Writing Assignment One
In his article, Your Sixth Sense, Matthew Hutson explains ways the brain tricks people into believing they are experiencing a paranormal event. Hutson first explains anomalous experiences and continues with how some events that appear supernatural are really just meaningful coincidences. Near-death and out-of-body experiences are explained next, then he touches the topic of contacting spirits; the article is wrapped up by explaining who is more likely to be susceptible to these experiences.
Anomalous Experience
Everyone has that feeling of being watched at times, and occasionally when they look to see who the culprit could be they find them, according to Hutson this is an anomalous experience. Occasionally what we think is happening doesn’t match what we have been taught or even what we expect, so the mind goes about making something up and usually turns to blaming these events on something supernatural instead.
Meaningful Coincidence
Hutson describes meaningful coincidences as patterns that the brain finds, like being in the background of someone’s picture years before knowing them. These patterns can also be found without the person realizing it; knowing there is danger or a friend is with child are some examples Hutson gives. Because these patterns are realized so fast and without much …show more content…
Although some may believe this is proof of the afterlife, there is a scientific explanation: endorphins, lack of oxygen, and unusual activity in the temporal lobes can explain some of the unusual visions related with near-death experiences. People who have been through out-of-body experiences often have a higher cortical hyper-excitability, which causes the activity waves in their brains to be set off easier and therefore alter their sensory
In his article, Your Sixth Sense, Matthew Hutson explains ways the brain tricks people into believing they are experiencing a paranormal event. Hutson first explains anomalous experiences and continues with how some events that appear supernatural are really just meaningful coincidences. Near-death and out-of-body experiences are explained next, then he touches the topic of contacting spirits; the article is wrapped up by explaining who is more likely to be susceptible to these experiences.
Anomalous Experience
Everyone has that feeling of being watched at times, and occasionally when they look to see who the culprit could be they find them, according to Hutson this is an anomalous experience. Occasionally what we think is happening doesn’t match what we have been taught or even what we expect, so the mind goes about making something up and usually turns to blaming these events on something supernatural instead.
Meaningful Coincidence
Hutson describes meaningful coincidences as patterns that the brain finds, like being in the background of someone’s picture years before knowing them. These patterns can also be found without the person realizing it; knowing there is danger or a friend is with child are some examples Hutson gives. Because these patterns are realized so fast and without much …show more content…
Although some may believe this is proof of the afterlife, there is a scientific explanation: endorphins, lack of oxygen, and unusual activity in the temporal lobes can explain some of the unusual visions related with near-death experiences. People who have been through out-of-body experiences often have a higher cortical hyper-excitability, which causes the activity waves in their brains to be set off easier and therefore alter their sensory