The God’s Helmet, created by Stanley Koren under the direction of Dr. Michael Persinger, uses magnetic fields to stimulate the temporal lobes of the brain, leading to religious and mystical experiences. Test subjects report feeling a presence or seeing visions, but results vary. The device raises questions about the nature of religious experiences and their relation to the brain.
The Koren Helmet, more commonly known as God’s Helmet, is a device that is worn on the head and uses magnetic fields to stimulate the temporal lobes of the brain. It was built by Stanley Koren under the direction of Dr. Michael Persinger of Laurentian University in Ontario, Canada. People wearing the Helmet of God during experiments often report feeling a vague presence in the room, and some report more vivid and profound sensations and visions. The device has raised some interesting questions relating to the nature of religious and mystical experiences.
A set of four coils are mounted on each side of the God Helmet, which was originally built into a snowmobile helmet but later became a device that could be attached to the head without an actual helmet. Signals fed from a computer through a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), commonly referred to as a black box, activate these coils in succession, creating complex magnetic signals to stimulate the temporal lobes of the brain. An additional set of coils were originally mounted to the top of the helmet but were not used in later versions. Complex magnetic signals have an irregular shape and a computer is used to adjust this shape. The God Helmet software was created by Koren.
Experiments using the God Helmet are conducted in a soundproofed acoustic chamber. The temporal lobes, which are active during religious or mystical experiences, are also responsible for monitoring ambient sound. Results using the God Helmet improve dramatically in a quiet environment.
Test subjects are often moved by the experience of wearing the helmet. Eighty percent of participants reported sensing a vague presence and 1 percent reported perceiving God. There is some question as to whether participants would freely admit to feeling God in a laboratory setting. Other mystical or religious experiences that have been reported include perceiving or seeing spirits, angels, demons, dead relatives, and other mystical visions, including out-of-body experiences.
Some test subjects experienced no presence at all. Richard Dawkins, an author and outspoken critic of religion, felt nothing but dizziness and some twitching in his legs when he wore the Helmet of God. Dr. Persinger said he believes some people are genetically predisposed to feel these sensations.
Epilepsy affecting the temporal lobes is known to trigger hallucinations with mystical or supernatural elements, a phenomenon that has influenced Dr. Persinger’s research. Religious background also appears to impact any feeling, because most of those who reported hearing God were Roman Catholics. These tests raise a variety of questions regarding religion, religious experiences, and the people who experience these visions.
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