Abstract/Results: | ABSTRACT:
Filter theories of psi postulate that psi-mediated information operates as a ‘weak stimulus’ that is likely to
be filtered out of conscious awareness (Bergson, 1913; Stanford, 1990). This poster presents a study in which an experimental paradigm developed to examine the efficacy of filtering mechanisms of awareness, Latent Inhibition (LI), was adapted to include a psi component. LI assesses the processing of irrelevant stimuli, an unconscious process that adaptively reduces the load on working memory, ignoring irrelevant stimuli (Lubow, 1989). This is typically measured in a learning paradigm, where the effect of exposure (to an inconsequential stimulus) upon the future ability to learn an association between this stimulus and another, is tested. In the current study, it was examined whether psi-mediated information might be processed akin to the irrelevant stimulus in LI, testing whether subsequent associability of an irrelevant ‘telepathic stimulus’ would be affected. As reduced LI has been associated with creativity and positive schizotypy, indicating looser attentional filters (Carson, Peterson & Higgins, 2003; Gray et al., 2002), it was hypothesised that these same variables would also modulate the processing of psi-mediated information. Additionally, the predictive value of belief in the paranormal was examined, following work suggesting that creative, paranormal and schizotypal ideation fall on an associative continuum (Gianotti, et al., 2001), termed ‘transliminality’ (Thalbourne, 2000). In Study One a significant LI effect was obtained, but no overall psi effect. ‘Transliminality’ variables did not modulate the LI effect as hypothesised. This was interpreted in terms of possible interactions between trait, gender and attentional demands (Lubow & Gewirtz, 1995). However, meeting hypotheses, a significant psi-LI-like effect was obtained with highly transliminal participants. This sub-sample appeared to process psi-mediated information in a way analogous to LI. This suggests that amongst certain profiles, the representation of psi-mediated information might be inhibited from conscious awareness, when not needed, nevertheless, unconsciously affecting cognitive processing. Data is currently being collected, which will be presented in the poster, manipulating the attentional demands of tasks in both LI and psi conditions in order to further assess whether the LI model is appropriate for the modelling of psi-mediated information.
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Reference:
| Simmonds-Moore, C., & Holt, N. (2008). Creativity, schizotypy, paranormal experiences and mental health: developing a new cognitive parapsychological paradigm for the assessment of PSI performance in the laboratory. In Aquém e além do cérebro. Behind and beyond the brain. Proceedings of the 7th Symposium of Fundação Bial. Porto: Fundação Bial.
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