The True Story
Last month marked the 100th anniversary of the first recording of the human brain's electrical activity through an Electroencephalogram (EEG), which was in July 1924. It was the first recorded human brain wave, a well-known contribution of German physician Hans Berger (1873-1941), who developed the technology.
However, while the history of electroencephalography is established to be Berger's contribution, the motivations behind Berger's will to develop the first human brain recording device have often remained in the dark. Berger's research was, in fact, related to the search for understanding the basis of the mind—a fact that is often dismissed by scholars referring to his research.
Berger was not necessarily willing to record the neurophysiological correlates of the brain within the framework of work ascribed to the present neuroscientific approach of EEG research but aimed at measuring the mind directly, considering it as the soul or the spirit of the individual. The objective was laid upon him by an experience of telepathic perception with his sister that had a profound effect on him.
In the spring of 1893, Berger was a volunteer in the German army and was participating in training manoeuvres when he suffered an accident with his horse, barely escaping alive from it. On that same day, his sister, far away, got a bad feeling about Hans. She talked her father into sending a telegram asking if everything was all right. That same evening, Berger received the telegram inquiring about his well-being.
Berger later said this event represented a true case of telepathy, asserting that:
"This was a case of spontaneous telepathy in which at a time of mortal danger as I contemplated certain death, I transmitted my thoughts, while my sister, who was particularly close to me, acted as the receiver" (Berger, 1904, pp. 5-6).
Berger lecturing at the University of Jena in the 1920s
(Picture Jena University Archives)
The First Results Published
Berger was convinced that he had somehow transmitted his thoughts of mortal fear to his sister. This experience drove him to study psychiatry, launching a quest to understand how thoughts might be communicated between individuals. It led to a significant breakthrough in medicine and science: the invention of the EEG.
However, recording the first neurophysiological correlates of the brain through EEG was hard work. Although the electrical rhythms of the mammalian brain were first demonstrated in the 1870s by Liverpool physiologist Richard Caton, the development of the EGG only came later. While the Neuron Doctrine, formulated by Santiago Ramón y Cajal and others at the time, was focused primarily on the anatomical and structural aspects of the nervous system, it did not yet detail the mechanisms of electrical activity in the brain.
Berger's journey toward recording the brain's electrical activity was rooted in his deep curiosity. Berger's work on EEG was part of a 40-year research program. After years of meticulous research, Berger successfully recorded the first human EEG. The breakthrough was the result of his efforts to measure the tiny electrical signals produced by neurons in the brain. Berger initially experimented with a string galvanometer, a device originally designed for measuring the heart's electrical activity. However, to capture the subtle electrical activity of the brain, he had to refine the technology, eventually developing a more sensitive version capable of detecting these faint signals (See Early Attempts picture below).
Early Berger Attempt at EEG Recording
This initial work led to two high-quality EEGs recorded in 1928 and 1929 with a double-coil galvanometer. The study reported a burst of alpha waves for the first time as the subject lay with closed eyes in a state of mental and physical rest. This was Berger's attempt at recording "waves of attention" (see picture below).
Waves of Attention
(1928-1929)
Diagram of electrical potentials within the brain.
E: state of excitation, R: state of quiescence.
a and b are two recording points.
(Berger, 1931).
It was only in 1929 that Berger finally published his results, the first of a series of papers with all with the same title, numbered 1 to 14: "Über das Elektrenkephalogramm des Menschen," or "On the Electroencephalogram of Man" (Berger, 1929). Needless to say, like many such groundbreaking ideas, the results of his studies were received with scepticism. However, Nobel Laureates such as Edgar Adrian, who initially expressed doubt about the results, finally replicated Berger's results and conceded that the experiments were valid.
Understanding Berger's Perspective – The Psychical Energy
Hans Berger's research was heavily influenced by the concept of cerebral energetics, particularly the idea of "P-energy," or Psychical Energy, which Alfred Lehmann introduced. This "P-energy" referred to a form of psychic energy that was believed to be associated with various mental states, including feelings, emotions, and thoughts. Lehmann proposed that this psychic energy was one of the three major forms of energy in the brain, alongside heat and electricity, and that it played a crucial role in the mind-brain interaction.
The idea of P-energy resonated with Berger's interest as a potential physiological foundation of Consciousness in the brain. It fuelled his thoughts about a sort of mental energy that would allow telepathy, as it hinted at the possibility of a quantifiable link between brain activity and psychic experiences. His diary revealed his thoughts on the matter:
"Cortical system produces constant P.E [psychical energy]. P.E. is the most important element in the cortical system—This P.E. production is individually differentiated."
This concept of P-energy not only shaped Berger's pioneering work on the EEG but also laid the groundwork for future explorations into the physiological basis of Consciousness. It also suggested the brain might operate as a conduit for a deeper, quantifiable psychic energy that underlies our thoughts and emotions—a concept this author has been discussing since 2005 and presented in an abstract for the Summer Symposium of the Center for Consciousness Studies in August 2023, as the parabrain – an interface between the brain and Consciousness [1].
Is Berger's Dream Coming True?
Exploring Berger's journey to the development of the EEG within the context of his scientific era and personal experiences certainly offers a historical prelude to contemporary research into the brain and its functions, specifically the research of the neurophysiological correlates of OBEs as preliminary research aimed at understanding Consciousness—one of the objectives of the research carried out by the Sleep Consciousness Institute (SCI).
In the context of today's research, particularly within a non-materialistic framework where the brain is viewed as an interface for Consciousness or a 'reducing valve' that filters Consciousness, Berger's dream of decoding the mind's mysteries seems increasingly within reach and tangible, as contemporary research delves into the deeper mechanisms underlying Consciousness and more and more theories are proposed as non-classical explanations of Consciousness (e.g., Quantum Hologram Theory of Consciousness; Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch-OR); Quantum Cognition; Dual-Aspect Monism; Electromagnetic Field Theory of Consciousness, etc).
This growing body of research challenges traditional materialistic views, providing a scientific framework that supports the notion of Consciousness as a fundamental aspect of reality, potentially validating Berger's pioneering insights. However, we also need to move beyond theoretical speculation and develop empirical methods that can rigorously test these emerging theories. By examining the brain's activity during consciously induced OBEs, our research at SCI seeks to establish an empirical framework that will be able to evaluate whether these theories offer viable explanations that can explain phenomena like the exit of Consciousness from the body. We can only do that by understanding the neurophysiological signatures of OBEs—a process that can only be achieved through careful measurement and analysis
This perspective aligns with the non-materialistic view because experiences of non-local perception and disembodiment, often reported during OBEs, challenge the traditional understanding of the brain as the sole generator of Consciousness. In these experiences, individuals report perceiving environments or events from a vantage point outside their physical bodies, sometimes with accuracy (Montenegro, 2015), suggesting a form of awareness not confined to the brain's immediate sensory inputs [2].
These phenomena also relate to Berger's idea of psychic energy, as they imply the existence of a form of mental energy that can operate independently of the brain's usual sensory mechanisms, aligning with Berger's concept of distinct, non-physical energy associated with mental states.
Indeed, it seems that Berger's idea of psychic energy, or "P-energy," although technically antiquated, intriguingly supports the notion that the brain acts as an interface or filter for a broader consciousness. More so, Berger's conception of P-energy as a form of psychic energy suggests this energy allows Consciousness in the brain.
In this framework, P-energy could be seen as the electrically measurable manifestation of this interaction between the brain and a wider field of Consciousness. Just as Berger hypothesized that P-energy was crucial for understanding the brain's role in mental phenomena (e.g., psychic energy related to his telepathy experience), one could speculate that this energy represents the process by which the brain filters Consciousness into specific physical experiences – mediating or filtering a broader field of Consciousness into our everyday experience.
What does the future hold?
Over the past century, the EEG has become an essential tool in clinical practice. It is used to detect seizures, monitor sleep patterns, and even assist in determining brain death. Beyond its clinical applications, the EEG has provided critical insights into brain function, allowing the development of techniques for cognitive enhancement through Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) and uncovering details about the brain's activity during rest, cognitive tasks, and even while under the influence of hallucinogens.
The list of potential future developments in EEG highlights a range of forward-looking innovations that experts believe could soon become a reality. These include using EEG to detect learning disabilities early, reliably using EEG to detect illness onset such as Alzheimer's, serving as a reliable lie detector, and becoming a primary and reliable communication tool for individuals with severe motor disabilities or locked-in syndrome.
Current innovations can evaluate what the future holds: 1. BCI apps can detect human thoughts, allow writing, and control computers without hands; 2. Mental images can be rebuilt through Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) (see image below) and EEG [3].
20 hours of Brain Encoding in fMRI with subjects looking at 1000 pictures, Allowing for the Reconstruction of Images
(Chen et al., 2022)
But certainly, this is just the beginning. By identifying the unique brain signatures associated with Consciousness during the exit of Consciousness from the body at OBE-Onset, we may inch closer to understanding Consciousness itself in ways that challenge traditional materialistic views. These advancements could redefine how we perceive the relationship between the brain and mind but equally enhance our clinical and cognitive perspectives by opening the doors to exploring Consciousness as a fundamental aspect of reality within these fields, much as Berger might have envisioned. More so, such knowledge is paramount to developing reliable technologies that would enhance our ability to achieve more easily non-local, non-ordinary states.
Nonetheless, 57 years after the pioneering laboratory research on OBEs in gifted subjects by Tart (1967), which aimed at identifying the neurophysiological correlates of these experiences, no replication of these studies has been carried out. This gap is significant because it highlights an unexplored frontier in our understanding of Consciousness and its relationship to the brain. Replicating and expanding upon this research, as we are doing at SCI, is crucial not only for validating previous findings but also for advancing our knowledge of how the brain may serve as an interface for non-local Consciousness. Such studies could offer profound insights into the mechanisms behind OBEs and other non-ordinary states, potentially revealing a new dimension of human experience that challenges traditional materialistic perspectives.
By bridging this research gap, we may uncover key aspects of Consciousness, paving the way for innovations in both clinical applications and our broader understanding of the mind's place in the universe. The immediate future of Consciousness research is bright.
PhD Candidate,
MSc. Neuroscience,
Sleep Consciousness Researcher.
[1] Montenegro, R. (2023). Exploring the Concept of the Parabrain in Out-of-Body Experiences: evidence-based theory, experimental research and Applications. Neuroscience Needs a Revolution to Understand Consciousness, California. The term parabrain was initially employed by Vieira, W. (1981). Projeções da consciência: diário de experiências fora do corpo físico. Livraria Allan Kardec Editora. (1981).
[2] In the book “The Out-of-Body Experience: an experiential anthology”, I had reported thirteen describing experiencers gathering enough information outside the body to confirm their perceptions with relevant and compelling evidence upon their return.
[3] A technique I have proposed to use as a Remote Viewing technology in a presentation at the International Remote Viewing Association (IRVA) in April 2023.
REFERENCES
Berger, H. (1904). Über die körperlichen Äusserungen psychischer Zustände: Weitere experimentelle Beiträge zur Lehre von der Blutzirkulation in der Schädelhöhle des Menschen. G. Fischer.
Berger, H. (1929). Über das Elektrenkephalogramm des Menschen. Archiv für Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten, 87(1), 527-570. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01797193
Montenegro, R. (2015). The Out-of-Body Experiences – An Experiential Anthology (First ed.). Imagens & Letras.
Montenegro, R. (2023). Exploring the Concept of the Parabrain in Out-of-Body Experiences: evidence-based theory, experimental research and Applications. Neuroscience Needs a Revolution to Understand Consciousness, California.
Tart, C. T. (1967). A second Psychophysiological study of out-of-the body experiences in a gifted subject. Parapsychology, 9, 251-258.
Vieira, W. (1981). Projeções da consciência: diário de experiências fora do corpo físico. Livraria Allan Kardec Editora.
Comments