Science of the Paranormal
Dr. Melvin Morse's new research

For more than fifteen years, Dr. Melvin Morse, a practicing pediatrician and renowned researcher, has been studying the near-death experiences of hundreds of children. His bestsellers Closer to the Light and Transformed by the Light—convinced millions that there is indeed something that lies beyond "bodily death"—and that NDEs profoundly transform peoples’ lives for the better. Now, Morse continues his compelling scientific probe into the mysteries of life and death—offering a bold and provocative new theory on what NDEs reveal about mind-body interactions, human memory, and the part of our brain that literally communicates with God.

WHERE GOD LIVES, by Dr. Morse with Paul Perry, builds on the author’s previous research into NDEs to reveal a startling truth: that all of us have the biological potential to interact with the universe not just when we are dying, but at any time during our lives—by learning to stimulate an under-utilized area of the brain the authors call "the God Spot." Drawing from mounting scientific research, documented NDEs and other mystical encounters, and the author’s personal experiences—this illuminating book outlines a convincing new paradigm that seeks to explain some of the human mind’s most elusive mysteries, including miraculous healing, telepathy, hauntings, reincarnation, remote viewing, and other "paranormal" phenomena.

Dr. Morse argues that the study of the NDE provides a starting point for understanding the mysterious link between our brains and the universe. Though sound scientific studies have already identified the existence of "the God Spot"—the right temporal lobe of the brain—Morse takes this concept several steps further. Building on the controversial theory that memory may actually be stored outside the brain, he suggests that the right temporal lobe acts not as a "computer" for our individual minds, but as a transmitter and receiver of the universal mind—and that we can actually learn to stimulate this part of our brains in a number of ways besides near death or active dying. The challenge, he says, is to learn how to integrate the rational (left) and spiritual (right) sides of our brains.

Morse attempts to answer the most important questions from the field of near death studies based on a single premise: that most paranormal perceptions take place through the God Spot’s link to a universal memory bank from which we can receive and access information—and with which we can interact to alter reality in a physical way. Just as Morse’s previous books helped catapult the study of NDEs and their transforming effects from a "fringe" area to one considered mainstream and medically valuable, Where God Lives validates the brain’s connection to the God experience with an arsenal of powerful human stories and indisputable scientific facts that answer formerly intractable questions like:

Can memory be stored outside the brain?

Modern scientific thought is increasingly exploring the notion that memories can exist independent of brain function, explaining why, for example, comatose patients who recover are able to process memories of their experiences.

Is reincarnation the act of "tapping in" to a universal memory bank?

An incredible collection of scientifically examined cases in several countries—such as so-called birthmark studies: in which people who claim to be reincarnated have birthmarks that correspond to wounds of those from whom they were reincarnated—suggest this is so.

Are ghosts and angels really "trapped energy"?

The author’s analysis of more than fifteen thousand ghost stories convinces him that these are not "spirits" trapped between this world and another, but strong memories and perceptions that are actually embedded in the environment. This memory is usually perceived the same way by all who tap into it, explaining why there is such consistency among ghost stories.

Is there a type of person who can communicate with this universal memory bank more easily than the rest of us?

The author’s research shows that people who’ve had NDEs are more likely to be "in tune" with their God Spot, and to have other mystical experiences or possess other paranormal abilities.

Is there such a thing as coincidence?

Increasingly, studies suggest that life has a pattern and innate meaning beyond what we, as human beings, impose on it.

What is intuition?

Morse argues that intuition is the normal function of the right temporal lobe. His research suggests that we can train ourselves to use our "sixth sense" in a more conscious way—as the connection between the organized patterns of energy that represent ourselves, and the entire pattern (universal mind) in which we are embedded.

Why do prayers help some people who are seriously ill?

Sound scientific literature on miraculous healing shows that such events almost all involve right temporal lobe functions like out-of-body experiences, experiences of light, visions, and NDEs—suggesting that simple, inexpensive interventions such as meditation or prayer can help us maximize our own health.

Can people be "taught" to use abilities like remote viewing and telekinesis if they were asked to focus on them?

Excellent experimental studies document that humans have psychic abilities of all kinds that might be honed if we were led to work on them.

Can we really use our minds to heal our bodies?

Virtually all anecdotal research and many controlled scientific studies stress that there must be an interaction between the mind of the individual and the universal pattern or God—and studies further suggest that this universal energy pattern can directly influence health.

Morse takes readers beyond theory to the practical matter of how this mysterious area of the brain can be made more accessible to us. He distills ten critical lessons—based on his in-depth research into the transforming power of NDEs—that can help us all become tuned to our God Spot. If practiced regularly, Morse says, these simple rules can bring the restorative effects of optimism, trust, and love into our daily lives—but also empower us to call on the divine to help bring about remarkable recoveries and spiritual healings whenever we need them.

Where God Lives reveals that the secret of NDEs is that there is no secret—that all of us have the innate ability to heal ourselves, if only we have the desire and determination to enable this gift. "The ultimate message of NDEs is that life has meaning and we are all connected," says Morse. "It is in finding those connections that we find the secret to good health and a long life." Applying the rigors of science to the study of the spiritual, this intriguing book presents a provocative starting point for a new understanding of how the brain works, and concludes definitively that there is an unseen—but not unreachable—power that guides us all.