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Anomalous experiences, such as spirit communication and the perception of other dimensions, have been reported in individuals with complex partial seizures and temporal lobe epilepsy, closed head injury, as well as in some instances of traumatic emotional experience. Traditionally, these occurrences have been dismissed and/or viewed as some form of psychosis. While the latter is clearly a step above being considered to be "possessed by the devil" and/or being "burned at the stake", it fails to consider such experiences as having any possible validity whatsoever. Moreover, it simply ignores many rich and varied reports throughout history of these kinds of experiences and practices that continue to be part of many religious and spiritual traditions today (e.g., shamans, kahunas, Tibetan oracles).
The QEEG and LORETA findings of a near 50-year old man with a history of temporal lobe epilepsy and symptoms of seeing and hearing spirits are presented. He also completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory as well as a history and clinical interview. Previous SPECT findings revealed hypometabolism in the temporal and frontal lobes of his brain. In addition, MRI data indicated decreased frontal lobe volume. Topographic QEEG data as well as LORETA source localization images are discussed in detail. The QEEG and LORETA findings reported here do not provide proof of the validity of anomalous experiences nor of the existence of other dimensions. However, they do assist in identifying brain mechanisms that are involved in such experiences. While the brain has long been thought of as the "generator" of the mind, we suggest that it may simply be a "receiver" of sorts. That is, a receiver of spirit.
John W. DeLuca, Ph.D., founder of Fearless Heart�, is a fully licensed psychologist in Colorado and Michigan. He is also in private practice in Boulder providing psychotherapy, neuropsychological assessment, QEEG brain mapping, neurofeedback and performance enhancement training. He was formerly Assistant Professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine and Director of the Neuropsychology Lab, University Psychiatric Center (1992-2002). Dr. DeLuca is a graduate and former faculty member of Elizabeth Stratton's Touching Spirit� Training Programs as well as continuing student of Kyabje Gehlek Rimpoche, Jewel Heart Tibetan Buddhist Center, Ann Arbor, MI. Dr. DeLuca is a warm and accessible teacher. His workshops are built upon his own personal and heartfelt transformational journey. He explains "In late 1995, I began a journey of deeper spiritual exploration after a series of traumatic personal events rather close in time. My journey began with Reiki training and studying with Elizabeth Stratton, a healer and founder of the Touching Spirit Center� in Litchfield, Connecticut. Serendipitously, I also became a more serious student of Kyabje Gehlek Rimpoche of the Jewel Heart Buddhist Center in Ann Arbor, MI with whom I have studied with less consistently since the early 1990's.� Other Products by John DeLuca 1) Entering the Mandala: Living the Sacred Circle sm
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