8 coil shakti explained

Taking a close look at what you see and hear on a “Real Life. Drama.” TV series.

Depending on which version of “Lady Vampire” you saw, Sergey inaccurately describes the 8 Coil Shakti headset. This device is not dangerous, but Paranormal State may have made it seem like it was.

LADY VAMPIRE: 8 COIL SHAKTI EXPLAINED

More than one version of the “Lady Vampire” aired, and Sergey made incorrect statements about the 8 Coil Shakti in both of them. One of his statements could (wrongly) imply that the device can be dangerous to use because it emits EMF waves. Shakti technology does not emit EMF waves. I feel that Sergey, a “PRS Tech Specialist,” or Ryan, the PRS “Director,” should have been able to accurately describe equipment they use.

Also, the scene with Ryan retching after using the Shakti, is highly suspicious, as there are no documented accounts over the twenty years Dr. Persinger has worked with the technology in laboratory settings.

First published: 31 August 2009
Last updated to correct a typo: 20 June 2010

Written by: Ernie Marsh

CONDENSED DESCRIPTION ABOUT HOW SHAKTI TECHNOLOGY WORKS

Dr. Michael A. Persinger was/is at the forefront of this technology. Electroencephalographic patterns from specific parts of the brain were derived from neurological patients, who had a variety of experiences and emotions. Stan Koren, in conjunction with Dr. Persinger, built a device using a snowmobile helmet shell, to which magnetic coils were attached. Volunteers wearing the helmet were put in a sound-proof room with their eyes covered, and were re-exposed to the specific patterns attributed to the range of experiences. The magnetic coils produce weak magnetic fields which stimulate the temporal lobes, which seems to facilitate certain experiences, some of which are classically labeled “religious or mystic.” The “Koren Helmet,” also called the “God Helmet,” is typically used in a laboratory setting. The 8 Coil Shakti used in the “Lady Vampire” episode was built by Todd Murphy, a Neuroscientist associated with Dr. Persinger. Todd’s Shakti devices are available to the general public.

So let’s look at how the Shakti was portrayed in the Paranormal State, “Lady Vampire” episode.

HOW SERGEY DESCRIBES THE 8 COIL SHAKTI; EXAMPLE ONE. Underlined words denote differences.

Shakti technology produces weak magnetic fields, and therefore does not emit magnetic waves as Sergey erroneously stated in one of the versions of “Lady Vampire.” Shakti technology seems to be safe, but could falsely be thought of having an element of danger because of how it was portrayed in the episode.

Ryan’s retching after using the 8 Coil Shakti and ‘feeling’ the “Lady Vampire” is highly suspicious. In the twenty years of experiments using this class of technology, with over an estimated 1,500 people- not one of them ever vomited through a result of it’s use.

Screenshot 1, from Paranormal State “Lady Vampire”
Sergery describes the 8 Coil Shakti.

Sergey: So, um, Ryan, this is called the Shakti helmet. What it does is it emits EMF waves into your brain. This can open up a part of your brain to experience things that normally humans can’t. The way it works is you put this little handy, dandy, device on, and this is gonna stimulate the exact same temporal lobes, which are right here. So it’s gonna alternate the signals. First, these two are gonna go on, then these two. At which point, you should technically start experiencing things. This needs to be done in full isolation, so you have to wear ear plugs and a sleeping mask, to cut off all visual and audio.

Screenshot 2, from Paranormal State “Lady Vampire”
As aired on A&E TV, 26 Jan 2009.
Closed captions are as they appeared.

Note: description of the Shakti changed in a subsequent version of “Lady Vampire,” which I show in the text for Screenshot 3. But in this version, Sergey incorrectly calls the device a “helmet” and says it emits EMF waves into your brain.

Sergey: So, um, Ryan, uh, what we have here is the 8 Coil Shakti. What it does is it uses magnets to stimulate specific areas of your brain. This can open up a part of your brain to experience things that normally humans can’t. The way it works is you put this little handy, dandy, device on, and this is gonna stimulate the exact same temporal lobes, which are right here. So it’s gonna alternate the signals. First, these two are gonna go on, then these two. At which point, you should technically start experiencing things. This needs to be done in full isolation, so you have to wear ear plugs and a sleeping mask, to cut off all visual and audio.

Misnomer #1: The Shakti is a helmet.
The device from which the Shakti derived from was nicknamed the “Koren Helmet,” and/or “God Helmet,” because it used a snowmobile helmet in its construction. But the 8 Coil Shakti used in the “Lady Vampire” episode, manufactured by Todd Murphy, is made with bands of fabric to which magnetic coils are fastened; so it would be more accurate to describe the Shakti as a type of “headband” or “headset.”

Misnomer #2: Shakti emits EMF waves into your brain.
The Shakti produces magnetic fields, which don’t vibrate as waves. No waves or radiation are emitted. The word emission implies either radiation or ion streams. The weak magnetic fields produced by the Skakti’s magnetic coils are not harmful, and do not irradiate your brain; but some people might falsely be left with that impression after hearing Sergey say it “emits EMF waves into your brain.”

So don’t think that Ryan is using a device which produces harmful emissions (again, magnetic fields aren’t “emissions”); and certainly don’t think that he’s putting himself at risk by using Shakti as a means to save Lola.

It seems that the crew, having finally used a tool with a laboratory basis, didn’t do the scientific reading and research needed to properly understand the technology.

Read Todd Murphy’s detailed description to understand how and why Shakti does not produce EMF emissions, so therefore it does not emit EMF waves into a user’s brain: 8 COIL SHAKTI, Neuromagnetic Generator

Misnomer #3: Shakti opens up the brain to experiences it normally couldn’t.
The human brain can have experiences without the use of Shakti technology, if the conditions are right. However, Shakti technology can facilitate experiences, even without the strong triggers that precipitate such experiences normally. It is the use of the technology which imparts patterns of magnetic signals so the device acts as a facilitator of sensations and experiences.

Misnomer #4: Shakti needs to be used in full isolation.
Ryan was only partly isolated. Yes, he is wearing earplugs and a sleeping mask, but this should not be considered as being fully isolated from sight and sound. One reason is because he actively engaged in back-and-forth conversation with Sergey. With that in mind, Sergey could have given a more accurate description of the particular environment in which they used the Shakti, by saying: “This could be done in partial isolation.”

Highly suspicious retching.
After using the 8 Coil Shakti and supposedly ‘connecting’ with the ‘entity,’ Ryan goes to the bathroom and retches. It is important to make the distinction that Ryan retches, but does not vomit. This portrayal makes it look like Ryan got queasy as a result of using the Shakti. However, Ryan’s retching is highly suspicious, because during the twenty years that Dr. Michael Persinger used the same kind of stimulation in laboratory settings with more than 1,500 volunteers- not one person has ever vomited. It’s not impossible that Ryan wanted to make it seem like the alleged lady vampire was especially loathsome, enough to make him gag, thereby making him appear more like a warrior.

So I will state that it is my opinion, that Ryan’s retching was a fake, self-induced effect, used as a theatrical means to make it look like he got sick from contact with a supernatural evil entity.

Read Dr. M.A. Persinger’s personal communication in the seventh paragraph on this Web page:
The Lady Vampire Episode of Paranormal State

This video by Dr. Michael Shermer explores the work of Dr. Michael Persinger, and describes how magnetic fields can create sensations such as out-of-body experiences, and the sensed presence of a person or entity, among other perceptions.

Be sure to watch more descriptive videos on additional topics at Dr. Michael Shermer’s YouTube Channel

Clicking a link will open a new browser window in which to view the linked page.

Although this website provides links to third party sites, Ernie Marsh is not responsible for the content of any such site. Links are provided as a convenience to viewers, and they shall not be interpreted as an endorsement, sponsorship, or association of any kind.

Murphy, Todd, Behavioral Neuroscientist associated with Dr. Michael Persinger, and manufacturer of Shakti technology. E-mail with author. 21 August 2009.

“God helmet,” en.wikipedia.org. Accessed 29 August 2009.

“8 Coil Shakti,” shaktitechnology.com. Accessed 29 August 2009.

“The Lady Vampire Episode of Paranormal State,” innerworlds.50megs.com. Accessed 29 August 2009.

“Out of Body Experiment,” michaelshermer.com. Accessed 29 August 2009.

Screenshot 3, from Paranormal State “Lady Vampire”
This differently edited version appeared some time after 26 Jan 2009.

Sergey now correctly calls the device the 8 Coil Shakti, and correctly states it uses magnets to stimulate the brain, rather than in the earlier version where he incorrectly said it emits EMF waves into your brain.

Screenshot 4, from Paranormal State “Lady Vampire”

Ryan retches after using the 8 Coil Shakti. I find it highly suspicious that Ryan retched, because in the 20 years and estimated 1,500+ volunteers in laboratory settings utilizing the technology- no one ever vomited on account of using the technology on which Shakti is based.

HOW SERGEY DESCRIBES THE 8 COIL SHAKTI; EXAMPLE TWO. Underlined words denote differences.

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