1995 05 00 Science et Vie No 932

Magazine Overview

This issue of Science & Vie, dated May 1995 (issue 932), focuses on Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and alien abductions, exploring them through scientific, psychological, and neurological perspectives. The cover headline, "OVNIS: Enquête sur une nouvelle piste" (UFOs: Investigation into a New Lead), sets the tone for a deep dive into the phenomenon.

The Magnetic Field Hypothesis: A New Explanation for UFOs?

The main dossier, "OVNIS: Enquête sur une nouvelle piste," by Philippe Chambon, presents a radical hypothesis linking UFO experiences to neurological phenomena. It highlights the research of Canadian neurologist Michael Persinger, who studies the effects of electromagnetic fields on the brain. Persinger's work, conducted at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, suggests that weak, variable magnetic fields can induce instability in the temporal lobes of the brain. This instability can lead to unusual sensations, hallucinations (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory), feelings of detachment, and even out-of-body experiences, which bear striking resemblances to accounts of alien abductions.

Persinger's research began with an investigation into a new treatment for epilepsy. He observed that the electrical activity of neurons generates a magnetic field and theorized that external magnetic fields could influence this activity. His experiments with mice showed that rotating magnetic fields altered melatonin secretion. He then turned his attention to epilepsy, particularly temporal lobe epilepsy, where neuronal activity becomes abnormally synchronized, generating a magnetic field. Persinger's novel idea is to use magnetic fields to desynchronize these neurons, potentially treating epilepsy. However, he also proposes that the unusual perceptions experienced during temporal lobe seizures could explain UFO sightings and abduction narratives.

Persinger suggests that the widespread nature of temporal lobe instability in the population, even in mild forms, could account for the frequency of such experiences. He describes these individuals as often being imaginative, anxious, creative, and intuitive. The article notes that Persinger's hypothesis has been met with skepticism, particularly from UFO proponents, but his research is at the forefront of his laboratory's work.

Seisms and UFOs

Another article, "Séismes et ovnis" (Seisms and UFOs), explores a potential correlation between seismic activity and UFO observations. It posits that telluric activity, whether natural or induced by oil extraction, can cause perturbations in the Earth's magnetic field. These variations, observed by geophysicists hours or even months before seismic events, might be responsible for unexplained luminous phenomena (like St. Elme's fire or point effects) and temporal lobe instability in susceptible individuals. The article suggests that these magnetic field variations could create conditions for hallucinatory trances, potentially explaining UFO sightings.

While this hypothesis offers a terrestrial explanation for many aspects of UFO phenomena, including ground traces, it struggles to account for marks on the bodies of alleged abductees and the remarkable similarity in abduction narratives. The article questions whether this similarity points to a shared material reality or a cultural imprint, a modern mythology shaping the experiences of troubled individuals.

Sainte Thérèse and Flying Saucers: A Psychic Origin?

"Sainte Thérèse et les soucoupes" (Saint Teresa and the Saucers) delves into the psychological explanations for alien encounters, drawing parallels with mystical experiences. Citing a recent survey indicating millions of Americans have seen UFOs or encountered extraterrestrials, the article focuses on the hypothesis that these experiences occur within the mind. It highlights the work of psychotherapist Catherine Lemaire, who emphasizes the dream-like nature of these events. Lemaire explains phenomena like hypnagogia (dreams before sleep) and hypnopompia (dreams upon waking), where dreams can feel incredibly real and indistinguishable from objective reality, especially when experienced during periods of fatigue.

Sleep paralysis is also discussed as a state where the boundary between dream and reality blurs. During this condition, the body remains in a relaxed state while the mind is awake, leading to sensations of suffocation and a feeling of being attacked by an unseen force. Suzan Blackmore's research suggests this could explain medieval legends of succubi and incubi. Lemaire believes these altered states of consciousness play a central role in alien encounters and 'astral travel' experiences. She recounts her own vivid 'astral travel' experience, which she initially believed to be objectively real.

The article also touches upon the experiences of mystics like Saint Teresa of Ávila, whose divine visions are presented as potentially analogous to modern abduction accounts. The common thread is the transition from wakefulness to a dream state, often induced by asceticism or fatigue, leading to hallucinations. The article notes that while mystical experiences were historically framed within a religious context, contemporary experiences often adopt an extraterrestrial or science-fiction framework, reflecting cultural shifts.

The Mythology of "Little Green Men"

"La mythologie des 'petits hommes verts'" (The Mythology of 'Little Green Men') traces the evolution of the alien abduction narrative. It notes that the theme of abduction existed in American science fiction decades before the first alleged extraterrestrial abduction report. The article points to Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting of 'flying saucers' as a pivotal moment, marking the beginning of the 'saucer era.' The 1966 book 'The Interrupted Journey,' detailing the Barney and Betty Hill case, is presented as a landmark in popularizing the alien abduction narrative. The Hills' account, explored under hypnosis by their psychiatrist, involved being taken aboard a spacecraft, subjected to medical examinations, and experiencing memory loss.

The article questions whether these 'invaders' are born from the collective unconscious. It highlights that the Hill's psychiatrist, while helping them explore their memories, did not believe in the material reality of their story. The narrative of abduction, with its detailed descriptions of examinations and implants, is presented as a modern myth, a reinterpretation of ancient fears and desires within a contemporary cultural context.

Hypnosis Under Scrutiny

"L'hypnose au banc des accusés" (Hypnosis Under Accusation) examines the controversial use of hypnosis in uncovering memories of alien abductions in the United States. The article warns that hypnosis, while a popular psychotherapeutic tool, can be a dangerous instrument of manipulation. Martin One, a proponent of experimental hypnosis, cautions that it can elicit false memories that feel overwhelmingly real, leading patients and therapists to construct a shared 'truth.'

The article raises concerns about hypnotists like Budd Hopkins and John Mack, who reportedly believe in the material reality of alien abductions. It suggests that the themes favored in hypnotic sessions might be influenced by the hypnotist's own biases or the patient's subconscious desires and guilt. The article stresses the imprudence of convicting individuals based solely on memories obtained through hypnosis, citing instances in the US where parents were accused by their children of crimes based on hypnotic regression.

It further notes that the detailed accounts of alien abductions often contain inconsistencies and naive elements, such as aliens using rope ladders or making predictable pronouncements about humanity's future. These oddities are seen as indicators that the narratives might be imaginary constructs or collective dreams, a re-actualization of myths for the modern era.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently frames UFO sightings and alien abduction accounts within psychological and neurological frameworks, questioning their literal interpretation. The editorial stance appears to favor scientific explanations, exploring how the human mind, influenced by biological factors (like temporal lobe activity and electromagnetic fields) and cultural narratives (mythology, science fiction), can generate experiences that are perceived as objective reality. The magazine presents these phenomena as fascinating subjects for scientific inquiry, rather than definitive proof of extraterrestrial visitation. The recurring themes include the malleability of memory, the power of suggestion, the influence of cultural archetypes, and the complex interplay between brain function and subjective experience.

This issue of *Science & Vie*, dated May 1995 (Issue 932), features a dossier on UFOs (OVNIS) with a cover headline that reads "OVNIS". The cover also includes a partial view of an older magazine, "ASTOUNDING STORIES", with the title "THE INVADERS", suggesting a connection between contemporary UFO phenomena and earlier science fiction narratives. The main article explores the phenomenon of alien abductions, termed the 'fourth type' of encounter.

The Rise of Alien Abductions

The article begins by stating that the 'breach is open' and that the Hill couple's case is the first in a long series of alien abductions. Ethnologist Bertrand Méheust, a researcher at CNRS, estimates that there are over 5,000, possibly up to 10,000 such cases, predominantly in the United States. He compares the current public fascination with UFOs to that of spiritualism in the late 19th century. Méheust notes that these encounters have become more sophisticated over time, evolving from mere luminous phenomena to direct interactions with physical extraterrestrials, and finally to abductions.

Typology of Abduction Scenarios

The investigation into alien abductions has revealed a striking similarity in the scenarios described by abductees. Ufologist Thomas Balland has developed a typology of these abduction narratives, which includes:

1. Capture: The abductee is taken using technologically advanced means that appear magical.
2. Medical Examination: The abductee undergoes terrifying physical and mental examinations, often involving manipulations.
3. Explanation: The leader of the spacecraft explains the purpose of their inter-astral voyage.
4. Tour of the Craft: The abductee is invited to visit the flying saucer, particularly the engine room.
5. Exploration: The abductee may be shown another world or a mysterious labyrinth.
6. Divine Vision: The abductee experiences a vision that is described as divine, often without their hosts' awareness.
7. Release: The abductee is returned to nature or their point of capture.
8. Aftermath: Upon return, the abductee experiences various physical, mental, and existential repercussions from their cosmic journey.

While this is a general framework, numerous details give each case its unique character, making it newsworthy. The article suggests that an abduction narrative is a complex blend of collective memory, local folklore, space opera, and personal biography, triggered by rare events or unidentified objects. These narratives, according to Propp's theory of myth, follow a consistent chronological sequence, even if some steps are missing or new ones are added.

The Influence of Science Fiction and Folklore

Michel Meurger, an essayist specializing in the supernatural, argues that the content of abduction narratives is deeply embedded in contemporary American culture, drawing heavily from pre-war science fiction. He points out that the United States experienced a boom in science fiction magazines between 1926 and 1939. These publications featured scenarios and imagery, such as 'little grey aliens with big heads' and themes like brain implants for human control and telepathy, which predate many reported alien encounters. Meurger suggests that these narratives are not entirely new but are rather a 're-actualization' of older myths, such as those of succubi and incubi, and medieval beliefs about witchcraft. The physical marks sometimes found on abductees are compared to the 'devil's marks' once attributed to sorcerers.

Connections to Satanism and Psychological Factors

The article notes a new and unsettling phenomenon in the United States: satanism. Reports from individuals claiming to engage in murderous acts, including rape and mutilation, during the night, are described as being as sincere as abduction accounts and rooted in an identifiable mythology. In both satanism and cosmic abductions, victims often discover, through hypnosis or psychoanalysis, that they have been abducted multiple times, sometimes since early childhood. A particular characteristic of satanism is that these narratives sometimes report actual murders, leading to convictions of 'satanists'. The article raises the question of whether these confessions stem from genuine guilt or from psychological factors, warning that such 'confessions' might be taken too literally, similar to the less severe, but still consequential, accounts of cosmic abductions.

Human Guinea Pigs

The section titled "Cobayes humains" (Human Guinea Pigs) details the experiences of alleged abduction victims. These include various bodily samples being taken, manipulations of sexual cells, and implants in the brain. These terrifying experiences are said to be inspired by literature and modern medical technologies like amniocentesis.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of UFO phenomena, particularly alien abductions. The magazine explores the sociological, psychological, and cultural underpinnings of these beliefs, questioning whether they are based on genuine encounters or are manifestations of collective consciousness, folklore, and science fiction influences. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting expert opinions that link UFO narratives to existing cultural tropes and psychological phenomena, rather than definitively asserting the reality of extraterrestrial visitation. The article emphasizes the role of media amplification and the construction of modern mythology through these accounts. The connection between science fiction, folklore, and contemporary UFO beliefs is a central argument.