Alien abductees prone to false memories - expert

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 10/25/05 | Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

LONDON (Reuters) - Do you have memories of being abducted by aliens and whisked away in a spaceship?You wouldn't be alone. Several thousand people worldwide claim to have had such close encounters, researchers say. But in a new study, a psychology expert at London's Goldsmiths College says these experiences are proof of the frailty of the human memory, rather than evidence of life in other galaxies.

"Maybe what we're dealing with here is false memories, and not that people are actually being abducted and taken aboard spaceships," says Professor Chris French, who surveyed 19 self-proclaimed alien abductees.

Several of the abductees reported being snatched from their beds or cars by alien creatures around four feet high, with spindly arms and legs and oversized heads, French said.

Some men said they were subjected to painful medical examinations by the aliens, during which their sperm was extracted.

Many of the alien experiences could be explained by sleep paralysis, a condition in which a person is awake and aware of the surroundings but is unable to move.

Sleep paralysis often leads to hallucinations and 40 percent of people experience the state at least once in their lives, French said.

A rich imagination was also at play. Several of the alien abductees were already prone to fantasising and also claimed to have seen ghosts and have psychic or healing abilities.

"People have very rich fantasy lives," said French, who is due to present his findings at a public seminar at London's Science Museum on Wednesday.

"So much so that they often mix up what's happening in their heads with what is going on in the real world."

[NormsRevenge]

Would all the alien abductees at FR please check in.

There is help out there but you must identify yourself before it can be sent down from the Mother Ship.. :-}

[flashbunny]

[Americanwolf]

its the probes man,they go right to your brain! :)

[NormsRevenge]

lol,, great episode..

[NormsRevenge]

sleep paralysis, a condition in which a person is awake and aware of the surroundings but is unable to move.
----
been there, done that , a couple times.. weirdest darn thing. the mind is a funny thing, indeed.

[Hexenhammer]

Would all the alien abductees at FR please check in. There is help out there but you must identify yourself before it can be sent down from the Mother Ship.. :-}

I think most abductees post at DU.

[Andy from Beaverton]

[Americanwolf]

Just had a case of that last night actually... was a weird dream and could not move or say a thing... but felt that i was wide awake... really need to cut back on the choclate! :)

[Paul C. Jesup]

Sleep paralysis often leads to hallucinations and 40 percent of people experience the state at least once in their lives, French said.

This is BS. I have experienced sleep paralysis threes times before. In a state where are your mind is awake, but your body is not and you cannot move. Not once did I hallucinate.

By the way, the key to getting out of sleep paralysis is to try to start moving your toes and then work your way your body.

[sweetliberty]

"Alien abductees prone to false memories"

Ya think?

[Slings and Arrows]

Self-ping for later.

[Redcloak]

Moo moo mooooo moo mooo moo. Mooo moo moo.

[Iris7]

"People have very rich fantasy lives, so much so that they often mix up what's happening in their heads with what is going on in the real world."

Ain't it the truth. Includes everyone except for me. ;-)

[anti-infidel]

"Maybe what we're dealing with here is false memories, and not that people are actually being abducted and taken aboard spaceships,"


I have been telling that for sometime now!!!!!!!

[Maurice Tift]

Would you like to be abducted by aliens - CLICK HERE

[Thinkin' Gal]

Many of the alien experiences could be explained by sleep paralysis, a condition in which a person is awake and aware of the surroundings but is unable to move.

Note to sheepish aliens:

If the bed's untucked
You must abduct.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

By the way, the key to getting out of sleep paralysis is to try to start moving your toes and then work your way your body.

For me it's always to go back to sleep and let myself re-awaken normally.

I've experienced the phenomenon many times in the past, and have had some very vivid experiences which I wouldn't necessarily describe as hallucinations. But when I finally came out of it, there was no doubt in my mind as to what had happened.

[Grut]

I have to note here, out of a spirit of pure mischief, that the evidence for 'sleep paralysis' is the same as the evidence for 'alien abduction': unsupported memory.

[Paul C. Jesup]

For me it's always to go back to sleep and let myself re-awaken normally.

Well that would be good idea except when you have one of you arms locked in a very painful position between your back and the bed. In which case going back to sleep in not an option and you have to wake up your body to move your arm to a more pleasant position.

I have had that happen to me twice. Both times were no picnics.

[babygene]

"I think most abductees post at DU."

Not me man... I was abducted once when I was in my early twenties by this blond alien in a bar. I know she was an alien because I've never met a female human like that...