Sanidad recomienda a niños y embarazadas no comer carne de caza

Escrito por

El comité científico de la Agencia Española de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición (AESAN), del Ministerio de Sanidad, recomienda a embarazadas y menores de seis años que no coman carne de caza. A los adultos les pide que limiten la ingesta a una ración a la semana. Y lo hace para minimizar la exposición al plomo, un metal pesado que se relaciona con dificultades en el desarrollo intelectual y problemas renales. El ministerio no ha hecho ninguna comunicación al público sobre el asunto más allá de colgar el informe de su comité en la web.

El comité científico de la agencia, formado por 20 expertos, aprobó el pasado 22 de febrero su informe sobre «el riesgo asociado a la presencia de plomo en carne de caza silvestre en España». Allí recomienda que «los niños menores de seis años, mujeres embarazadas y mujeres que planeen quedarse embarazadas no deberían consumir carne procedente de animales cazados con munición de plomo». Lo justifica en que «los fragmentos de plomo no pueden eliminarse con total seguridad y que estos grupos de población son más sensibles a los efectos del plomo sobre la salud y la ingesta incluso de cantidades pequeñas puede ser perjudicial». Y concluye: «El plomo puede afectar principalmente al sistema nervioso central en desarrollo en los niños de corta edad cuando está presente en concentraciones inferiores a aquellas que pueden causar algún efecto adverso». Para los adultos, la agencia de Sanidad recomienda «limitar el consumo de carne de caza silvestre a un máximo de una ración (aproximadamente 150 gramos) por semana».

Otra de las recomendaciones es «promover la sustitución y/o prohibición de la munición de plomo a favor de otras alternativas existentes», como la munición de acero o tungsteno. El informe va dirigido principalmente a cazadores y sus familias, aunque advierte de que «no se debe despreciar el consumo en establecimientos de restauración así como el de productos derivados de dicha carne (salchichón, paté, etc.) por parte de la población general».

El catedrático de Toxicología de la Universidad de Granada y coordinador del estudio, Antonio Pla Martínez, explicó ayer que el informe «es una revisión de los trabajos publicados» y que «no hay ninguna controversia sobre el tema». Pla insistió en que «no hay problema si una embarazada come alguna vez carne de caza», pero que «por precaución y, sin ser alarmistas, es mejor dar esta recomendación». Pla señaló que sobre las recomendaciones no puede haber disputa, ya que la Agencia Europea de Seguridad alimentaria dio en 2009 unas similares, aunque no utilizó para ellos estudios españoles.

«Sin ser alarmistas es mejor dar esta sugerencia», señala un experto
El coordinador del estudio aseguró que el comité científico no controla cómo hace públicas las recomendaciones la Agencia. En junio de 2011, la AESAN ya recomendó que embarazadas y niños no comieran atún rojo ni pez espada por los altos niveles de mercurio. Como ahora, la recomendación estaba emboscada en su web y no hubo comunicación pública. El Gobierno tenía desde 2003 un informe que alertaba sobre la alta concentración de metales pesados. Fue clasificado como confidencial y ocultado a la población.

Buena parte de los datos de España parten del grupo en el que está Rafael Mateo, investigador del Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Mateo ha realizado desde 2007 diversos estudios sobre la disponibilidad de plomo en carnes de caza, perdices y codornices, pero también caza mayor.

En 2011, la agencia hizo una petición similar para el pez espada por mercurio
En el laboratorio analizaron la cantidad de plomo disponible en la carne cruda, al cocinarla con vino (a la toledana) y en escabeche. El resultado es que en esta tercera opción el organismo absorbe más plomo ya que la acidez del escabeche favorece la disolución del metal.

En uno de los estudios, publicado en 2011 en PLoS ONE, concluyeron que el 54,7% de las muestras presentaban niveles de plomo superiores a los establecidos para la carne de granja (no hay umbrales fijados para la de caza). Además, en un porcentaje de casos que iba del 7% al 8,6% con una sola comida de unos 200 gramos de carne se superaba la ingesta máxima de plomo recomendada para una semana. El informe de Sanidad señala que «se han asociado concentraciones elevadas de plomo en sangre con una reducción del coeficiente intelectual y de las funciones cognitivas en niños menores de siete años». Para los adultos, señala «la posibilidad de ciertos riesgos para algunos consumidores con una dieta rica en carne de caza, especialmente en el caso de consumidores extremos y, en particular, para los efectos renales».

Las recomendaciones

-La Aesan recomienda que «los niños menores de seis años, mujeres embarazadas y mujeres que planeen quedarse embarazadas no deberían consumir carne procedente de animales cazados con munición de plomo».
-Para los adultos, pide «limitar el consumo de carne de caza silvestre a un máximo de una ración (aproximadamente 150 gramos) por semana».
-Reclama «promover la sustitución y/o prohibición de la munición de plomo a favor de otras alternativas».
En España la caza con munición de plomo está prohibida en humedales protegidos desde 2001. Se vetó porque en las aves producía una enfermedad mortal, el plumbismo. Hay aves que confunden los perdigones que se quedan en el fondo de las lagunas con los guijarros con los que muelen el alimento en la molleja. El plomo pasa a la sangre y miles de aves mueren por hemorragias internas. Se trata de una intoxicación aguda, muy distinta a la que ha generado el aviso de la AESAN.

El informe, aun con todas las cautelas de la AESAN, tiene un enorme impacto sobre la caza, un sector con un millón de licencias. El presidente de la Real Federación Española de Caza, Andrés Gutiérrez, se mostró tan sorprendido como molesto al escuchar las recomendaciones: «Es una locura y un disparate. ¿Qué pasa, que ahora se dan cuenta después de años sin ningún problema?».

Andrés Ballesteros, representante de la Asociación Interprofesional de la Carne de Caza, mostró un enfado similar: «Sin conocer el informe puedo decir que resulta sorprendente que siendo un sector estructurado y con interlocutores claros esta sea la primera noticia». Y añadió: «Estoy perplejo porque a la vez el Gobierno dice que quiere potenciar la caza como herramienta de desarrollo rural. La carne de caza es ecológica y natural».

Los cazadores protagonizaron en 2008 una multitudinaria protesta contra el Gobierno del PSOE por, entre otras cosas, querer limitar aún más la caza con plomo. Gutiérrez señaló que la sustitución del plomo por munición de acero o tungsteno «obligaría a cambiar el 70% de las escopetas» del país, ya que solo las más modernas pueden admitir munición de acero. Además, el precio de la munición de acero dobla al del plomo.

El Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, que mantiene una buena relación con los cazadores y que ha cedido a históricas pretensiones suyas como autorizar la caza en los parques nacionales, no quiso ayer comentar si endurecerá la caza con plomo.

Descargar

La UGR acoge el acto estatal del 25 aniversario del programa Erasmus

Escrito por

Granada va a convertirse durante los días 10 y 11 de mayo en la capital nacional de la movilidad universitaria, pues la Agencia Nacional Erasmus ha elegido a la UGR como anfitriona para celebrar el 25 aniversario de este programa europeo. «Somos la Universidad que más estudiantes Erasmus envía y recibe de toda Europa», decía ayer la vicerrectora de Relaciones Internacionales de la UGR, Dorothy Kelly, al justificar este reconocimiento.

Las 4.000 universidades, de un total de 33 países, que participan en el programa Erasmus están organizando a lo largo de 2012 diversos actos con motivo de este aniversario y en España la celebración a nivel nacional se ha decidido que tenga lugar en la Universidad de Granada.

Un encuentro con estudiantes de toda España el día 10 y un acto de conmemoración el viernes 11 integrarán la agenda para este acontecimiento. Concretamente, el jueves por la mañana se celebrará una jornada de trabajo en el aula magna de la Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociología, donde el rector recibirá a 120 estudiantes de distintas universidades españolas que han disfrutado de una beca Erasmus en el pasado. «Será una jornada de debate y reflexión donde además se presentará el programa Erasmus para todos, que recoge las bases de la movilidad internacional desde 2014 hasta 2020», explicó el responsable del programa en la UGR, Javier Fernández.

El acto central de esta celebración, que tendrá lugar el viernes 11, coincidirá con la investidura como Doctor Honoris Causa del profesor Manuel Marín González, presidente del Congreso de los Diputados entre 2004 y 2008 y vicepresidente de la Comisión Europea de 1987 a 1999.

El programa Erasmus, que empezó en 1987, ha hecho posible que unos tres millones de jóvenes estudien o se formen en otro país de Europa. «Pero su andadura no fue fácil -recordó ayer el rector de la UGR, Francisco González Lodeiro-, pues algunos países se opusieron en los tribunales a las movilidad europea y Marín jugó un papel muy importante en su impulso». Para celebrar el 25 aniversario de este programa, que se ha convertido en el plan de intercambio universitario más fructífero del mundo, acudirán el viernes representantes de la Comisión Europea para hacer entrega de placas conmemorativas a los beneficiarios.

Descargar

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE WHY HEALERS SEE ‘AURA’ OF PEOPLE?

Escrito por

Researchers in Spain have found that many of the individuals claiming to see the aura of people –traditionally called «healers» or «quacks»– actually present the neuropsychological phenomenon known as «synesthesia» (specifically, «emotional synesthesia»).

This might be a scientific explanation of their alleged «virtue». In synesthetes, the brain regions responsible for the processing of each type of sensory stimuli are intensely interconnected. This way, synesthetes can see or taste a sound, feel a taste, or associate people with a particular color.

The study was conducted by the University of Granada Department of Experimental Psychology Óscar Iborra, Luis Pastor and Emilio Gómez Milán, and has been published in the prestigious journal Consciousness and Cognition. This is the first time that a scientific explanation is provided on the esoteric phenomenon of the aura, a supposed energy field of luminous radiation surrounding a person as a halo, which is imperceptible to most human beings.

In neurological terms, synesthesia is due to cross-wiring in the brain of some people (synesthetes); in other words, synesthetes present more synaptic connections than «normal» people. «These extra connections cause them to automatically establish associations between brain areas that are not normally interconnected», professor Gómez Milán explains. Many healers claiming to see the aura of people might have this condition.

The case of the «Santón de Baza»

The University of Granada researchers remark that «not all healers are synesthetes, but there is a higher prevalence of this phenomenon among them. The same occurs among painters and artists, for example». To carry out this study, the researchers interviewed some synesthetes as the healer from Granada «Esteban Sánchez Casas», known as «El Santón de Baza».

Many people attribute «paranormal powers» to El Santón, such as his ability to see the aura of people «but, in fact, it is a clear case of synesthesia», the researchers explain. El Santón presents face-color synesthesia (the brain region responsible for face recognition is associated with the color-processing region); touch-mirror synesthesia (when the synesthete observes a person who is being touched or is experiencing pain, s/he experiences the same); high empathy (the ability to feel what other person is feeling), and schizotypy (certain personality traits in healthy people involving slight paranoia and delusions). «These capacities make synesthetes have the ability to make people feel understood, and provide them with special emotion and pain reading skills», the researchers explain.

In the light of the results obtained, the researchers remark the significant «placebo effect» that healers have on people, «though some healers really have the ability to see people’s auras and feel the pain in others due to synesthesia». Some healers «have abilities and attitudes that make them believe in their ability to heal other people, but it is actually a case of self-deception, as synesthesia is not an extrasensory power, but a subjective and ‘adorned’ perception of reality», the researchers state.

Descargar

Scientific evidence proves why healers see the ‘aura’ of people

Escrito por

Researchers in Spain have found that many of the individuals claiming to see the aura of people –traditionally called «healers» or «quacks»– actually present the neuropsychological phenomenon known as «synesthesia» (specifically, «emotional synesthesia»). This might be a scientific explanation of their alleged «virtue». In synesthetes, the brain regions responsible for the processing of each type of sensory stimuli are intensely interconnected. This way, synesthetes can see or taste a sound, feel a taste, or associate people with a particular color.

The study was conducted by the University of Granada Department of Experimental Psychology Óscar Iborra, Luis Pastor and Emilio Gómez Milán, and has been published in the prestigious journal Consciousness and Cognition. This is the first time that a scientific explanation is provided on the esoteric phenomenon of the aura, a supposed energy field of luminous radiation surrounding a person as a halo, which is imperceptible to most human beings.

In neurological terms, synesthesia is due to cross-wiring in the brain of some people (synesthetes); in other words, synesthetes present more synaptic connections than «normal» people. «These extra connections cause them to automatically establish associations between brain areas that are not normally interconnected», professor Gómez Milán explains. Many healers claiming to see the aura of people might have this condition.

The case of the «Santón de Baza»

The University of Granada researchers remark that «not all healers are synesthetes, but there is a higher prevalence of this phenomenon among them. The same occurs among painters and artists, for example». To carry out this study, the researchers interviewed some synesthetes as the healer from Granada «Esteban Sánchez Casas», known as «El Santón de Baza».

Many people attribute «paranormal powers» to El Santón, such as his ability to see the aura of people «but, in fact, it is a clear case of synesthesia», the researchers explain. El Santón presents face-color synesthesia (the brain region responsible for face recognition is associated with the color-processing region); touch-mirror synesthesia (when the synesthete observes a person who is being touched or is experiencing pain, s/he experiences the same); high empathy (the ability to feel what other person is feeling), and schizotypy (certain personality traits in healthy people involving slight paranoia and delusions). «These capacities make synesthetes have the ability to make people feel understood, and provide them with special emotion and pain reading skills», the researchers explain.

In the light of the results obtained, the researchers remark the significant «placebo effect» that healers have on people, «though some healers really have the ability to see people’s auras and feel the pain in others due to synesthesia». Some healers «have abilities and attitudes that make them believe in their ability to heal other people, but it is actually a case of self-deception, as synesthesia is not an extrasensory power, but a subjective and ‘adorned’ perception of reality», the researchers state.

Descargar

Scientific evidence proves why healers see the ‘aura’ of people

Escrito por

Researchers in Spain have found that many of the individuals claiming to see the aura of people –traditionally called «healers» or «quacks»– actually present the neuropsychological phenomenon known as «synesthesia» (specifically, «emotional synesthesia»). This might be a scientific explanation of their alleged «virtue». In synesthetes, the brain regions responsible for the processing of each type of sensory stimuli are intensely interconnected. This way, synesthetes can see or taste a sound, feel a taste, or associate people with a particular color.
The study was conducted by the University of Granada Department of Experimental Psychology Óscar Iborra, Luis Pastor and Emilio Gómez Milán, and has been published in the prestigious journal Consciousness and Cognition. This is the first time that a scientific explanation is provided on the esoteric phenomenon of the aura, a supposed energy field of luminous radiation surrounding a person as a halo, which is imperceptible to most human beings.
In neurological terms, synesthesia is due to cross-wiring in the brain of some people (synesthetes); in other words, synesthetes present more synaptic connections than «normal» people. «These extra connections cause them to automatically establish associations between brain areas that are not normally interconnected», professor Gómez Milán explains. Many healers claiming to see the aura of people might have this condition.
The case of the «Santón de Baza»
The University of Granada researchers remark that «not all healers are synesthetes, but there is a higher prevalence of this phenomenon among them. The same occurs among painters and artists, for example». To carry out this study, the researchers interviewed some synesthetes as the healer from Granada «Esteban Sánchez Casas», known as «El Santón de Baza».
Many people attribute «paranormal powers» to El Santón, such as his ability to see the aura of people «but, in fact, it is a clear case of synesthesia», the researchers explain. El Santón presents face-color synesthesia (the brain region responsible for face recognition is associated with the color-processing region); touch-mirror synesthesia (when the synesthete observes a person who is being touched or is experiencing pain, s/he experiences the same); high empathy (the ability to feel what other person is feeling), and schizotypy (certain personality traits in healthy people involving slight paranoia and delusions). «These capacities make synesthetes have the ability to make people feel understood, and provide them with special emotion and pain reading skills», the researchers explain.
In the light of the results obtained, the researchers remark the significant «placebo effect» that healers have on people, «though some healers really have the ability to see people’s auras and feel the pain in others due to synesthesia». Some healers «have abilities and attitudes that make them believe in their ability to heal other people, but it is actually a case of self-deception, as synesthesia is not an extrasensory power, but a subjective and ‘adorned’ perception of reality», the researchers state.
Descargar

Scientists Claim Evidence Proves Why Healers See ‘Aura’ Of People

Escrito por

Researchers in Spain say they have found that many of the individuals claiming to see the aura of people – traditionally called «healers» or «quacks» – actually present the neuropsychological phenomenon known as «synesthesia».
They say this might be a scientific explanation of their alleged «virtue». In synesthetes, the brain regions responsible for the processing of each type of sensory stimuli are intensely interconnected. This way, synesthetes can see or taste a sound, feel a taste, or associate people with a particular color.
The study was conducted by the University of Granada Department of Experimental Psychology Óscar Iborra, Luis Pastor and Emilio Gómez Milán, and has been published in the prestigious journal Consciousness and Cognition.
They say this is the first time that a scientific explanation is provided on the esoteric phenomenon of the aura, a supposed energy field of luminous radiation surrounding a person as a halo, which is imperceptible to most human beings.
In neurological terms, synesthesia is due to cross-wiring in the brain of some people (synesthetes); in other words, synesthetes present more synaptic connections than «normal» people.
«These extra connections cause them to automatically establish associations between brain areas that are not normally interconnected», professor Gómez Milán explains. Many healers claiming to see the aura of people might have this condition.
The University of Granada researchers remark that «not all healers are synesthetes, but there is a higher prevalence of this phenomenon among them. The same occurs among painters and artists, for example».
To carry out this study, the researchers interviewed some synesthetes as the healer from Granada «Esteban Sánchez Casas», known as «El Santón de Baza».
Many people attribute «paranormal powers» to El Santón, such as his ability to see the aura of people «but, in fact, it is a clear case of synesthesia», the researchers explain.
El Santón presents face-color synesthesia (the brain region responsible for face recognition is associated with the color-processing region); touch-mirror synesthesia (when the synesthete observes a person who is being touched or is experiencing pain, s/he experiences the same); high empathy (the ability to feel what other person is feeling), and schizotypy (certain personality traits in healthy people involving slight paranoia and delusions).
«These capacities make synesthetes have the ability to make people feel understood, and provide them with special emotion and pain reading skills», the researchers explain.
In the light of the results obtained, the researchers remark the significant «placebo effect» that healers have on people, «though some healers really have the ability to see people’s auras and feel the pain in others due to synesthesia». Some healers «have abilities and attitudes that make them believe in their ability to heal other people, but it is actually a case of self-deception, as synesthesia is not an extrasensory power, but a subjective and ‘adorned’ perception of reality», the researchers state.
Descargar

Why healers see ‘aura’ of people

Escrito por

Researchers in Spain have found that many of the individuals claiming to see the aura of people -traditionally called «healers» or «quacks»- actually present the neuropsychological phenomenon known as «synesthesia» (specifically, «emotional synesthesia»).
Synesthesia is a neuropsychological phenomenon involving a «mingling» of the senses.his might be a scientific explanation of their alleged «virtue».
In synesthetes, the brain regions responsible for the processing of each type of sensory stimuli are intensely interconnected. This way, synesthetes can see or taste a sound, feel a taste, or associate people with a particular color.
The study was conducted by the University of Granada Department of Experimental Psychology Oscar Iborra, Luis Pastor and Emilio Gomez Milan.
This is the first time that a scientific explanation is provided on the esoteric phenomenon of the aura, a supposed energy field of luminous radiation surrounding a person as a halo, which is imperceptible to most human beings.
In neurological terms, synesthesia is due to cross-wiring in the brain of some people (synesthetes); in other words, synesthetes present more synaptic connections than «normal» people.
«These extra connections cause them to automatically establish associations between brain areas that are not normally interconnected», professor Milan explained.
Many healers claiming to see the aura of people might have this condition.
The University of Granada researchers remark that «not all healers are synesthetes, but there is a higher prevalence of this phenomenon among them. The same occurs among painters and artists, for example».
To carry out this study, the researchers interviewed some synesthetes as the healer from Granada «Esteban Sanchez Casas», known as «El Santon de Baza».
Many people attribute «paranormal powers» to El Santon, such as his ability to see the aura of people «but, in fact, it is a clear case of synesthesia,» the researchers said.
El Santon presents face-color synesthesia (the brain region responsible for face recognition is associated with the color-processing region); touch-mirror synesthesia (when the synesthete observes a person who is being touched or is experiencing pain, s/he experiences the same); high empathy (the ability to feel what other person is feeling), and schizotypy (certain personality traits in healthy people involving slight paranoia and delusions).
«These capacities make synesthetes have the ability to make people feel understood, and provide them with special emotion and pain reading skills,» according to the researchers.
In the light of the results obtained, the researchers remark the significant «placebo effect» that healers have on people, «though some healers really have the ability to see people’s auras and feel the pain in others due to synesthesia».
Some healers «have abilities and attitudes that make them believe in their ability to heal other people, but it is actually a case of self-deception, as synesthesia is not an extrasensory power, but a subjective and ‘adorned’ perception of reality,» the researchers stated.
The results of this study have been published in the prestigious journal Consciousness and Cognition.
Descargar

Heart Rehab Promotes Healthy Habits

Escrito por

For patients with heart disease, a heart rehabilitation program may do more than better their physical health. Such programs also appear to work by promoting healthy lifestyle decisions.

Patients that take part in heart rehab appear to make better choices about healthy eating and living a healthy lifestyle, helping prevent future cardiovascular events.

María Esther Sánchez Entrena, lead researcher and a member of the physiology department of the University of Granada School of Pharmacy in Spain, said that heart rehabilitation helps enhance certain risk factors for heart disease while encouraging patients to have healthy eating and life habits, which is essential fir preventing heart disease.

In Spain a low percentage of patients participate in heart rehab programs as compared to the rest of Europe.

During the study, 200 Spanish patients suffering from heart disease who were members of the Association of Cardiac Patients of Granada were enrolled. Participants were assigned to one of two groups.

The intervention group participated in a heart rehabilitation program conducted by the association, while the other group received traditional aftercare but was excluded from the program.

Participants from both groups underwent a clinical functional study and answered a survey about risk factors associated with heart disease.

Investigators found that patients who participated in cardiac rehab had lower total cholesterol and triglyceride levels as compared to the group that did not receive intervention. In addition, rehabilitation participants exhibited healthier eating habits and exercised more regularly than participants in the other group.

Researchers said the findings show that it is essential that additional heart rehabilitation programs aimed at cardiac patients are established.

The preliminary results of the study have been published in the journal Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism.

Descargar

“Los paisajes de la piedra seca. El caso de Mallorca”, conferencia de Gabriel Alomar Garau

Escrito por

  • Tendrá lugar en el Salón de Caballeros XXIV del Palacio de La Madraza, el miércoles, 9 de mayo de 2012, a las 19.30 horas

“Los paisajes de la piedra seca. El caso de Mallorca” es el título de la conferencia que impartirá el profesor Gabriel Alomar Garau, del departamento de Geografía Física de la Universidad de las islas Baleares, el miércoles, 9 de mayo de 2012, a las 19.30 horas, en el Salón de Caballeros XXIV del Palacio de La Madraza (C/ Oficios, 14), organizada por el Seminario de Medio Ambiente y Calidad de Vida, Cátedra “José Saramago”, del Secretariado de Extensión Universitaria de la Universidad de Granada. Actividad

  • Conferencia: “Los paisajes de la piedra seca. El caso de Mallorca”.
  • A cargo de: Gabriel Alomar Garau.
  • Día: Miércoles, 9 de mayo de 2012.
  • Lugar: Salón de Caballeros XXIV del Palacio de La Madraza (C/ Oficios, 14).
  • Hora: 19.30 horas.
  • Organiza: Seminario de Medio Ambiente y Calidad de Vida, Cátedra “José Saramago”, del Secretariado de Extensión Universitaria de la Universidad de Granada.
  • Web: http://sl.ugr.es/01RA

Gabinete de Comunicación – Secretaría General
UNIVERSIDAD DE GRANADA
Acera de San Ildefonso, s/n. 18071. Granada (España)
Tel. 958 243063 – 958 244278
Correo e. gabcomunicacion@ugr.es
Web: http://newcanalugr.ugr.es

Synesthesia May Explain Healers Claims of Seeing People’s ‘Aura’

Escrito por

Researchers in Spain have found that at least some of the individuals claiming to see the so-called aura of people actually have the neuropsychological phenomenon known as «synesthesia» (specifically, «emotional synesthesia»). This might be a scientific explanation of their alleged ability.

In synesthetes, the brain regions responsible for the processing of each type of sensory stimuli are intensely interconnected. Synesthetes can see or taste a sound, feel a taste, or associate people or letters with a particular color.
The study was conducted by the University of Granada Department of Experimental Psychology Óscar Iborra, Luis Pastor and Emilio Gómez Milán, and has been published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition. This is the first time that a scientific explanation has been provided for the esoteric phenomenon of the aura, a supposed energy field of luminous radiation surrounding a person as a halo, which is imperceptible to most human beings.
In basic neurological terms, synesthesia is thought to be due to cross-wiring in the brain of some people (synesthetes); in other words, synesthetes present more synaptic connections than «normal» people. «These extra connections cause them to automatically establish associations between brain areas that are not normally interconnected,» professor Gómez Milán explains. New research suggests that many healers claiming to see the aura of people might have this condition.
The case of the «Santón de Baza»
One of the University of Granada researchers remarked that «not all ‘healers’ are synesthetes, but there is a higher prevalence of this phenomenon among them. The same occurs among painters and artists, for example.» To carry out this study, the researchers interviewed some synesthetes including a ‘healer’ from Granada, «Esteban Sánchez Casas,» known as «El Santón de Baza».
Many local people attribute «paranormal powers» to El Santón, because of his supposed ability to see the aura of people «but, in fact, it is a clear case of synesthesia,» the researchers explained. According to the researchers, El Santón has face-color synesthesia (the brain region responsible for face recognition is associated with the color-processing region); touch-mirror synesthesia (when the synesthete observes a person who is being touched or is experiencing pain, s/he experiences the same); high empathy (the ability to feel what other person is feeling), and schizotypy (certain personality traits in healthy people involving slight paranoia and delusions). «These capacities make synesthetes have the ability to make people feel understood, and provide them with special emotion and pain reading skills,» the researchers explain.
In the light of the results obtained, the researchers remarked on the significant «placebo effect» that healers have on people, «though some healers really have the ability to see people’s ‘auras’ and feel the pain in others due to synesthesia.» Some healers «have abilities and attitudes that make them believe in their ability to heal other people, but it is actually a case of self-deception, as synesthesia is not an extrasensory power, but a subjective and ‘adorned’ perception of reality,» the researchers state.
Descargar

Scientific evidence explains why some healers see the ‘aura’ of people

Escrito por

You may call them ‘healers’, you may call them ‘quacks’, but a scientific study conducted in Spain has shown many of these people display a neuropsychological phenomenon known as «synesthesia» (specifically, «emotional synesthesia»), giving a valuable explanation of their ‘abilities’.

The name ‘synesthesia’ explains the condition pretty good: in Green, ‘syn’ means ‘together’ and ‘aisthesys’ means ‘sensation’. Basically, it is a neurological condition in which one cognitive pattern leads to another cognitive pattern, practically mixing your senses. This way, synesthetes can see or even taste a sound, or they can hear a smell, or associate people with a certain color or song.
This is the first time anybody has ever tried to find an explanation for the esoteric phenomenon of the aura, a supposed energy field of luminous radiation surrounding a person as a halo, imperceptible to most. Of course, nowadays, when somebody claims to see people’s auras, he is immediately classified as a quirk or somebody with a weirder sense of humor, but according to this study published in the prestigious journal Consciousness and Cognition , he is most likely synesthesic.
The University of Granada researchers, which conducted the study, noted that «not all healers are synesthetes, but there is a higher prevalence of this phenomenon among them». Synesthesia is involuntary and automatic, but it affects an extremely low number of people, and it comes in different shapes; in order to see if there is indeed a correlation between the condition and seeing auras, researchers interviewed some well known people, including a healer from Granada «Esteban Sánchez Casas», known as «El Santón de Baza».
Many people attribute paranormal powers to El Santon, but researchers concluded he is obviously synesthesic, to be more clear, he presents face-color synesthesia (the brain region responsible for face recognition is associated with the color-processing region), touch-mirror synesthesia (when the synesthete observes a person who is being touched or is experiencing pain, s/he experiences the same), high empathy (the ability to feel what other person is feeling), and schizotypy (certain personality traits in healthy people involving slight paranoia and delusions) – he is indeed a remarkable case.

«These capacities make synesthetes have the ability to make people feel understood, and provide them with special emotion and pain reading skills», the researchers explain.
In light of these recent conclusions, researchers now believe healers place a significant placebo effect on patients, especially as «some healers really have the ability to see people’s auras and feel the pain in others due to synesthesia». But as well as tricking the patients into healing themselves, scientists believe healers are also deceiving themselves.
«[They] have abilities and attitudes that make them believe in their ability to heal other people, but it is actually a case of self-deception, as synesthesia is not an extrasensory power, but a subjective and ‘adorned’ perception of reality».

Descargar

Synesthesia May Explain Healers Claims of Seeing People’s ‘Aura’

Escrito por

Researchers in Spain have found that at least some of the individuals claiming to see the so-called aura of people actually have the neuropsychological phenomenon known as «synesthesia» (specifically, «emotional synesthesia»). This might be a scientific explanation of their alleged ability.

In synesthetes, the brain regions responsible for the processing of each type of sensory stimuli are intensely interconnected. Synesthetes can see or taste a sound, feel a taste, or associate people or letters with a particular color.

The study was conducted by the University of Granada Department of Experimental Psychology ?scar Iborra, Luis Pastor and Emilio Gomez Milan, and has been published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition. This is the first time that a scientific explanation has been provided for the esoteric phenomenon of the aura, a supposed energy field of luminous radiation surrounding a person as a halo, which is imperceptible to most human beings.

In basic neurological terms, synesthesia is thought to be due to cross-wiring in the brain of some people (synesthetes); in other words, synesthetes present more synaptic connections than «normal» people. «These extra connections cause them to automatically establish associations between brain areas that are not normally interconnected,» professor Gomez Milan explains. New research suggests that many healers claiming to see the aura of people might have this condition.

The case of the «Santon de Baza»

One of the University of Granada researchers remarked that «not all ‘healers’ are synesthetes, but there is a higher prevalence of this phenomenon among them. The same occurs among painters and artists, for example.» To carry out this study, the researchers interviewed some synesthetes including a ‘healer’ from Granada, «Esteban Sanchez Casas,» known as «El Santon de Baza».

Many local people attribute «paranormal powers» to El Santon, because of his supposed ability to see the aura of people «but, in fact, it is a clear case of synesthesia,» the researchers explained. According to the researchers, El Santon has face-color synesthesia (the brain region responsible for face recognition is associated with the color-processing region); touch-mirror synesthesia (when the synesthete observes a person who is being touched or is experiencing pain, s/he experiences the same); high empathy (the ability to feel what other person is feeling), and schizotypy (certain personality traits in healthy people involving slight paranoia and delusions). «These capacities make synesthetes have the ability to make people feel understood, and provide them with special emotion and pain reading skills,» the researchers explain.

In the light of the results obtained, the researchers remarked on the significant «placebo effect» that healers have on people, «though some healers really have the ability to see people’s ‘auras’ and feel the pain in others due to synesthesia.» Some healers «have abilities and attitudes that make them believe in their ability to heal other people, but it is actually a case of self-deception, as synesthesia is not an extrasensory power, but a subjective and ‘adorned’ perception of reality,» the researchers state.

Descargar