophe to anyone who makes the fatal error of getting close to them.
People with this disorder appear to be charming at times, and make relationships, but to them, these are relationships in name only. They are ended whenever necessary or when it suits them, and the relationships are without depth or meaning, including marriages. They seem to have an innate ability to find the weakness in people, and are ready to use these weaknesses to their own ends through deceit, manipulation, or intimidation, and gain pleasure from doing so.
In short, sociopaths are like a person who lives inside a room full of mirrors. They are motivated by their own needs and feelings and only interact with other individuals as a means to gaining something that they feel they need. They have no regard for the other person's feelings or consequences beyond their own personal goals.

Romantically, they can be charming, give flattering comments and do little favors and give apparent undivided attention -- all the activities that we usually associate with someone who is kind and loving. But these are just learned behavior -- a means to an end -- and disguise the fact that the sociopath has no feeling of empathy or love, as most people know it.

Psychopathy checklist: The 30 characteristics of the manipulator (psychopath, in French "perverse narcissist") from the bookLes manipulateurs sont parmi nous by Isabelle Nazare Aga. In order for a person to be a psychopath, at least 14 items from this list must be present as permanent traits. For example item 18: almost everyone has told a lie at some points in their life, but item 18 only applies if a person uses lies as a habitual strategy. [] 1 Burdens others with guilt while appealing to family ties, friendship, professional ethics; [] 2 evades responsibilities or pushes them onto others; [] 3 remains vague in the communication of his/her claims, needs, feelings and opinions; [] 4 often gives vague answers; [] 5 changes opinion, behaviour and feelings depending on people and situations; [] 6 makes use of logical arguments to camouflage claims; [] 7 wants to make others believe that they have to be perfect, that they can never change their mind, that they have to know everything and have to respond immediately to claims and questions; [] 8 disputes the qualities, the ability and the personality of others; criticises without giving that impression, despises and condemns; [] 9 lets others convey his/her messages; [] 10 creates havoc (fights), creates distrust, divides to be better able to rule; [] 11 positions himself/herself as a victim to elicit compassion; [] 12 ignores or does not honour requests even if he/she declares that they will be taken care of; [] 13 misuses ethical principles of others to serve own interests; [] 14 threatens in underhanded ways or commits open chantage (blackmail); [] 15 suddenly changes the subject in the course of a conversation; [] 16 avoids or flees relationships and togetherness; [] 17 targets the ignorance of others and creates an impression of superiority; [] 18 lies; [] 19 tells lies to find out the truth [] 20 is egocentric; [] 21 can be jealous; [] 22 does not bear criticism and negates evidence; [] 23 does not care for the rights, opinions and wishes of others; [] 24 often uses the very last moment to give commands to others or to instigate them to act; [] 25 his/her words seem to be logical or coherent while the attitude and behaviour give evidence of the opposite; [] 26 he/she exerts himself/herself in making compliments in order to gain your sympathy, gives presents, becomes suddenly very caring for you; [] 27 gives you an uneasy, unfree feeling; [] 28 extremely expert in accomplishing own goals, but at the expense of others; [] 29 pressures us to do things that we would not do of our own accord; [] 30 is the subject of conversations all the time, even if he/she is not present. It is entirely possible that if you are not intimately involved with a psychopath and/or are not the direct victim, that you have not noticed very little of the above signs. These people can be experts at projecting a likeable public image. It is very, very important, if you are a victim of a psychopath, to get your experience validated. It can take a lot of time and difficulty to recover from the damage done by a psychopath. Often the people near you will not believe that this "nice person" (the "charming" mask) has done all these horrible things to you. It is necessary that our society becomes aware of what psychopathy is, how these people inflict damage and how their attempts can be made unsuccessful. Thanks to J. Storms

Taken to the extreme, a sociopath is capable of murder, rape and violence. They can beat up an old woman, abuse a child or kill students in a classroom with calm, calculating precision. They simply do not feel the sense of right or wrong, or compassion. To the sociopath, these concepts are intellectual -- not emotional.

Psychopathic killers, however, are not mad, according to accepted legal and psychiatric standards. Their acts result not from a deranged mind but from a cold, calculating rationality combined with a chilling inability to treat others as thinking, feeling human beings. Such morally incomprehensible behavior, exhibited by a seemingly normal person, leaves us feeling bewildered and helpless.
-- Dr. Robert D. Hare
Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us

So how do people get this way?
The causes of this sociopathic disorder have been narrowed to several factors through research. One of the primary causes of sociopathic behavior is believed to be neurological abnormalities mainly in the frontal lobe [ picture left] of the brain.

This area of the brain is responsible for "self-control, planning, judgment, the balance of individual versus social needs, and many other essential functions underlying effective social intercourse".

This area is also related to fear conditioning. The abnormal anatomy or chemical activity within this area of the brain may be caused by abnormal growth (possibly genetic), brain disease, or injury. This theory has been supported by much research using positron emission tomography (PET) which visually shows the metabolic activity of neurons within the brain.

Theory of Mind Theory of mind is the ability to attribute mental states -- beliefs, intents, desires, pretending, knowledge, etc. -- to oneself and others and to understand that others have beliefs, desires, and intentions that are different from one's own. Deficits occur in people with autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as neurotoxicity due to alcohol abuse. Theory of mind is a theory insofar as the mind is not directly observable. The presumption that others have a mind is termed a theory of mind because each human can only intuit the existence of his or her own mind through introspection, and no one has direct access to the mind of another. It is typically assumed that others have minds by analogy with one's own, and based on the reciprocal nature of social interaction, as observed in joint attention, the functional use of language, and understanding of others' emotions and actions. Having a theory of mind allows one to attribute thoughts, desires, and intentions to others, to predict or explain their actions, and to posit their intentions. As originally defined, it enables one to understand that mental states can be the cause of -- and thus be used to explain and predict -- others' behavior. Being able to attribute mental states to others and understanding them as causes of behavior implies, in part, that one must be able to conceive of the mind as a "generator of representations". If a person does not have a complete theory of mind it may be a sign of cognitive or developmental impairment. --Wikipedia

Environmental factors?
A second factor believed to be partially responsible for the sociopathic disorder in some cases is the primary socialization of individuals within dysfunctional environments, such as abusive, poorly educated, or poverty stricken homes.

For years, this was thought to be the primary cause of sociopathy. But as knowledge has increased in the area of neuroscience, it has been realized that this is possibly only a secondary cause. Therefore, it can be said that the type of brain the sociopath was born with and/or the environment in which it was nourished forms the sociopath (Andreasen, 1984).

But this conclusion is not without controversy. Brain growth and changes can occur in the developing human because of environmental and social factors. The fact that abnormal physical changes have been found in the brains of sociopaths does not mean that they were born this way. Things like not having a father during pre-adolescence or of being raised by non-loving parents or foster parents can cause a re-organization of brain functions and structural changes that are evident in adulthood.

The lack of loving parents has been shown to have sociopathic consequences in primate studies. Further, these characteristics appear to be transmitted from one generation to another, as sociopaths lack the capacity to love their own offspring.

"Morality" has a special place in the brain Stimulating various areas of the brain by way of strong magnetic coils has been the cutting edge of both neurology and psychology. The strong magnetic field is delivered in bursts of energy that have the effect of disrupting the function of that part of the brain temporarily.Called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, the technique has been used on healthy subjects to assess the effects on a broad range of human behaviors and thought processes. Most recently, a group of subjects was simulated with TMS to their right temporo-parital junction [see above] for a half hour, then asked to take a quiz. Another group was given short bursts (500 milliseconds) just before taking a quiz and a third group received no TMS and just took the quiz. The quiz consisted of stories and vignettes where the main characters was making a questionable moral decision. The story always ended well but the quiz focused on the subject's judgement of the main character. For an example, a man knows a bridge is unsafe and dangerous, yet he encourages his girlfriend to cross it. She crosses without harm. When asked to judge the morality of the man, those subjects that received the TMS to their right temporo-parietal junction saw nothing wrong in his decision. "After all, she got across unharmed." In another test, subjects were shown a film in which the main character, working in a chemistry laboratory, is asked to put some sugar in a co-worker's coffee. The main character gets the "sugar" from a glass vile obviously marked "POISON" and stirs it in his froend's coffee. The co-worker drinks the coffee and is apparently unharmed. Again, normal subjects found the act morally wrong, while TMS subjects saw no problem in the behavior. "He lived, so no problem." To those with TMS it was the outcome that determined the morality of the acts. In other words, with the right temporo-parietal junction disrupted, the end justifies the means. Nature Neuroscience, June 26, 2010

The Statistics
An estimated 3% of all adult males have this sociopathic disorder. (The antisocial personality disorder is uncommon among women.) Only a small fraction of this percentage actually develop into violent criminals. Most sociopathic individuals are able to control their disorder within the boundaries of social tolerability.
They are considered only 'socially obnoxious' or hateful personalities, and every one of us knows of someone who fits the description. Corrupt and callous politicians, social or career fast climbers, authoritarian leaders, abusing and aggressive persons, etc., are among them.

Most extreme sociopaths end up, at some time, in the prison system. A common characteristic is that they engage systematically in deception and manipulation of others for personal gain. In fact, many successful and adapted non-violent sociopaths can be found in our society. An NIMH epidemiologic study reported that only 47% of those who met the SPD criteria had a significant arrest record. The most relevant events for these persons occur in the area of job problems, domestic violence, traffic offenses,and severe marital difficulties.
More easily recognized and studied are the sociopathic individuals with histories of violent criminal behavior. As much as 15-25% of society's inmate population show many traits of this disorder. It is these incarcerated individuals as well as individuals in mental institutions on which most of the research on antisocial personality disorder is based.
The sociopath could be the intelligent and very successful businessman that goes home each night and abuses his family. He could be the temperamental man that visits the bar regularly and who often gets into brawls.
The study of criminology and criminal justice has provided numerous breakthroughs on the minds of criminals, as well as, constructed theories on potential steps to prevent future harm. A degree in criminology will help you understand the motives of a sociopath but a masters in criminal justice will help you study the methods of preventing crime.
Is there a cure for sociopathy?
Sadly, no. Because there is no cure for adult sociopathy, the only useful option is prevention. Child psychiatrist Jack Westman estimates that each typical sociopath will cost society $3 million over the course of his lifetime, yet society does virtually nothing to address this condition. Further, as we develop more technologies like television the internet and video games, sociopaths become empowered to develop their anti-social behaviors without the personal contact that contributes to healthy socialization.
In the case of the Virginia Tech shooter, Cho Seung, we see how clearly the medical and mental health system failed to handle this blatant example of sociopathic behavior. Described as a "loner" with a violent obsession, Cho had all the characteristics of an individual who was in his own world, surrounded by his own unmet desires and goals and frustrated by his lack of social skills. His anger at father figures, authority and successful people further caused him to withdraw inward. In the end, his lack of emotion allowed him to commit the mass murders and to do the ultimate act of denial -- his own self-preservation.
Anti-psychotic medications and the new class of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are often prescribed for sociopathic personalities that are wrongly diagnosed as being depressed. Prozac and Zoloft have been implicated in exacerbating the violence of sociopaths by further eliminating the emotional consequences of acting on dangerous impulses.
What should be done?
We need to address this problem from many sides. Poverty, although a contributing factor in "loveless" childhoods, is not the primary factor. Many loving and moral people come from impoverished environments. Many times, this environment contributes to an individual's character. The main problem seems to be in the process of parenting itself.

Parenting class should be mandatory curriculum in our schools. We teach many things in our schools: carpentry, housekeeping and cooking, computer skills... These are all great for future employment. But what do we teach about being a good parent? Perhaps a mandatory curriculum in our schools should include exposure to the benefits of loving and caring parental skills. This type of exposure to "parental psychology" might prevent future sociopaths and it also might alter budding sociopaths before their neurological hardware becomes hardwired for a life of emotionless pain.

See the writings of Cho Seung, Virginia Tech Murderer and judge if you could spot his illness.

Fingers...Who Knew???

Finger Length Helps Predict Test Exam Results, Homosexuality, Cancer, Musical Ability and Aggressive Personality -- Study Shows

Your finger length can predict how you will do on various tests in school. They can also tell if you are likely to be homosexual or straight, if you will likely get certain cancers, be a musician, writer or a scientist, or if you will have an aggresssive or passive personality.The two fingers that are important are the index finger -- the one you use to point to something -- and the ring finger.


Reading, writing and arithmetic...
In a recent study from the help of online universities, the results of mathematics and literacy (reading) tests for seven-year-old children could be predicted by measuring the length of these two fingers.

In a study to be published in the British Journal of Psychology, scientists compared the finger lengths of 75 children with their Standardised Assessment Test (SAT) scores. They found a clear link between a child's performance in numeracy and literacy tests and the relative lengths of their index (pointing) and ring fingers.
Scientists believe that the link is caused by different levels of the hormones testosterone and estrogen in the womb -- and the effect they have on both brain development and finger length. This is nothing new, since scientists have known for many years that elevated levels of testosterone -- or other hormones closely resembling testosterone -- can cause the brains of both males and females to be more "masculine."

It has long been known that boys tend to do better on math tests while girls do better at writing, reading and verbal tests.

"Testosterone has been argued to promote development of the areas of the brain which are often associated with spatial and mathematical skills," said Dr Mark Brosnan, Head of the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, who led the study.
"Estrogen is thought to do the same in the areas of the brain which are often associated with verbal ability. "Interestingly, these hormones are also thought have a say in the relative lengths of our index and ring fingers.

"We can use measurements of these fingers as a way of gauging the relative exposure to these two hormones in the womb and as we have shown through this study, we can also use them to predict ability in the key areas of numeracy and literacy."

How they did the research
The researchers made photocopies of the palm of the children's hands and then measured the length of their index finger and ring finger on both hands using callipers, accurate to 0.01mm. They then divided the length of the index finger by that of the ring finger -- to calculate the child's digit ratio.

When they compared this ratio to the children's SAT scores, they found that a smaller ratio (i.e. a longer ring finger and therefore greater prenatal exposure to testosterone) meant a larger difference between ability in maths and literacy, favouring math skills relative to reading and speaking skills.

When they looked at boy's and girl's performance separately, the researchers found a clear link between high prenatal testosterone exposure, as measured by digit ratio, and higher numeracy SAT scores in males.

Previously, researchers have found a link between index and ring finger lengths and homosexuality (see article in viewzone.)

They also found a link between low prenatal testosterone exposure, which resulted in a shorter ring finger compared with the index finger, and higher literacy SAT scores for girls.

This, says the scientists behind the study, suggests that measurements of finger length could help predict how well children will do in maths and literacy.

"We're not suggesting that finger length measurements could replace SAT tests," said Dr Brosnan.

"Finger ratio provides us with an interesting insight into our innate abilities in key cognitive areas.

"We are also looking at how digit ratio relates to other behavioural issues, such as technophobia [fear of science], and career paths.

There is also interest in using digit ratio to identify homosexuality, developmental disorders, such as dyslexia, which can be defined in terms of literacy deficiencies, and aggressive vs. passive personalitity traits.

Other interesting observations about finger length:
Bodily characteristics that develop in distinctly masculine and feminine ways are usually the product of sex hormones. Some features differentiate at puberty, such as breasts, muscle development and jaws. But other sex differences are already set by the time we're born, relative finger lengths among them, and seem to be the result of fetal androgens (hormones such as testosterone or related hormones) masculinising the males. some of those hormones come from fetal testes and adrenal glands, the rest make it across the placenta from the blood of the mother. But exactly how much comes from whom -- and what alters the balance -- are still not entirely understood.
"Prenatal development is a black box," says John Manning of the University of Liverpool. He is one of a small number of scientists beginning to wonder if fingers could be used as a way of peering into that "box."

Finger lengths may predict cancer!
In a paper just published in the journal Medical Hypotheses (vol. 54, p 855), Manning highlights conditions such as heart disease, breast cancer, autism and dyslexia. Both heart disease (in men) and breast cancer have been linked with high levels of the female hormones Eestrogen and Progesterone. Most of the studies of this link have looked at circulating levels in the adult, but evidence is mounting that too much of the wrong hormone in the womb, before birth, may be the real culprit.
Oimitrios Tricopouos, an epidemiologist at Harvard University, proposed a decade ago that breast cancer may originate in the uterus of the mother (The Lancet, vol. 335, p 939). He suggested that high concentrations of estrogen may create a "fertile soil" for cancer to develop later in life. He also thought that variability in estrogen levels during pregnancy may help to explain why breast cancer rates are generally higher in women born to Caucasian mothers compared with those born to Oriental or younger mothers. Recently he and his colleague Karin Michels showed that high birth weight in girls-another sign of high prenatal estrogen levels-was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
If high estrogen levels are indeed to blame, Manning thinks that high 2D (see illustration) ratios could be used to identify women who are at increased risk of breast cancer. "I don't know of other sexually dimorphic traits that are so stable," he says. "That's what makes it so exciting." He interviewed 118 women in a breast cancer clinic, measured their finger lengths and noted how old they were when the first tumour appeared. "It was earlier if there was a higher ratio," he says.

Finger length linked to left-handedness!
The developing brain is also sensitive to hormones in utero. Knowing this, Norman Geschwind and his graduate student Albert Galaburda, now at Harvard Medical School, made a controversial claim in 1985. They suggested that prenatal testosterone slows the growth of certain areas of the left hemisphere and facilitates the growth of corresponding regions of the right hemisphere. At the time they wondered whether testosterone was partly to blame for such things as left-handedness, dyslexia and autism (Archives of Neurology, vol43,p 428).

Galaburda and his colleagues have since developed a way to induce selective brain damage to the frontal lobe of newborn rats to mimic some of the symptoms of dyslexia. Curiously, while male rats with this kind of damage have trouble responding to rapidly changing sounds -- much like dyslexic humans -- females don't. "We induce the malformations in males and females," he says, "but only the males have trouble."
It is clear that there is a "genetic component" to dyslexia. But Galaburda thinks fetal testosterone plays a role too by reducing plasticity in the young brain, making males, susceptible to brain malformations that females manage to overcome.

Intriguingly, when female rats are given extra testosterone, they too show signs of dyslexia.

Ratios of 2nd digit (index finger) to 4th digit (ring finger).

Manning hasn't yet checked the finger lengths of human dyslexics to see whether they also point to a testosterone link. But he has already checked out the left-handed idea, using a dexterity test. People are not always straightforwardly right or left- handed: many have been trained to use their right hand for writing, even if they are more skilled with the left. So Manning and his colleagues tested how quickly 285 children could move 10 pegs from one row of holes to another row five inches away, using one or the other hand.

Children with low 2D:4D ratios (see illustration) are believed to have high exposure to testosterone in the womb and are more likely to be quicker with their left hands than the kids with higher ratios. This, he says, suggests that our degree of left-handedness (and more generally the way the brain divides up tasks between left and right hemispheres) may be influenced by hormone levels in the womb.

Finger Length & Autism
Manning has begun examining autism too. He teamed up with Simon Baron- Cohen and Svetlana Lutchmaya from the University of Cambridge, who have used samples of amniotic fluid to directly measure the levels of hormones that babies are exposed to in the womb. When the children reached their first birthday, the researchers measured their vocabularies and ability to make eye contact. Poor language skills and an unwillingness to make eye contact are early hallmarks of autism. They found that babies who'd been exposed to high levels of testosterone in the womb fared the worst.
"What we're hoping to look at is whether finger ratioscan be used as a proxy for hormones," says Lutchmaya. Amniocentesis (sampling the amniotic fluic surrounding the unborn baby) is a risky procedure that only a few mothers choose to undergo, she says. But by measuring finger lengths instead, researchers can assess a random sample of children for possible early signs of impaired language and social skill development. Currently, they are checking the fingers of children for whom they have amniotic samples.

Meanwhile, Manning and Baron-Cohen have looked at the finger ratios of 49 children with firm diagnoses of autism, 23 with a mild form of the disorder called Asperger's syndrome, and their families. The researchers found that autistic children tended to have very low 2D:4D ratios (see illustration). Interestingly, children with Asperger's syndrome had ratios that fell between those of autistics and unaffected children. "It fits exceptionally well with the theory," says Manning.

Clearly genes play a role too in these conditions. But could fetal hormone levels explain other cognitive differences between the sexes? Janel Tortorice at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, thinks they may. She has measured finger ratios in 2D:4D ratio (see illustration) gay women and found that their hands were significantly different from those of heterosexual women-in fact, they tend to resemble those of heterosexual men.

But she has also found differences in the way these women's brains work. "They have more masculine fingers and more masculine cognition," she says. On tests of spatial and verbal ability, lesbian volunteers perform more like men than heterosexual women, she says. If this can be confirmed by further studies, perhaps Manning's most recent suggestion is not as outrageous as it sounds. He claims that musical talent, too, is nurtured in the womb.

Finger lengths foretell musical ability!
Manning recruited 54 male musicians from a British symphony orchestra. He discovered that these men had significantly lower 2D:4D ratios than controls -- they had a very "masculine" ratio. Even more striking, when he compared the top-ranked "first" musicians with their lower-ranked colleagues -- a measure of their relative ability-the former had significantly lower 2D:4D ratios. Could testosterone really predispose the brain to be more tuned in to music? Manning thinks so.

Musicians with short ring fingers and lesbians with long index fingers needn't lose heart, however. Even if fingers win a place in the pantheon of diagnostic medicine, it's unlikely that prospective employers or partners will ever be able to predict our fortunes from our hands. Tortorice reminds us that males tend to be taller than females. "But," she says; "we don't use height to determine whether you're a man or a woman."

How well does this apply to YOUR fingers? We'd like to know.

UPDATE:
Hormone That Affects Finger Length Key To Social Behavior
According to a report in ScienceDaily, research at the universities of Liverpool and Oxford into the finger length of primate species has revealed that cooperative behavior is linked to exposure to hormone levels in the womb.

The hormones, called androgens, are important in the development of masculine characteristics such as aggression and strength. It is also thought that prenatal androgens affect finger length during development in the womb. High levels of androgens, such as testosterone, increase the length of the fourth finger in comparison to the second finger. Scientists used finger ratios as an indicator of the levels of exposure to the hormone and compared this data with social behaviour in primate groups.

The team found that Old World monkeys, such as baboons and rhesus macaques, have a longer fourth finger in comparison to the second finger, which suggests that they have been exposed to high levels of prenatal androgens. These species tend to be highly competitive and promiscuous, which suggests that exposure to a lot of androgens before birth could be linked to the expression of this behaviour.

Other species, such as gibbons and many New World species, have digit ratios that suggest low levels of prenatal androgen exposure. These species were monogamous and less competitive than Old World monkeys.

The results show that Great Apes, such as orangutans and chimpanzees, expressed a different finger ratio. The analysis suggests that early androgen exposure is lower in this groups compared to Old World monkeys. Lower androgen levels could help explain why Great Apes show high levels of male cooperation and tolerance.

Emma Nelson, from the University of Liverpool's School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, explains: "It is thought that prenatal androgens affect the genes responsible for the development of fingers, toes and the reproductive system. High androgen levels from a foetus or mother during pregnancy, may alter gene function and lead to subtle changes in relative digit length and the functioning of the reproductive system. Finger ratios do not change very much after birth and appear to tell us something about how very early androgens affect adult behaviour, particularly behaviour linked to mating and reproduction."

Dr Susanne Shultz, from the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Oxford, said: "Humans are unique in that they live in large multi-male, multi-female groups, but maintain strong bonds and show high levels of group cooperation in both males and females. In most other species males are competitive rather than co-operative. Research from finger ratios may help us understand more clearly the development of human sociality and its evolutionary origins."

This research, published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, is supported by the British Academy Centenary Research Project, Lucy to Language -- a multi-disciplinary project that aims to understand the complexities of human social evolution.

Lie To Me...If You Can!

How to spot a liar.

by Nguyen Tam (http://viewzone.com/liar.html)

We have all met people who were dishonest and avoided eye contact. It has been said that "the eyes are the mirror if the soul." Many people know that their eyes betray their lies. Some try to conceal the truth by wearing sunglasses of looking down at the ground.Eventually, you will confront someone and need to know if they are being honest. It may be a friend, a family member or an employee. Police have established a method of evaluating the truthfulness of a person by watching the movements of their eyes. It's not an exact science by any means, and it can be manipulated by a skilled criminal or a seasoned liar, but is it generally accepted as a good indicator of honesty.

The following are some general patterns that you can use when talking to someone. It shows the various directions of eye movements of a person and explains what is usually going on in their mind at that moment. It illustrates that a glance to the observer's left usually reveals a creative process -- when someone is "making up" facts or lying. A glance to the observer's right reveals that the subject is remembering facts.

Here is a more detailed explanation of this method:

Up and to the Left: Indicates a visually constructed Images. If you asked someone to "Imagine an ice cream sundae with a red cherry on top", this would be the direction their eyes moved. In their mind they are "Visually Constructing" an ice cream sundae with a cherry in their mind.
Up and to the Right: Indicates a Visually Remembered Images. If you asked someone to "What color shirt or blouse did you wear yesterday?", this would be the direction their eyes moved. In their mind they are "Visually Remembering" the color.

To the Left: Indicates an Auditory Construct thought. If you asked someone to "Try and ceate the sound of a speeding train in your head", this would be the direction their eyes moved. In their mind they are imagining and creating the sound of a speeding train.
To the Right: Indicates an Auditory Memory. If you asked someone to "Remember what the National Anthem sounds like", this would be the direction their eyes moved in while remembering the song.

Down and to the Left: Indicates a Feeling / Kinesthetic / Sensory impression that is being created. If you asked someone to "Can you remember the taste of chocolate?", this would be the direction their eyes moved in while they recalled a smell, feeling, or taste of eating chocolate.
Down and To the Right: Indicates an Internal Dialog. This is the direction of someone's eyes as they "talk to themselves."

How to use this information to detect a lie?
Let's say that you have a friend who owes you some money for women's self defense classes. You have heard that they just got paid and you want to suggest that they pay you back. You try to be polite and ask them, "Did you get paid yet?" They answer, "Gee, not yet. The boss said maybe next week." and look to their right (your left). This would indicate that they are constructing or "making up" what their boss said. They are telling a lie.
Police often ask a suspect to describe someone in detail. If the suspect looks to their right (your left) they are generally constructing or "making up" the visual description. If they look to their left (your right) they are generally recalling the details from their visual memory.
So, in general, a glance to your left when observing a person indicates that they are creating or "lying" while a glance to your right signifies that they are remembering an actual event, or being "truthful."

But there's more to the story...
Another thing that forensic interrogators look for is the use of contractions -- words like isn't, doesn't, weren't, etc. These usually are used by people telling the truth. On the other hand, people who say is not, does not, were not, etc. are often lying.

They also look for the reactions and facial expressions that accompany what the person is talking about. If someone says "I'm so sad that it happened!" but there is a delay in their expession of sadness, they are probably not being honest. The example is often given of someone who receives a present that they don't like. They often respond with "Wow. It's beautiful, I love it!" and then, some few seconds later, they smile and appear to look happy. Truthful emotions are spontaneous and instantaneous.

Another method used by professionals is to change the subject. A person who has been telling lies about a particular event will welcome the change of topic and will be visibly relaxed. An innocent suspect or a person who has been telling the truth will usually want to continue the dialog and will find the change of topic puzzling and attempt to regain focus on the topic.
Body language is also a good thing to observe. Liars usually do not use their hands. They often fold their arms together in front of them or poition items such as books, cups or other things between themselves and the person asking the questions. Sometimes they touch their mouth or nose alot.

Some investigators say that long and detailed answers to otherwise simple questions can indicate a lie. It's as if the more detail the person gives the more he tries to convince the questioner that he is being truthful. If they are confronted or acused of something, the liar will usually deny the accusation in a calm and emotionless manner instead of getting excited and saying things like "What? You think I did it?"

With careful video analysis, some investigators can observe rapid twitches in facial muscles that indicate a lie. Poker players, who want to leave with the most poker chips, often learn to "read" the facial expressions or "ticks" of other players to determine if they hold a good hand of cards or are just "bluffing."

To become adept at distinguishing lies, ask some neutral questions to establish the baseline of the subject. Watch their facial expressions and eye movements and test this method by asking questions and observing the pattern of shifts to left, right, up and down.

A word of caution: this method may be reversed in left-handed people. It also may not apply to people who have rehearsed their answers or who have taken drugs or consumed alcohol.

What does truth look like?
Here is an excellent video from the TEDtalks series (18 minutes):


Update: Blood in cheeks reveals liars
Many people blush when they are telling a lie. It's a very subtle phenomenon but this slight increase of blood flow to the cheeks can be detected. A camera that detects liars by monitoring the temperature of their face could lead to more acurate detection of terrorists and illegals at airports and border crossings.

Norman Eberhardt and James Levine of the Mayo Clinic and Ioannis Pavlidis of Honeywell Laboratories, both in Minnesota, have developed the high-resolution thermal imaging camera. This can identify an instant rush of blood to the area around the eyes, a phenomenon that has been linked with lying.

In the image on the top [right] the normal blood flow pattern can be seen and contrasted with the increased blood flow (bottom image) of a peron who is lying.

The temperature of the eye region can rise by several degrees. However, the thermal camera needs to be many times more sensitive to detect this change accurately at a distance. In tests the system picked out liars with comparable accuracy to conventional polygraph equipment, which is more complicated and time consuming to use. This method is just beginning to be used in forensic environments and holds promise for the future.

Achieving Enlightenment...What Can It Mean?

© 2011 By Gary Vey (http://viewzone.com/seethelight.html)

Seeing the light.

Until quite recently, I thought that the term "enlightenment" was a metaphor. But I met an individual who suggested that the word accurately describes the sensation when one remembers that they are something other than their human body. The phenomenon of "seeing light" with the mind is what happens when the reality of our non-material being is interpreted by our brain.

That hiatus of irrational thought made me uncomfortable and I hurried back to the rational habits that I rely upon when I encounter anything weird -- more research. What I learned about the phenomenon of "enlightenment" was quite a surprise for me. I think you will enjoy this story.

We start this journey in Greece, about 3600 years ago, during the Bronze Age. Our focus is part of a secret cult called the Eleusinian Mysteries.

The Eleusinian Mysteries Of all the mystery cults of ancient times, none were more celebrated than the Eleusinian Mysteries. These were the initiation ceremonies for the cult of Demeter and Persephone, held at Eleisus in ancient Greece. It is thought that these initiation procedures were passed to the Greeks by the Myceneans and originated sometime before 1600 BCE. We can't be sure because the punishment for revealing them was death. The Eleusinian Mysteries endured for 2000 years because they provided their initiates with a glimpse of the afterlife which sustained them psychologically and spiritually, dramatically changing their lives. What we have learned about this initiation has been leaked by famous personalities in history who dared to write about it. The highest level of initiation took place in a darkened chamber or cave. What went on inside the chamber hardly seemed significant. Telling about it was certainly not worthy of death. It was such a simple thing -- yet so powerful. "The claim is also made that men who have taken part in the mysteries become both more pious and more just and better in every respect than they were before. And this is the reason, we are told, why the most famous both of the ancient heroes and of the demi-gods were eagerly desirous of taking part in the initiatory rite; and in fact Jason and the Dioscuri, and Heracles and Orpheus as well, after their initiation attained success in all the campaigns they undertook, because these gods appeared to them." -- (Diodorus Siculus V, 48, 49)"...He who has succeeded in getting inside, and has seen a great light, as though a shrine were opened, adopts another bearing of silence and amazement, and 'humble and orderly attends upon' reason as upon a god." -- (Plutarch, Progress in Virtue 81e)  "...saw a vision...beholding apparitions innocent, and simple, and calm and happy as in a mystery, shining in pure light, pure ourselves." -- Socrates Called the "Contemplation of the Ear of Wheat" [above, right], the initiate was made to stare at a flaming torch. After some time, his eyes were covered. In the blackness he was directed to focus on the mental image of the flame and to see it with his mind's eye. Dr. Lefebure and Phosphenes Dr. Francis Lefebure is a medical doctor and devout Zoroastrian who has studied the Eleusinian Mysteries. He saw the similarities of this technique in many ancient religions whose aim is enlightenment. According to Dr. Lefebure, this method would have produced an after-image on the retina which would have persisted for a time as the rods and cones regained their neural equilibrium. It would also have persisted in the stimulation of the brain's visual cortex -- a process he identified as "phosphenes". In his research, he noted that when this method was combined with meditative thought and rhythm there was a dramatic psychological change. Short of achieving enlightenment, Dr. Lefebure went on to develop this discovery to improve concentration, help children study and allow troubled patients to relax. But a review of history shows that this phosphene technique is really capable of much more.

Nostradamus and the reflected flame

The phosphene method was used by Michel de Nostredame, Nostradamus, in the 1500s, to see the future. It is obvious that he did not invent this method himself but it shows that staring at a bright source of light was a legitimate way to connect with the "other side."

"Gathered at night in study deep I sat. Alone, upon the tripod stool of brass, Exiguous flame came out of solitude, Promise of magic that may be believed."

The brass tripod supported a bowl of water into which Nostradamus gazed in order to see the reflection of a candle in his dark room. Being reflected, the light reaching his eyes would have been polarized. It has also been mentioned that Nostradamus would gaze at the Moon's reflection on a silver tray -- again producing polarized light. This type of light seems to have been preferred by many ancient seers. The specific mention of the "tripod" probably echoes the Oracle of Delphi [right], who sat upon a tripod and gazed at a light, reflected in a shallow bowl of water, when she made her prophecies.

The technique is the same as phosphenes -- after staring at the light, the source is extinguished leaving an after-image that, together with meditation, results in the ability to have a vision of "the other side", from which we can "see" the true reality of our being and temporal circumstance. A bowl of water can be used, but a reflective mirror, crystal ball, a puddle of water, a stream or even the ocean can successfully reflect the light of the Sun or Moon and produce the same results with the proper meditation.

Often there is a degree of complicated ritual associated with this simple act. Nostradamus wrote of using a magic want to touch the bowl and the hem of his robe. Sometimes special incantations are said aloud or magical gestures are made. But these are irrelevant.

Zoroastrians: More Fire and Water

Zoroaster (Zarathushtra), the founder of Zoroastrianism, made reference to the mainyu athra - the spiritual fire - as one that illuminates the path of asha. Asha (enlightenment) is only available through individual choice (hence the necessity for proper meditation) and brings order to human thoughts, words and deeds. It does this by showing the initiate the real self. After this happens, a different hierarchy exists -- one which places greater value on compassion and righteousness.

Followers of Zoroaster worship fire, but not as a deity. They see fire as representing the energy of the Creator and as the messenger of truth. Devotees face the sacred flame in their ceremonies and practice the phosphene technique, mixing the light and after-image with "good thoughts". They also utilize water, which reflects the Sun and Moon. The Fire Temple of Yazd (Iran) [above] has a large pool of water for this kind of contemplation. In Mumbai (India) [right], Zoroastrian devotees worship while basking in the reflections of the sea, mixing meditation with the phosphene procedure.

Gazing at the Sun: Fatima

On May 13, 1917, three Portugese shepherd children spoke of experiencing a vision of the Virgin Mary in the Cova da Iria fields close to the town of Fatima. The eldest child was Lucia, aged ten, and she was accompanied by her two cousins, Francisco, aged nine and Jacinta, aged seven. They repeated the visions on the 13th day of each month until October.

On October 13th a crowd of 70,000 gathered [below] at the Cova da Iria in response to the children's claim that a miracle would occur on that day "so that all may believe." At the appointed time, in the middle of a rainstorm the clouds broke up and the sun was seen as a disk spinning in the sky, throwing off great rays of fantastic colors. As one columnist reported, "Before the astonished eyes of the crowd the sun trembled and danced."

Before the solar event the three children had continually stared directly in to the Sun when they had their visions, proclaiming that they were in communication with luminous woman they took to be Mary, the mother of Jesus. This bright apparition later gave the girls a prophecy about the future and pleaded for them to pray for world peace.

Certainly the Sun did not move. It was a local phenomenon. What happened in Fatima on October 13th, 1917 was an example of a mass phosphene. All of the necessary ingredients were present to enable thousands of people to experience the portal through which they could see their own true self: they had been staring directly at the Sun for several minutes; they were praying and meditating with good intentions; and they closed their eyes to witness the after-glow and its accompanying range of colors as their retinas and visual cortex regained equilibrium. For those that did these things it was a true spiritual and life changing event.

Thirteen years after the "dance of the Sun", the Catholic Church declared that the phenomenon was "worthy of belief."

Surprise... a white wall works just as well

Bodhidharma founded Chan Buddhism. Rejected by a local Buddhist monastary, he sat in meditation, staring at Shao Lin's whitewashed monastery walls, every day for years. Bodhidharma eventually became an enlightened master and discovered that the brightness and contrast coming into the field of vision could also produce enlightenment.

Modern psychologists have found that wall-gazing is a great way to induce alpha in both its upper and lower (and even upper theta) frequency ranges. It was the first hint at what was likely going on in the mind of the initiates and what these phosphenes were actually doing.

In this technique, called 'ganzfeld' -- a German word which means complete field -- alpha waves are generated by staring at a blank, preferably white, bright visual field and holding the eyes steadily upon it. A white-wall fulfills this condition. All that is necessary is that the wall occupy the complete field of vision so that distractions are eliminated. Once the vision of the bright wall has saturated the retina, the eyes are closed, revealing the phosphene. At this moment the appropriate meditation is introduced and the mind's eye becomes full of visions. This technique is so powerful a generator of alpha that it is practiced by monks even today. [right].

So what's going on here?

If you've read the Dan Eden's article on Left Brain : Right Brain, you’ll know that your brain is divided into two sides or hemispheres which are slightly different from each other. Each hemisphere can function independently and processes information in different ways. Our personality depends on which hemisphere is dominant, depending on the activities it is processing.

Here is a list of traits associated with each human brain hemisphere:

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses logic detail oriented facts rule words and language present and past math and science can comprehend knowing acknowledges order/pattern perception knows object name reality based forms strategies practical safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses feeling "big picture" oriented imagination rules symbols and images present and future philosophy & religion can "get it" (i.e. meaning) believes appreciates spatial perception knows object function fantasy based presents possibilities impetuous risk taking

When you measure the brain waves generated by both sides of your brain, you'll find that they're slightly out-of-sync or out-of-phase from each other. Scientists know that the more one-sided our brains are, the more erratic and higher the frequency will be.

In the 1970s, psychologists were experimenting with brain waves and discovered that "enlightened" individuals (i.e. Buddhist monks and Gurus) had a remarkable synchronization of their brain waves in both hemispheres. As a result, their overall brain wave patterns were slower.

As brain wave synchronization increases, the two sides of your brain communicate more with each other -- and that's what is important. If your brain waves slow down enough, you'll eventually enter Theta (a bridge to the subconscious and insight and creativity) and maybe even Delta brainwaves (a deep dreamless state or extremely deep meditation).

Further brainwave synchronization will lead to both sides of your brain being so balanced that your brainwaves will merge into a single coherent brain wave pattern. Some people believe that at this point, the normal conscious mind is bypassed and you finally achieve the "it", the "oneness" or enlightenment -- the awakened mind.

The theory makes sense because in order to know (left brain function) our real self, we must experience or feel it (right brain function).

"...it is like Aristotle's view that men being initiated have not a lesson to learn, but an experience to undergo and a condition into which they must be brought, while they are becoming fit (for revelation). -- (Synesius Dio 1133)

Others have described brain waves as like ripples on a pond. Only when the pond is smooth can it reflect the light like a mirror. Only when our brains are quiet can our real self be remembered.

Phosphenes and Enlightenment

As the knowledge about brain wave synchronization became known, an assortment of different apparatus were developed and marketed. Bio-feedback machines allowed the user to experiment with different meditation techniques to lower their brain waves and audio CDs promised to synchronize the hemispheres with subliminal sounds. A few apparatus tried to use blinking lights to do this visually -- but the results have been abysmal.

It makes sense to use visual stimuli to synchronize the hemispheres for a number of reasons. Humans rely primarily on their vision to survive. Our consciousness and attention is primarily in visual language and the brain devotes a significant portion (visual cortex) of its neurons to process the sensory data from our eyes. Just close your eyes for a few seconds and you will experience a dramatic change in your consciousness.

Each retina in our eyes is connected to both the left and right hemispheres of our brain. The left field of vision goes to one hemisphere while the right goes to the other. This division is un-sharp and a narrow strip of the visual field midline is represented in both hemispheres. This overlap of the visual field is important to our discussion.

Because depth perception requires the coordination of both eyes, communication between the two visual centers is usually made through the corpus callosum -- a bundle of nerves that connects the two hemispheres like a network cable. Recent experiments have shown that this inter-hemisphere communication is not necessary for visual data coming from the midline of our visual field, or macula. This central point in our retina is the focus of our vision and its information is hard-wired to both sides of our brain.

It is well know that our visual system has a high degree of specialization. Neurons in some areas of the visual cortex process information only from a restricted range of features. Things like form, color or motion are analyzed independently by separate processing systems. All of these processing activities require excitation of the brain waves as they try to interpret changes in our field of vision.

So here it is: The phosphene method saturates the midline visual field with intense light. It is almost an overload. Visual data is sent to both hemispheres simultaneously. The visual cortex stimulates the entire hemisphere. The visual data is coherent, with minimal variation in form, color or motion and the involvement of both hemispheres in synchronous. By closing the eyes, attention is shifted from the external world to the inner one and, with pre-requisite meditation and preparation to be receptive of the truth, the real self is experienced as light.

A Warning To All

First, don't look at the Sun for more than a few seconds. In fact, it is better to use an ordinary light bulb in a dark room. The results will be the same. In my research I have read that a 60-watt incandescent bulb placed two meters (about 5 feet) away is sufficient to produce the effect. Then, of course, there is always the white wall... (But the wall must take up the entire field of vision to avoid distractions of form, shape or color.)

Next, there is the matter of the pre-conditioning of the mind. Enlightenment is something you must allow to happen. It cannot be rushed or wished for. It requires a fertile environment brought about by good thinking, good living and good intentions. Some have said that this part of the quest for enlightenment requires the help of an enlightened teacher. Others say that good intentions will allow your own self to show you the way.

No one can tell you about your true self with words. We simply do not have an adequate vocabulary for this. The experience that one has is unique and unlike anything in this mortal experience. It is emotional and enduring. It is felt (right brain) and understood (left brain).

Bright lights and amnesia

In the 1980s, researchers found that even low-level exposure to a beam of electrons caused rats to forget what had just happened to them (an effect known as retrograde amnesia). One theory was that the amnesia was a result of the brilliant flash experienced when the electron beam struck the retina. The flash only caused memory loss about the previous four seconds -- but the effect was very real.

To test the theory, rats were placed in an environment where they would have to learn to avoid a certain behavior or be subjected to an electrical shock delivered through the metal floor of the cage. Since the shock is painful, they generally learn this almost immediately. But when the initial shock was followed by a bright flash of light they didn't learn. Supposedly then, the brains of the rats were somehow rendered inoperative to learning.

Retrograde amnesia was demonstrated for the 80-, 85-, and 100-V foot-shock test trials. At 40 V the voltage may not have been great enough to be felt by the subject. For groups examined at shock levels above 100 V, the foot shock was so potent that a photoflash was ineffective in producing RA. Our conclusion was that the photoflash was an effective amnesiac until the intensity of the foot shock became more potent than the photoflash; this is consistent with the recency theory generated in serial learning and memory tasks. -- Source

It is a well known fact that strobe lights can cause disorientation and even incapacitate a person. This could be more evidence that the hemispheres can be made to synchronize, thus lowering their brain wave frequency -- a prerequisite for experiencing "enlightenment."