The theory doesn't stop with UFO sightings. It also claims that these electromagnetically induced hallucinations may be responsible for alien abduction experiences, religious experiences and ghosts.

To understand this part of the theory, it is necessary to understand a part of the brain called the temporal lobes. The temporal lobes are areas of the cerebral cortex in each hemisphere of the brain lying at the side within the temple of the skull. Areas of the temporal lobes are involved in the appreciation of sounds and in speech and are also involved with the olfactory senses. It has been suggested by research that people with greater electrical activity in the temporal lobes of the brain are more imaginative and more artistic than other people. (Does this sound like the famous "fantasy-prone personality" as well?)

When this part of the brain (and/or the hippocampus) is affected by injury or disease such as temporal lobe epilepsy, some or all of the following symptoms may occur according to Robert J. Durant:

1. Paranormal/mystical experiences
2. Enhanced imaginings (especially from childhood)
3. Widening effect
4. Vestibular (floating, low frequency vibration) sensations
5. anomalous smells
6. Intense episodes of personal meaning

Note that these symptoms are very similar to those that are sometimes produced by hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, etc. They are also similar to effects reported by some people who have had religious experiences.

Who is Dr. Michael Persinger? Dr. Persinger is a professor at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada who has been studying the effects of electromagnetic fields on the temporal lobes for years. According to an article no longer on the Internet, Persinger's studies have been partially financed by the U.S. Navy through Dr. Eldon Byrd. He is said to have done ...research on the effects of electromagnetic radiation on the brain for a Pentagon weapons project. Persinger, although his work on the Tectonic Strain Theory involves the disciplines of geology and neurology, is neither a geologist nor a neurologist. He is a psychologist, according to his autobiographical sketch. Also from his autobiographical sketch is Dr. Persinger's statement of the purpose of his research:

As a human being, I am concerned about the illusionary explanations for human consciousness and the future of human existence. Consequently after writing the Neuropsychological Base of God Beliefs (1987), I began the systematic application of complex electromagnetic fields to discern the patterns that will induce experiences (sensed presence) that are attributed to the myriad of ego-alien intrusions which range from gods to aliens. The research is not to demean anyone's religious/mystical experience but instead to determine which portions of the brain or its electromagnetic patterns generate the experience. Two thousand years of philosophy have taught us that attempting to prove or disprove realities may never have discrete verbal (linguistic) solutions because of the limitation of this measurement. The research has been encouraged by the historical fact that most wars and group degradations are coupled implicitly to god beliefs and to the presumption that those who do not believe the same as the experient are somehow less human and hence expendable. Although these egocentric propensities may have had adaptive significance, their utility for the species' future may be questionable.

In order to test the effects of magnetic fields on the brain, Persinger and associates have devised a helmet outfitted with solenoids that are attached to a computer in order to magnetically stimulate the brain of the wearer. The helmet/computer combination can selectively stimulate different parts of the brain of the wearer with predefined patterns of magnetic field stimulation. See Examining the Earthlight Theory for a description of the helmet.

In a CNI news story, Jay Ingram of the Canadian Discovery Channel relates how he went to Persinger's lab to try the helmet. Ingram didn't see aliens, he merely felt a "presence."

In fact, most people who wear the helmet DON'T see aliens. They merely "feel a presence". The ones who DID see "aliens" saw them under special circumstances: a particular pattern of magnetic stimulation was applied to their frontal lobes, and with their eyes closed, a flashlight was pointed at their eyes and slowly lowered, then later the flashlight was raised. This very specific set of stimuli produced an abduction hallucination. See Examining the Earthlight Theory.

The Tectonic Strain Theory and the research that has been conducted leave me wanting the answers to several questions:

1. In order to obtain an abduction-like response from the subjects, researchers had to direct a particular pattern (computer-controlled) of magnetic stimulation to a particular part of the brain. Even if seismic activity or tectonic strain does indeed release magnetic energy that reaches the surface in sufficient strength to affect someone's behavior, it certainly does not beam it into that person's frontal lobes in a particular pattern. So, how does the helmet prove anything about abductions? The answer is that it doesn't. It doesn't prove anything about them. What it proves is that a combination of sensory isolation and a helmet that directs magnetism in specific patterns to specific areas of the brain can produce some psychological effects. We know that some drugs can do the same, and that sometimes sensory deprivation alone can also produce such effects.
2. In order to obtain an abduction-like response from their magnetically stimulated subjects, researchers had to shine a flashlight at them and slowly lower, then raise it. Who's shining a flashlight at abductees?
3. Are TST proponents claiming that abductees have more magnetically sensitive temporal lobes than other people? TST researchers have not verified that abductees are being exposed to magnetic fields at the time of their abduction experience. In fact, they seem to be doing little actual study of the abductees themselves. We are all regularly exposed to magnetic fields of even greater strength than those used in the helmet experiments. Magnetic fields/EM fields are generated by every power line and every electrical appliance in our homes and even stronger ones are generated by machines in many workplaces. If electromagnetic fields from far underground can cause abductees to hallucinate, then why don't stronger and nearer electromagnetic fields cause abductees to hallucinate? (See how the Sagan quote above applies here...) To say that these everyday electromagnetic fields aren't the "right kind" won't suffice as a response to this unless you prove that tectonic strain DOES produce the "right kind" of electromagnetic fields (If, indeed, there is a "right kind".).
4. There must be tectonic stress release with accompanying EM fields when abductees are in the presence of others, at work or at play. Why no effects at those times?
5. On the other hand, if abductions are merely temporal lobe hallucinations of those with sensitive temporal lobes, how is it that there are sometimes multiple abductions, such as Betty & Barney Hill, or the three women who were abducted in Kentucky, or the four men in Maine? In these multiple abduction cases, everyone had the experience. If our premise is that some people have abduction experiences because their temporal lobes are more sensitive to magnetic stimulation, then we would expect there to be cases where some people in a group (Those with sensitive temporal lobes...) would have an experience, yet others (Those with less sensitive temporal lobes...) would not have any experience at all.

Seems to me that the way to test the TST's possible relationship to the abduction phenomenon would be:

1. Show that the temporal lobes of abductees are more sensitive to magnetic fields than those of "normal" people. (Test them for unusual temporal lobe electrical activity. Expose them to EM fields while they are hooked up to an EEG.)
2. Show that these people are being exposed to unusual electromagnetic fields when their abduction experiences are occurring by monitoring their environment.
3. Show that the source of these magnetic fields is tectonic strain by correlating seismic activity at the location of the abductees' homes with the magnetic field monitoring that was done in #2.
4. Show that exposure to the type of electromagnetic fields that tectonic stress generates causes these people to have an abduction experience by recreating the same type and intensity of EM field in the laboratory. (An abduction experience, not just a feeling of a "presence"; Not a test using a computer-generated "pattern" of magnetic stimulation; No flashlights, either.)
5. Do these same things with a control group of individuals who have never reported being abducted by aliens.

Is the Tectonic Strain Theory a good explanation for UFO sightings or alien abductions? Is it even good science? I'm still looking for the answers...

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