Shiva Software for "God Helmet" sessions.

Some Shiva sessions make use of a wave form derived from the amygdala.
Question:

What does the Amygdala do?

On the right (for most individuals), it supports the experience of fear.

(Including in response to magnetic stimulation)

Richards, P.M., Koren, S.A., & Persinger, M. A., "Experimental Stimulation by Burst-Firing Weak Magnetic Fields Over the Right Temporal lobe May Facilitate Apprehension in women." Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1992, 75, 667-670

On the left (for most individuals), it supports the experience of euphoria.

(Including in response to magnetic stimulation)
Persinger, M.A. "Vectorial Cerebral Hemisphericity as Differential sources For the Sensed Presence, Mystical Experiences and Religious Conversions." Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1993, 76, (915-930)

It helps us to recognize what others are feeling.

Morri, J.S., Frith, C.D., Perrit, D.I., Rowland, D. et al., "A Differential Response in the Human Amygdala to Fearful and Happy facial expressions." Nature v383, n6603 (Oct. 31, 1996) : 812 (4 pages)

It supports the 'sensed presence' experience.

Persinger, M.A. "Sense of a presence and Suicidal ideation Following Traumatic Brain Injury: Indications of Right-Hemispheric Intrusions From Neuropsychological Profiles" Psychological Reports, 1994, 75, 1059-1070

It helps us to see which direction other people are looking in.

Allman, John, Brothers, Leslie "Faces, Fear, and the Amygdala." Nature, v372, n6507, (Dec 15, 19994) : 613 (2 pages)

It helps us to recognize other people's intentions, emotions, and mood.

Bower, Bruce, "Brain Faces up to Fear, Social Signs (Amygdala Involved Emotion and Social Behavior) Science News v146 n25 (Dec 17, 1994)

It helps us to perceive other's emotions using all of our sensory modalities

Scott, Sophie K., Young, Andrew W. Calder, Andrew J., Hellawell, Deborah J, et al. "Impaired Auditory Recognition of Fear and Anger Following Bilateral amygdala lesions." Nature v385 n6613 (Jan 16, 1997) : 254 (4 pages)

What the Amygdala DOESN'T do.

"Reports that Temporal Lobe Epileptics are Hyperaggressive have been widely accepted because they are consistent with lesion studies that the amygdala..... plays a role in promoting aggressive behavior. However, several studies have failed to observe any relation between temporal-lobe epilepsy and aggression"

Pinel, John, P.J. Biopsychology Allen and Bacon publ., 1990 348-349