Dr Michael Persinger (Neurologist)

Dr. Michael A. Persinger (June 26, 1945 – August 14, 2018) was an American-Canadian professor of psychology at Laurentian University.

Persinger was mostly known for his hypothesis and experiments regarding the roles of the temporal lobes and their mediation of mystical/occult/religious experiences. 

With the development of the "shakti helmet" (often referred to as "the God helmet") Dr. Persinger's major research themes have included electromagnetic field effects upon biological organisms, epilepsy, temporal lobe functions, properties of biophotons, geophysical-human interactions, physical cosmology, and the quantifiable examination of what Persinger terms "low-probability phenomena" such as time travel, parallel universes, and the universe as a simulation. 

Needless to say, with such an eclectic mix, the reaction from the scientific and medical communities was not always positive.

He published over 500 technical articles in scientific journals, more than a dozen chapters in various books, and seven of his own books. His book with Ghislaine Lafreniere, entitled Space-Time Transients and Unusual Events (1977), documents the search for patterns in phenomena that are not compatible with current scientific paradigms.

Selected publications:

• Persinger, Michael (1974). ELF and VLF electromagnetic field effects. New York: Plenum Press. ISBN 978-0-306-30826-0.
• Persinger, Michael (1974). The paranormal. New York: MSS Information Corp. ISBN 978-0-8422-5212-6.
• Persinger, Michael (1977). Space-time transients and unusual events. Chicago: Nelson-Hall. ISBN 978-0-88229-334-9.
• Persinger, Michael (1980). The weather matrix and human behavior. New York: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-03-057731-4.
• Persinger, Michael (1980). TM and Cult Mania. North Quincy Mass.: Christopher Pub. House. ISBN 978-0-8158-0392-8.
• Persinger, Michael (1987). Neuropsychological bases of God beliefs. Westport: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-275-92648-9.
• Persinger, Michael (1988). Climate, buildings and behaviour. Winnipeg: Institute of Winnipeg. ISBN 978-0-920213-60-5.
• Persinger, Michael; Dadsetan, Parirokh; Jahangiri, Hamideh (2020). Encyclopedia of Psychological Testing, Assessment & Treatment Volume 1 (A-L). Latvia, European Union: Scholar's Press. ISBN 978-613-8-94244-3.
• Persinger, Michael; Dadsetan, Parirokh; Jahangiri, Hamideh (2020). Encyclopedia of Psychological Testing, Assessment & Treatment Volume 2 (M-Z). Latvia, European Union: Scholar's Press. ISBN 978-613-8-93134-8.