Journal of Anomalous Experience and Cognition
The Journal of Anomalous Experience and Cognition (JAEX) provides a forum for the rigorous, multidisciplinary study of anomalous experience and cognition. Anomalous experience refers to spontaneous or induced unusual but not necessarily pathological experiences, such as mystical and out-of-body experiences. Anomalous cognition refers to rigorous multidisciplinary research that seeks to improve our understanding of psycho-physical interrelations. It includes the hypotheses that organisms can be affected by spatially or temporally distant stimuli -unmediated by the senses or reason- and that intentions can directly affect physical systems, as well as related attitudes, beliefs, and other variables. Journal's keywords: anomalous psychology, anomalistic psychology, anomalous experience, altered state of consciousness, altered consciousness, anomalous cognition, psi, parapsychology, psychical research, ESP
All articles published in JAEX are open access, freely and universally accessible online, and archived in the open journal’s Lund University website (https://journals.lub.lu.se). Articles in JAEX can be distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License CCBY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, with appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, a link to the Creative Commons license, and an indication if changes were made.
Questions about Questionable Research Practices
Parapsychologists have made considerable gains over the decades. For example, they have an informative (and constantly growing) series of meta-analyses, out of which have developed ongoing debates and critiques over methodologies. Some critiques, well-intentioned though they may be, center on so-called questionable research practices (QRPs), and it has even been argued that QRPs alone may account for psi effects. In this article, I critique an article by Bierman et al. (2016) on QRPs that finds a much-reduced but still significant overall effect in a meta-analysis of ganzfeld studies by Storm et al. (2010). The series of “hypothetical” analyses undertaken by Bierman et al. are themselves argued to be questionable. Researchers are advised to be watchful of methodological oversights that misrepresent the available data and ultimately cast parapsychological research in a dim light.
Copyright (c) 2026 Lance Storm https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Look for a Presentiment Model’s Reasonable Parameters
Recently, I proposed an orthodox quantum mechanics’ justification for the presentiment effect, which claims that the very existence of the presentiment effect points to the correctness of the orthodox interpretation of quantum mechanics. I carried out the mathematical calculations within the framework of the decoherent histories theory and their results depended on two unknown parameters. I suggested that these parameters can be determined by fitting empirical measurements and, indeed, as an example, such a rough fit was tried. I noted that with certain values the effect fluctuates and may have a surprising long duration. The current paper reconsiders these parameters’ preferred values in regular presentiment experiments. I conclude that most probably these parameters should have values that under ideal resolution would reproduce time symmetry of the effect and tiny (if any) fluctuation. I blame the experimental method’s poor resolution between partially overlapping sentiments, the existence of queued, perhaps prevailing, previous sentiments, and operation of positive feedback nervous loops after emotional stimuli for the empirical salient suppressed symmetry and finite duration of the effect. Certain other implications of these preferred values are examined and seem to justify these values in regular presentiment tests, which do not preclude other values under peculiar tests’ designs and peculiar participants.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ephraim Yeruham Levin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Copyright (c) 2026 Etzel Cardeña https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Objective. Within the context of learning, morphic resonance predicts that a skill should become easier to learn as more people practice it due to the pattern of learning existing within a morphic field. Several studies have investigated this theory, with some providing preliminary support for its predictions. The objective of this study was to add to this literature by conducting three studies that used the online game Wordle. We hypothesized that as the day progressed, attempts needed to solve Wordle should decrease because of resonance from earlier players. Method. Study 1 used a questionnaire to collect Wordle scores and completion times in an experimental group that completed the official NYT Wordle and a control group that completed a custom Wordle. Studies 2 and 3 used WordleBot to collect data based on a random sample of Wordle players worldwide. Results. Study 1 did not find the predicted negative correlation between attempts and time of day in the experimental group. As expected, no significant correlation was found for the control group. The results of Study 2 revealed a significant increase in the percentage of players solving the puzzle from morning to evening on the first two guesses. These findings were not replicated in Study 3. Conclusion. Taken together, the findings suggest that if morphic resonance is at play, it is likely a subtle effect that is easily inhibited by factors such as conscious cognitive processes. It may thus require more refined experimental designs to be detected.
Copyright (c) 2026 Georgia Black, Bethany Butzer, Rupert Sheldrake https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Objective: We wanted to assess how well a Lebanese Druze man, Rabih Elawar, now living in Richmond, Virginia, retained the past-life memories studied by Ian Stevenson when he was a child in Lebanon. Methods: Over a series of interviews, we first asked Rabih to relate all he recalled about the previous life, then presented Stevenson’s report, which he had not previously read, to get his responses to items he had not mentioned spontaneously. Results: Statements Stevenson recorded in his published report and unpublished field notes and memories Rabih recounted to us are highly consistent, although Rabih recalled some events differently and related details Stevenson apparently did not hear about. When we presented the items recorded by Stevenson but not mentioned spontaneously by him, Rabih was prompted to recall these also and clarified points on which there was apparent disagreement. Conclusions: Rabih’s recall of the previous life at 58-60 is superior to what has been reported for past-life memory retention among other Lebanese Druze adults or with Sri Lankan, Indian, Brazilian, and American adults. This may be related to Rabih’s recalling a life in the same village and same extended family that, moreover, ended only a short while (6 months) before his birth, providing plentiful cues to recall from early in his life. Our findings are consistent with those regarding present-life memory retention and loss, supporting the view that the foundations of past-life memory are closely similar to those of present-life memory.
Copyright (c) 2026 James G. Matlock, Khattar Hatoum, Carole Louie https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Objective. Remote viewing data frequently contain a mixture of accurate and inaccurate elements, which has raised concerns regarding its reliability in applied contexts. The objective of this study was to examine whether remote viewers report being able to recognize when specific pieces of information are correct. Methods. A survey using an experience-centered, phenomenological approach was administered to remote viewers with varying levels of training and experience, recruited through snowball sampling, yielding 122 valid responses. Analysis. Quantitative analyses and thematic coding of open-ended responses were conducted. Results. Results showed that 89% of participants reported experiencing a sense of correctness regarding specific target details that were later verified. Among those endorsing this experience, 37% reported it occurred occasionally, 42% often, and 7% during every session. Most respondents (86%) indicated this awareness was developed independently through personal practice while 14% attributed it to instruction. Participants identified recurring phenomenological markers associated with correctness, including unexpected or surprising information, persistent or repeating impressions, vivid or unusual imagery, suddenness or immediacy, emotional impact, and instant cognitive “downloads.” Attitudes toward the study’s focus were mixed, with participants expressing both supportive and critical perspectives. Conclusions. Remote viewers report subjective cues they associate with accuracy at the level of specific target elements, paralleling reports from participants in forced choice psi experiments, which may have implications for future research on confidence judgments and reliability in remote viewing applications.
Copyright (c) 2026 Debra Lynne Katz, PhD, Jenifer Prather, MPH, RN, PhD(c), Jimmy Akin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
In Memoriam: Stephen Edward Braude (1945-2026)