Biological Evolution and Prevalent Theories Regarding the Origin of Religion : A Review and Critique

James McCLENON¹ and Jennifer NOONEY²

¹Dept. of Social Sciences, Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, NC, USA)

²Dept. of Sociology, North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC, USA)

(Received on November 27, 1997, Final Revised and Accepted on November 24, 1998)

Abstract:

A review of the major orientations regarding the origin of religion reveals that prevalent theories are inadequate. Various prominent theorists established paradigms explaining how religion began. These accepted orientations do not coincide with biological evolution, anthropological evidence, or modern people's reported experience. Biological theories provide a basis for evolutionary explanations of religion. Two recent theories, based on evolutionary processes, could be tested by comparing paranormal, religious,and anomalous experiences gathered from a variety of cultures. Some anomalous experiences affecting religious beliefs are predicted to have structural features which are consistent cross-culturally. Such universal features reflect biological bases. Verification of this hypothesis would support the argument that processes associated with certain anomalous experiences affecting religious belief have been shaped through evolutionary processes.

Keywords:

human evolution, origin of religion, anomalous experience, anthropology of religion, spiritual healing

Review on Recent Measurements of Anomalous Bio-Magnetic Fields

Hideyuki KOKUBO¹, Mikio YAMAMOTO¹, Masahiko HIRASAWA¹, Kimiko KAWANO^2,1, Masahide FURUKAWA¹ and Hideaki SAKAIDA³

¹Div. of Radiation Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences (Chiba, Japan)

²Nippon Medical School (Tokyo, Japan)

³Tokyo Denki University (Tokyo, Japan)

(Received on December 10, 1998, Accepted on January 5, 1999)

Abstract:

Studies have reported that some zen or qigong masters/students can generate nT to 100nT-order magnetic fields under their control. This review finds that the order of magnitude of reported anomalous bio-magnetic fields (from 10^-1 nT to 10⁶ nT) have often differed remarkably in papers from the last 11 years. Results, including the authors' own measurements for magnetic fields caused by human hands are discussed. It is suggested that the differences in the order of magnitude of the reported anomalous bio-magnetic fields are influenced mainly by three factors: the rarity of special subjects, so-called "psychics"; making measurements with or without local shielding of the magnetic field; and variations in the type of detection sensors.

Keywords:

bio-magnetic field, nT, qigong, human hands, somatic science, PK, anomalous perturbation

Measurements of Physiological Effects of Internal Qigong; The Six-Word Practice (Rokujiketsu)

Yoshio MACHI and Chao LIU

Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Denki University (Tokyo, Japan)

(Received on June 3, 1998, Final Revised and Accepted on January 25, 1999)

Abstract:

There are many types of internal qigong, but there are very few that incorporate vacalization. We looked at the six-word practice with vocalizaion in qigong and report the analysis of the physiological data we measured. We found that sympathetic nervous system in the autonomic nervous system are affected powerfully by comparing results for the six-word practice with a standing posture qigong exercise. In the six-word practice, the carotid artery and the nearby blood flow increased right after vocalization. The flow rate of blood in the heart, liver and kidney increased as was seen by ultrasound imaging. We also found that vocalization during qigong influenced physiological data further. After vocalizations, the alpha waves increased in the head of the master and the qigong was effective for relaxation.

Keywords:

autonomic nervous system, ECG, R-R interval analysis, R point analysis, blood flow analysis, blood flow, ultrasound imaging, EEG topography

A Study of the Physiological State during Hui-Chun-Gong (Practicing Recuperating-life Qigong)

Hideaki SAKAIDA, Chao LIU and Yoshio MACHI

Tokyo Denki University (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:

Qigong is one Chinese mind-body training method for controlling the body, breath and mind. There are many kinds of Qigong. Hui-Chun-Gong is one, and it has many kinds of training methods. This report describes measurements and analysis of physiological states of image training using Hui-Chun-Gong. The data measured were ECGs (electrocardiograms), BP(blood pressure), RSP(respiration), temperatures on the skin surface, and so on. These data were measured at the same time. Measurements were done at Pre-rest, during Hui-Chun-Gong and Post-rest. While performing Hui-Chun-Gong, HR(heart rate) increased, R point value of ECG decreased, the value of LF/HF increased, BP increased, pulse pressure increased, the value of t₁ decreased, the pulse wave transit time decreased, and the value of |b/a| of APG (accelerated plethysmograph) decreased. These trends suggested that the sympathetic nervous system was predominate. RSP rate decreased and the amplitude of RSP increased. These trends suggested that a subject's respiration is deep and long.

Keywords:

ECG (electrocardiogram), BP (blood pressure), RSP (respiration), pulse wave, temperature on skin surface, APG (accelerated plethysmograph), Qigong, Hui-Chun-Gong (practicing recuperating-life Qigong)

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Physiological Measurements of Strengthening Qigong (Qiang Zhuang Gong) in the Seated & Lying Postures

Chao LIU¹, Yoshio MACHI¹, Hideaki SAKAIDA¹, Jian HUANG² and Baofeng ZHAO³

¹Tokyo Denki University (Tokyo, Japan)

²Shanghai Qigong Institute (Shanghai, China)

³ Beidaihe Convalescent Hospital (Beidaihe, China)

Abstract:

Most basic training exercises in Qigong belong to three groups : uncomfortable postures, regulation breathing, and regulating physiological activity. In this paper, we describe the physiological difference between the two postures (seating and lying) of Strengthening Qigong.

Keywords:

physiological measurement, EEG, ECG, blood flow, PPG, autonomic nervous system, interval R-R analysis, RES, Strengthening Qigong

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Physiological Changes During Qigong Training

Kimiko KAWANO^1,2, Tatsuzo YAMADA², Masahiko HIRASAWA², Hideyuki KOKUBO² and Mikio YAMAMOTO²

¹Centre for Informatics and Sciences, Nippon Medical School (Tokyo, Japan)

²National Institute of Radiological Sciences (Chiba, Japan)

Abstract:

Changes in EEG, ECG and respiration were studied with qigong trainees through experiments every three months for one year. The subjects were two Japanese males and two females who were usually training in a kind of dynamic qigong. Alpha waves on the occipital region, which is an indicator of relaxation, tended to become large in the course of the year's training. The ratio of the alpha amplitude on the frontal region to the occipital region seemed to become larger during qigong, however, the changes in the ratio with more training were not so remarkable. The frequency of the alpha waves become slower during quiet qigong and faster during dynamic qigong, though, its change during one year was not clear. The heart rate increased even during quiet qigong compared with the resting state. Its increasing rate became smaller with subjects' training length.

Keywords:

EEG, dynamic qigong, quiet qigong, alpha wave, alpha-frequency, heart rate, respiration

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Endocrine Changes during Qigong Therapy

Yuzo HIGUCHI¹, Yasunori KOTANI¹, Hironobu HIGUCHI², Yukiko MINEGISHI³ and Shinichiro MOMOSE⁴

¹Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo, Japan)

²College of Tohoku Medical Technology (Sendai, Japan)

³Kokushikan University (Tokyo, Japan)

⁴Momose Hospital (Ohme, Japan)

Abstract:

Qigong therapy is now seen widely as a popular remedy in Japan, but the value of qigong therapy is not settled. Three qigong masters using a high level of qigong therapy participated in this experiment. The changes occurring in the levels of cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, and beta-endolphin in venous blood before and after a 40-minute qigong therapy were measured. Each qigong master-to-patient correspondence and the difference in ability of each qigong master were investigated. In the case of qigong master A who used his own internal qi, the levels of all parameters increased immediately after qigong therapy, but they decreased in his patient. By contrast, qigong masters B and C did not use internal qi, and the levels of many parameters decreased for them and their patients. It was considered that the patients were relaxed, and their sympathetic nerve activity declined during the qigong therapy.

Keywords:

qigong therapy, cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, beta-endolphin, dopamine

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Physiological Changes Caused by Wai Qi Fa Gong

Zaiwen SHEN, Akiko TONE and Masami ASAYAMA

Dept. of Health Sciences, Chukyo Women's University (Aichi, Japan)

Abstract:

Recently, Wai Qi therapy is becoming recognized throughout the world as a method of therapeutic treatment. Measurements have been made of the physiological function changes in the skin temperature of the hands and thermal sweating when a Qigong master was doing Wai Qi Fa Gong (emitting the external Qi). In this experiment, when the Qigong master was doing Wai Qi Fa Gong, the electroencephalogram (EEG), respiration, ECG and heart rates of both the master and receivers were measured. Also, the effects of Wai Qi Fa Gong on both sides' physiological functions and the mechanism of Wai Qi therapy were studied.

Keywords:

qigong, waiqi (external qi), EEG, respiration, ECG, heart rate

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The Effects of Viewing Different Colors on EEG and Skin Temperature in Humans

Zaiwen SHEN, Akiko TONE and Masami ASAYAMA

Dept. of Health Sciences, Chukyo Women's University (Aichi, Japan)

Abstract:

Recently, as a way to relieve stress and fatigue, relaxation methods such as color therapy and color healing have been used. A problem with ways of relaxing the body and mind through color use is the lack of scientific proof and their effectiveness. In this experiment, paper of four different colors (red, blue, black, white) were shown to six subjects for 10 minutes while their skin temperatures, electroencephalogram (EEG), ECG, respiration and heart rates were observed. Significantly different changes in the skin temperatures were recognized for all four colors. For the EEG, the theta, alpha and beta wave frequencies, amplitudes, times and places of appearance with different characteristics were observed for each color.

Keywords:

color, EEG, skin temperature

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Effect of Minerals Dissolved in Water on Half-width of NMR Spectrum

Yoshinori ADACHI¹, Takashi AOKI², Yasuo YOSHIHUKU², Katsushi YOSHIDA² and Shoji SUZUKI³

¹College of Business Administration and Information Science, Chubu University (Aichi, Japan)

²Faculty of Engineering, Chubu University (Aichi, Japan)

³Kumamoto National College of Technology (Kumamoto, Japan)

Abstract:

An EQR irradiation causes a half-width (Hw) change of ¹⁷O-NMR spectrum of a mineral water. But the difference of Hws before and after EQR irradiation depends on a kind of water. The Hw strongly depends on the pH value. Then pH change must be considered to study the effect of EQR irradiation on mineral waters. However, pH values of mineral waters placed in the laboratory under the same condition do not change so much, indicating that the half-width change by EQR irradiation is the result of the structural change of the mineral water.

Keywords:

mineral water, EQR irradiation, NMR spectrum, half-width, pH

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Quantitative Assessment of Visual Recognition during Gum Chewing

Masatoshi ITOH¹, Aurellio M. MEJIA², Kazuhiko YANAI³, Toshitaka KAKETA⁴, Akihiro KAKETA⁴ and Keiichiro YAMAGUCHI¹

¹Cyclotron RI Center, Tohoku University (Sendai, Japan)

²Postgraduate School of Information Science, Tohoku University (Sendai, Japan)

³Pathological Pharmacology, School of Medicine (Sendai, Japan)

⁴Sendai College of Dental Hygiene (Sendai, Japan)

Abstract:

A high performance visual stimulation apparatus, an AV Tachistoscope was used to measure visual recognition ability and the results were applied to assess activation effects by mastication. The equipment can display diagrams and letters on a television screen in a minimum one millisecond display time. When the display time is short, the shown contents can not be recognized but by extending the display time, the shown objects become recognized and the recognition-time threshold can be measured. With this threshold value the cerebral activation effects by psychological and pharmacological means can be assessed. Gum chewing was selected as the activation procedure. The recognition accuracy to visually shown letters was tested in 10 normal persons, and it was significantly improved in the gum-chewing condition (90.8 +/- 13.0(%)) compared with the control condition (71.5 +/- 28.3(%)) (p<0.05 by paired t-test). The thresholds of the visual recognition time were 1.9 +/- 0.7 and 2.4 +/- 1.0 ms for the gum chewing and control conditions, respectively.

Keywords:

visual recognition, mastication, tachistoscope, response time

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A Method for in Vivo Measurement of Thermophysical Properties of Biological Tissues

Motoo FUJII¹, Xing ZHANG¹, Takehiko FUJINO² and Makoto OHKUSU³

¹Institute of Advanced Material Study, Kyushu University (Fukuoka, Japan)

²Institute of Health Science, Kyushu University (Fukuoka, Japan)

³Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University (Fukuoka, Japan)

Abstract:

A non-contract method is proposed to measure thermal conductivity and thermal difffusivity of various kinds of materials, especially biological tissues. The method is based on the fact that the time variation of the heated surface temperature depends mainly on the thermal properties of the material when its surface is heated locally. An argon laser and an infrared thermometer are used for heating and surface temperature measurements. The measured temperature variation is compared with that obtained numerically in advance, then the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity are estimated simultaneously. When the laser power and heating radius have been estimated accurately, the present method could obtain the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of non-metal solids within an error of 10%.

Keywords:

thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, biological material, in vivo measurement, laser heating, infrared thermometer

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[Special Lecture 1]

Current Status of Alternative, Complementary and Traditional Medicine

Kazuhiko ATSUMI

Prof. Emeritus, University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:

Modern Western medicine has developed upon a scientific basis and it has contributed greatly to prevention and curing of patients with various kinds of diseases and injuries. Through the amalgamation of Western medicine with alternative and complementary medicine, "the third new medicine" will be created and integrated health cares will be realized.

Keywords:

alternative, complementary & traditional medicine (ACTM), modern Western medicine, the 3rd new medicine, integrated medical care

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The Evaluation of Health Promoting Methods Using Chaos Attractors of Digital Plethysmograms and Topographic EEG

Shigenori SHIROUZU¹, Noboru INAGAKI¹, Yasutami TSUDA¹, Masanori SATO¹, Kyoko NAGATA¹, Eiko SHIROUZU¹, Hiroshi ISOZAKI¹, Hisanobu SUGANO¹, Hiroshi ISHII², Michiko MATSUHASHI², Mitsuyuki HASHIZUME², Hitoshi SETA³ and Tetsuhiro KAMATA⁴

¹MOA Health Science Foundation (Fukuoka, Japan)

²Asahikawa Join Clinic (Hokkaido, Japan)

³Fukuoka Join Clinic (Fukuoka, Japan)

⁴High-Quality Life Club (Shizuoka, Japan)

Abstract:

Health promoting effects of Jorei (a medical art of Japan) were examined using digital plethysmograms (DPTG) and electroencephalograms (EEG). Improvement of the blood flow and the relaxation effects of Jorei were demonstrated.

Keywords:

digital olethysmogram, EEG, Jorei, relaxation, waveform, chaos attractor

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Blind Tests of Health Promoting Methods Using Digital Plethysmograms

Shigenori SHIROUZU¹, Yasutami TSUDA¹, Hiroshi ISOZAKI¹, Koji YONEMOTO¹, Eiko SHIROUZU¹, Hisanobu SUGANO¹, Kayoko ATA², Seiji OOTSUBO², Misako KOJIMA² and Yoshiteru MAKI²

¹MOA Health Science Foundation (Fukuoka, Japan)

²Kagoshima Clinic, Kyusyu ZuiSen-kai Foundation (Kagoshima, Japan)

Abstract:

To perform blind tests of health promoting methods using digital plethysmograms, we modified the measuring apparatus and data analysis method. We reprt preliminary results obtained so far.

Keywords:

health promoting methods, digital plethysmograms, harmonics analysis, pulse height, baseline deflection, Jorei

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Study on Vector Potential Created by EQR System

Yoshinori ADACHI¹, Takashi AOKI², Yasuo YOSHIHUKU², Katsushi YOSHIDA² and Shoji SUZUKI³

¹College of Business Administration and Information Science, Chubu University (Aichi, Japan)

²Faculty of Engineering, Chubu University (Aichi, Japan)

³Kumamoto National College of Technology (Kumamoto, Japan)

Abstract:

Many significant biomedical influences on human bodies by an emission from a 80kHz quartz resonance (EQR) system have been observed, but the reason to cause those changes was not known. We thought that those changes could be caused by the vector potential change and tried to evaluate the intensity and the space distribution of the vector potential produced by the EQR system. However the mechanism to produce vector potential by a quartz ball of the EQR system is very complicated, then we simplified it as an AC dipole model in this study. The result is indicating the intensity of the vector potential is in inverse proportion to distance from the quartz; 2.33 x 10^-11 Wb/m at 45cm, when the resonant current is 3mA.

Keywords:

EQR system, gauge field, vector potential, quartz resonance, dipole moment

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Studies of Qi-Information System using Bi-Digital O-Ring Test (1) Effect of Consciousness on Qi-Information System

Takehiko FUJINO¹, Motoo FUJII², Xing ZHANG², Toru MARUYAMA³, Yoshikazu KAJI³, Shigemi TAKAYANAGI¹, Shozo KANAYA¹ and Makoto OHKUSU⁴

¹Institute of Health Science, Kyushu University (Fukuoka, Japan)

²Institute of Advanced Material Study, Kyushu University (Fukuoka, Japan)

³1st Dept. of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University (Fukuoka, Japan)

⁴Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University (Fukuoka, Japan)

Abstract:

Using the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test (ORT) developed by Omura as an experimental model of the Qi-Information System, we investigated the effect of consciousness on the Qi-Information System. The ORT was carried out on three young women who touched paper containers holding one of three substances (tetrodotoxin, cigarettes, healthy food). The ORT was conducted for each substance using three tests: a double-blind test, a single-blind test and an open test. In the case of tetrodotoxin (a lethal poison) only, the ORT results were the same for each of the three tests. For the other two substances, dissociation was observed between the results of the double-blind test and the results for the other two tests. The results suggest the importance of consciousness in the Qi-Information System, and the usefulness of the ORT as an experimental model of the Qi-Information System.

Keywords:

Bi-Digital O-Ring Test, Qi-Information System, consciousness, visual sensation, double-blind test

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Analysis of Intellectual Resonance (or Synchronization) using a Card Game (4) Characterization by Physiological Indices

Masahiro KURITA

The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:

In a series of previous studies, we have established a method to quantitatively analyze intellectual resonance based on a concrete message. This method allows us to analyze how and to what extent intellectual resonance occurs in a group, through the use of digital information such as numbers and characters. In this method, participants take their seats and fill out special cards according to game instructions. The degree of coincidence among neighboring participants is then examined and scores are assigned to the results. The scores are evaluated using mathematical tools within a probability theory framework. In this study, we analyzed the data of 37 trials conducted by 38 participants over the course of ten weeks. The participants were instructed to carry out three different types of trials in sequence under two types of game rules, i.e. "ordinary game" and "8-kanji game" rules. The three types of trials were as follows: one with an aim for resonance ("positive trial"); one with an aim for no resonance ("negative trial"); and one with no aim ("neutral trial"). Persons who obtained high resonance scores were classified as "synchronizer". The purpose of this study was to characterize the synchronizers through correlation analysis between physiological indices and accumulated resonance scores. Our results revealed that synchronizers have the following tendencies: higher age; female; low body height; low body weight; low body mass index; low grip strength; as well as other bad physical conditions. These results show that a synchronizer, defined in terms of the resonance score, was not an abstract concept determined through the stochastic process, but a real entity characterized from concrete physiological features.

Keywords:

synchronization, card game, information transfer, synchro-X, subconsciousness, resonance, serial trial

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EEG Change in Remote Perception Task Using Electromagnetic Shield Cage

Mikio YAMAMOTO¹, Masahiko HIRASAWA¹, Tomoko KOKADO¹, Hideyuki KOKUBO¹, Tatsuzo YAMADA¹, Junko TANIGUCHI¹, Kimiko KAWANO^2,1 and Nobuo FUKUDA¹

¹National Institute of Radiological Sciences (Chiba, Japan)

²Nippon Medical School (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:

A qigong master (sender) and his pupil (receiver) were in two different rooms in a sensory-shielded state, and anomalous perception by qigong was attempted while the receiver was connected to an electroencephalograph. The sender attempted to transmit qi within a few seconds at a randomly selected time in 80 seconds period. The receiver, who was seated in an electromagnetic shield cage, attempted to perceive the transmission time. The analysis of the electroencephalogram from 20 seconds before to 20 seconds after the qi emission showed that a statistically significant increase of alpha wave mean amplitude at C₃ point occurred around 15 seconds after starting qi emission. The C₃ point corresponds to a sensory area of the right hand in which the receiver held a switch by which she signaled the guessed time. This result was consistent with results of our past experiments that the alpha wave amplitude in the receiver's electroencephalograms increases for his/her sensory area related to the loaded anomalous perception task at 10 or more seconds after the start of the anomalous stimuli. But the present experiment had a difference from the past experiments on the point that the anomalous stimuli were not sent at the time of the brain reaction which suggests anomalous perception in the subconscious.

Keywords:

subconscious, anomalous, perception, EEG, alpha wave, sensory area, electromagnetic shield, qigong

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[Special Lecture 2]

The Existence and Significance of Parapsychological Functions

Kongzhi SONG

Chinese Society of Somatic Science (Beijing, China)

Abstract:

This article reports existence of parapsychological functions through four series of experiments. In the first series of experiments a subject Mr. Baosheng Zhang removed polymethyl metacrylate (PMMA) chips from sealed transparent glass bottles without breaking the bottle. In the second series, the sample was a long spring-shaped wire which was put into a sealed transparent glass tube. The subject removed the wire from the tube, but again the tube was intact. In the third series of experiments, a series of pictures was taken in the intermediate state in which the target was moved from the container. In the fourth series, a 10-fen bank note was sealed between two PMMA boards as the sample. The subject burned and made many holes on the bank note from outside the boards. All these were done with intact samples. These results suggest that there are physical and physiological functions of parapsychological phenomena.

Keywords:

psi-ability, intermediate state, high-speed camera, matter through matter, psi burn

Last Modified: April 27, 1999

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