Spindola-Rodrigues Karleth Costa, Reis Renandro de Carvalho, de Carvalho Caio Macedo, de Siqueira Socorro D'Paula Nayh Leite Loiola, da Rocha Neto Antonio Vitor, Almeida Kelson James
Pharmaceutical Sciences Post-graduation Program, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil.
Department of Neurology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil.
Front Psychol. 2022 Apr 11;13:874720. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.874720. eCollection 2022.
To evaluate the cognitive functioning of subjects practicing trance mediumship in Brazil.
The study was based on the measurement of cognitive functions of 19 spirits mediums through neuropsychological tests such as the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB), the Verbal Fluency Test (FAS), the digit span test, the cube test, the five digit test (FDT) and an evaluation of mental health through scales such as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ), and the Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ). The sample included the participation of spirit mediums divided into two groups. The more experienced group (MEG) with 11 subjects had more than 10 years of mediumistic practice, while the other less experienced group (LEG) with 8 subjects had 1-5 years of experience. The inclusion criteria were psychophonic mediums (who have the ability to communication when deceased beings communicate directly via speaking) with regular trance practices for at least one year. The data collected were analyzed using the SPSS statistical package.
Regarding performance on the BCSB and digit span test, all subjects reached scores at the median or higher in comparison to standardized scores of Brazilians. Scores of 90% on the cube test and 42% on the FAS were reached in comparison to median or higher values, versus the median of standardized scores among Brazilians. On the FDT, we found statistical significance ( = 0.038) in the choice stage, with higher performance of subjects whose initial age of trance recognition occurred before 21 years old. On the BDI scale, no participant met the criteria for major depression. The SRQ showed an incidence of common mental disorders in 21% of the sample, which was more prevalent in the LEG ( = 0.008).
The cognitive functioning of subjects who practice trance mediumship in Brazil is associated with cognitive health. Executive dysfunction may be a tendency in LEG. However, an incidence of common mental disorders in the LEG was observed. Executive processing was higher in the subgroup with early practices of recognizing the phenomenon.
评估巴西从事通灵术的受试者的认知功能。
该研究基于对19名灵媒的认知功能进行测量，采用神经心理学测试，如简易认知筛查量表（BCSB）、言语流畅性测试（FAS）、数字广度测试、立方体测试、五位数测试（FDT），并通过贝克抑郁量表（BDI）、自评问卷（SRQ）和创伤史问卷（THQ）等量表对心理健康进行评估。样本包括分为两组的灵媒。经验更丰富的一组（MEG）有11名受试者，有超过10年的通灵实践经验，而另一组经验较少的组（LEG）有8名受试者，有1 - 5年的经验。纳入标准是心灵传音灵媒（即当已故者直接通过说话进行交流时有沟通能力），且有至少一年的定期通灵实践。收集的数据使用SPSS统计软件包进行分析。
关于BCSB和数字广度测试的表现，与巴西人的标准化分数相比，所有受试者的得分都达到中位数或更高。与巴西人标准化分数的中位数相比，立方体测试得分达到90%，FAS得分达到42%或更高。在FDT上，我们发现在选择阶段有统计学意义（= 0.038），初始通灵认知年龄在21岁之前的受试者表现更好。在BDI量表上，没有参与者符合重度抑郁症的标准。SRQ显示样本中有21%的人有常见精神障碍，在LEG中更普遍（= 0.008）。
在巴西从事通灵术的受试者的认知功能与认知健康相关。执行功能障碍可能是LEG中的一种倾向。然而，在LEG中观察到了常见精神障碍的发生率。在早期就开始实践识别该现象的亚组中，执行处理能力更高。
