_{Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis}

^TagMichael Egnor

Brain head human mental idea mind 3D illustration background

^{Type
podcast

Lee Warren
Date
May 6, 2026

Tagged
brain, Dr. Lee Warren, Michael Egnor, mind, Near-death experiences, Neuroscience, Neurosurgery, self-brain surgery}

Change Your Mind, Restructure Your Brain

_{Lee Warren
May 6, 2026

3}

Is it possible to personally alter the physical structure of your brain? On today’s Mind Matters News, host Dr. Michael Egnor sits down with fellow neurosurgeon and author Dr. Lee Warren to discuss his book The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery. Dr. Warren shares how his medical training and Christian faith collided after the tragic loss of his son. The experience helped him realize that the mind is more than just brain activity. Dr. Warren unpacks the main thrust of his book, describing self-brain surgery as the intentional practice of choosing different thoughts to physically change the brain’s structure and improve overall health. Dr. Warren has observed the effects of such self-driven change in real-time brain scans, which deliver positive results like reducing the body’s stress response and promoting healing. Learn how you can alter your brain and bring about lasting positive change in your life.

Human brain illuminated by intense lightning strikes in dark clouds.

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
May 1, 2026

Categorized
Near-Death Experiences, Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Alex Hughes, Anna Stone, Anomalistic Psychology (2013), Chris French, Disturbed bodily multisensory integration, Michael Egnor, Robert Lawrence Kuhn}

Near-Death Experiences: Do Brain Jolts Really Explain Them?

_{In the wake of evidence for changed lives, attempts to debunk NDEs as “just this or that” are starting to sound less certain} _{Denyse O'Leary
May 1, 2026

5

Near-Death Experiences, Philosophy, Science}

Materialist theories intended to explain away NDEs need only sound plausible and scientific; they need not enlighten. A new one will be along shortly anyway.

^{Type
podcast

Michael Shermer
Date
April 1, 2026

Tagged
Atheism, Darwinism, fallibilism, god, Materialism, Michael Egnor, Michael Shermer, moral law, natural law, science, skeptic, truth}

Science, God, and Truth: Michael Shermer and Michael Egnor

_{Michael Shermer
April 1, 2026

3}

On this episode of the Mind Matters News podcast, host and neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor welcomes Michael Shermer, historian of science and founder of Skeptic magazine, to discuss Shermer’s new book Truth: What It Is, How to Find It, and Why It Still Matters. The conversation quickly evolves into a deep philosophical debate between Egnor and Shermer over whether truths about morality and the universe are created by humans or discovered as objective features of reality.

Glass lightbulb with golden gears inside, set against a backdrop of mathematical equations, symbolizing innovation, problem-solving, and the mechanics of ideas

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
February 8, 2026

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Alexander Batthyány, Andrew McDiarmid, Featured, Michael Egnor, New Age movement, Terminal lucidity}

Toward a True — and Also Scientific — Picture of the Human Mind

_{Alexander Batthyány offers a personal anecdote about Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Sir John Eccles that might help point the way} _{Denyse O'Leary
February 8, 2026

8

Philosophy of Mind}

Batthyány also expressed concern that a non-material/spiritual understanding of topics like terminal lucidity risks being taken over today by New Age nonsense.

Stained glass church windows illuminate floor

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
February 7, 2026

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Alexander Batthyány, Andrew McDiarmid, Michael Egnor, Terminal lucidity, Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)}

The Thin Spaces of Our Lives Where Strange Things Do Happen

_{Denyse O'Leary
February 7, 2026

4

Philosophy of Mind}

In the discussion with Batthyány, Egnor suggested that people who inexplicably become more lucid near death are drawing closer to the light of God.

Businessman looking at a magnifying glass over a network of small people.

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
February 6, 2026

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Alexander Batthyány, Andrew McDiarmid, Brain–magnifying glass analogy, Featured, Michael Egnor, Terminal lucidity, Threshold (book 2023), William James (1842–1910)}

Consciousness… a Computer or a Magnifying Glass?

_{At ID the Future, Egnor and Batthyány offer some further thoughts on the ongoing mystery: How does the human mind clear at the point of death?} _{Denyse O'Leary
February 6, 2026

6

Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind}

Neither shortage of oxygen nor the presence of relatives account for the sudden release from confusion or dementia.

Cornell University

^{Type
post

News
Date
February 4, 2026

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Cornell University, Featured, Heterodox Academy, Michael Egnor, Randy Wayne}

An Evening With Michael Egnor at Cornell

_{The linked talk alone was worth coming to hear, but the Q&A truly did not disappoint} _{News
February 4, 2026

3

Philosophy of Mind}

Egnor continued to reference the scientific research at the foundation of his talk and repeatedly challenged his questioners.

A close-up shot of a clear crystal ball with a rainbow spectrum inside casting a shadow

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
February 3, 2026

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind, Psychology

Tagged
Alexander Batthyány, Andrew McDiarmid, Charles Murray, Featured, Michael Egnor, Steven Pinker, Terminal lucidity}

How Sudden Lucidity at Death Became a Science Topic

_{Psychologist Alexander Batthyány and neurosurgeon Michael Egnor discuss the implications of clear consciousness despite deadly illness} _{Denyse O'Leary
February 3, 2026

6

Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind, Psychology}

Serious research on terminal lucidity will immensely damage the sort of materialism that Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker champions.

Realistic figure standing at a fork in the road, surrounded by an incredible amount of detail, representing the concept of free will in a realistic setting

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
December 19, 2025

Categorized
Free will

Tagged
Free will vs. totalitarianism, Michael Egnor, Robert Sapolsky, Sam Harris, Wilder Penfield}

Free Will vs. the Totalitarian Temptation

_{If our thoughts and choices really are wholly determined, what follows?} _{Denyse O'Leary
December 19, 2025

6

Free will}

Pundits and politicians alike are tempted by the idea that, if there are no higher powers or greater realities to answer to, they can force people to fulfil their visions with impunity.

Conceptual design of quantum mechanics, featuring particles entangled in a network of energy waves, illustrating the interconnectedness and non-locality of quantum particles

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
November 27, 2025

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind, Physics

Tagged
George Gilder, Jay Richards, Michael Egnor, Michael Shermer, Quantum Mechanics, Soul (concept)}

Does Quantum Mechanics Help Us Make Sense of the Soul?

_{Quantum mechanics seems to be the game-changer that Albert Einstein (1879–1955) feared it would be. It is certain to liven up discussions about the soul} _{Denyse O'Leary
November 27, 2025

5

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind, Physics}

Shermer told Mind Matters News after the event that he would bump up his credence in the existence of souls from 1% to 2% out of 99%.

A detailed digital illustration showcasing the interaction between DNA molecules and a complex molecular machine within a biological environment

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
November 26, 2025

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
COSM 2025, Francis Crick (1916–2004), Michael Egnor, Michael Shermer, Quantum Mechanics, soul}

Skeptic Michael Shermer’s (Non)-Vision of the Soul

_{Responding to Michael Egnor at COSM 2025, he said that the soul is an explanation but not a good explanation for our relationship to our bodies} _{Denyse O'Leary
November 26, 2025

5

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

He sees words like “mind” and “soul” as just linguistic placeholders until we have a fully material explanation for how we function.

3D render of AI brain merging biological neurons with golden circuit board. BCI, machine learning, or futuristic technology concept. Abstract dark background with glowing connections.

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
November 24, 2025

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Alice Cronin, COSM 2025, Michael Egnor, Michael Shermer, soul, Split brain research}

Does Neuroscience Show That We Are Mere Biological Machines?

_{At COSM 2025, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor assembled his strongest evidence for no} _{Denyse O'Leary
November 24, 2025

5

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Egnor thinks that the strongest evidence that the mind is not merely the brain comes from epilepsy and split brain research.

mind, body, spirit, soul and you

^{Type
post

Caitlin Cory
Date
November 24, 2025

Categorized
Near-Death Experiences, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
COSM, COSM2025, immortality, Michael Egnor, Michael Shermer, Neuroscience, The Immortal Mind}

Are Human Beings Machines? Surgeon and Historian Go Head-to-Head

_{At COSM 2025, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor and Skeptic Magazine editor Michael Shermer faced off on some of the most critical questions of our lives} _{Caitlin Cory
November 24, 2025

6

Near-Death Experiences, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Egnor says there is massive evidence that the mind is not simply what the brain does but Shermer insists that it is all unexplained natural phenomena.

The trail disappears into a tunnel of light, leading to a realm where shadows are reversed and reality is distorted, creating a surreal and dreamlike atmosphere.

^{Type
post

News
Date
November 16, 2025

Categorized
Near-Death Experiences, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Andrew McDiarmid, Michael Egnor, Pam Reynolds Challenge}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor: Does the Soul Really Exist?

_{He offers evidence that helps explain why modern medicine tries to understand near-death experiences, not merely explain them away} _{News
November 16, 2025

5

Near-Death Experiences, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Near-death experiences are challenging — not science — but the materialist presumption that has dominated for many decades in science.

Silhouette of a man standing in front of a gigantic wall, sunlight shining through a narrow gap, symbolic image for near-death experience, hope, depression, life crisis, psychology, grief, redemption, AI generated, AI generated, AI generated

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
November 9, 2025

Categorized
Near-Death Experiences, Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Endorphins, Francis Lerner et al, Ken Drinkwater, Ketamine, Michael Egnor, Wiliam Hunter}

Science on Near-Death Experiences: Explaining vs Explaining Away

_{The first rule of a scientific approach to near-death experiences should be to take seriously what is happening before rushing in with a “science can explain this” hypothesis} _{Denyse O'Leary
November 9, 2025

5

Near-Death Experiences, Philosophy, Science}

The reason medical researchers now take NDEs seriously is a growing body of evidence that can’t just be tossed off with a simple explanation.

Woman praying and free the birds flying on sunset background, hope concept

^{Type
post

News
Date
October 27, 2025

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Religion, Spirituality

Tagged
Ignat Solzhenitsyn, Jane Goodall, John McLean (1785‒1861), Michael Egnor, Namaste, Pure Unlimited Love (book 2025), Stephen Post}

Pure Unlimited Love: Faith, Freedom, and the Path to Peace

_{To illustrate the nature of the qualities needed, Dr. Post shared with Dr. Egnor a moving story from his time working in a geriatric psychiatric hospital in Mount Vernon, Ohio} _{News
October 27, 2025

6

Medicine and Health, Religion, Spirituality}

Dr. Egnor agreed, observing that the United States seems to be losing its ability to hold respectful disagreement. Post responded by quoting Abraham Lincoln’s call for unity

Portrait of smiling multinational people different religions stand together. National Religious Freedom Day. January 16. Holiday concept. Template for background, banner, card, poster and wallpaper

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
October 20, 2025

Categorized
Evolution, Neuroscience, Paleontology, Philosophy of Mind, Religion

Tagged
Antony Flew (1923–2010), Featured, Gary Wenk, Marilyn Mendoza, Michael Egnor, Periaqueductal gray, Religion (origin), Speculation in science}

At Psych Mag: How Your Brain Allegedly Invented God…

_{Not THIS again, you say? Yes, this again. Straight out of the 1970s, as if the last fifty years of research never happened} _{Denyse O'Leary
October 20, 2025

5

Evolution, Neuroscience, Paleontology, Philosophy of Mind, Religion}

One effect of the presumption of atheism in science is that all kinds of speculation can be grandfathered as reasonable scientific thinking.

Forgotten Game: War's Scars

^{Type
post

News
Date
October 19, 2025

Categorized
Philosophy, Relationships

Tagged
John Templeton (1912‒2008), Jonathan Haidt, Love and social bonding, M. Scott Peck (1936‒2005), Marc Chagall (1887‒1985), Michael Egnor, Pure Unlimited Love (book 2025), René Girard (1923‒2015), Stephen Post, W. H. Auden (1907‒1973)}

Stephen Post and Michael Egnor: Restoring Community Amid Division

_{In the dialogue on his new book, Dr. Post defines love simply: when the well-being of another person becomes as real and meaningful to you as your own, you love that person} _{News
October 19, 2025

6

Philosophy, Relationships}

Michael Egnor adds that classical philosophers defined love as “willing the good of the other,” not merely liking someone and Stephen Post agrees.

Uganda sunrise with trees, hills, shadows and morning fog

^{Type
post

News
Date
October 14, 2025

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Denyse O'Leary, Michael Egnor, Soul (concept), Wesley J. Smith}

Podcast: Evidence For the Existence of the Human Soul

_{Michael Egnor and Denyse O'Leary argue that there is abundant scientific data demonstrating the immaterial existence of the human person and that this reality continues after we die} _{News
October 14, 2025

3

Philosophy of Mind}

The human soul has been understood as quite real but immaterial and non-local. It is instantiated in a body, which is material and local.

Business man making a phone call with smartphone.

^{Type
post

News
Date
October 10, 2025

Categorized
Near-Death Experiences, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Donny Budinsky, Michael Egnor, Near-death experiences, Standing For Truth, Thanatosis}

“Here’s My Number. Call Me When You Have Evidence.”

_{On Standing for Truth, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor describes the approach he takes to those who defend materialist theories about human beings} _{News
October 10, 2025

4

Near-Death Experiences, Philosophy of Mind}

Donny Budinsky and co-host Sam prompted a general discussion of experience versus reality when it comes to the human mind.