Research at the Edge of Experience
The Institute for the Study of Religious and Anomalous Experience investigates unusual experiences, beliefs, and phenomena through interdisciplinary psychological and empirical research.
OUR MISSION
Advancing Understanding
Through Open Inquiry
ISRAE is a nonprofit research institute dedicated to the systematic study of religious, anomalous, and exceptional human experiences. We bring together psychological research, interdisciplinary scholarship, and empirical methods to better understand experiences that often fall at the boundaries of conventional inquiry.
Rigorous Research
We use established research methods, measurement, and open scientific practices wherever feasible.
Interdisciplinary Inquiry
Our work draws on psychology, consciousness studies, sociology, clinical perspectives, and related fields.
Collaborative Research
ISRAE works with researchers and academic collaborators across institutions and disciplines.
Haunted People Syndrome & Encounter Phenomenology
Understanding recurrent anomalous experiences, ghostly episodes, poltergeist phenomena, and the people who report them.
Transliminality & Mental Boundaries
Exploring permeability of consciousness, experience-proneness, mental boundaries, and individual differences associated with anomalous experience.
OUR RESEARCH AREAS
Mapping the Dimensions of Anomalous Experience
Social, Cultural & Interpretive Processes
Examining belief, meaning-making, narrative, suggestion, contagion, and the social contexts that shape extraordinary experiences.
Environment, Enchantment & Physical Correlates
Studying places, environmental conditions, measurement systems, and the interaction between setting and anomalous experience.
Psi, Magick, Ritual & Anomalous Cognition
Investigating psi phenomena, intentional practices, ritual processes, meditation, and other forms of anomalous cognition.
Survival, NDE & Consciousness Studies
Researching near-death experiences, survival hypotheses, and empirical approaches to questions about consciousness beyond ordinary limits.
WHY IT MATTERS
Expanding Knowledge. Improving Lives.
Exceptional human experiences can be meaningful, disruptive, transformative, or difficult to understand. By studying them with scientific rigor and without dismissing the people who report them, ISRAE seeks to improve knowledge, reduce stigma, refine measurement, and support more informed responses in research, clinical, and public settings.
Extensive
Peer-Reviewed Research
Decades
Of Research Experience
International
Academic Collaboration
Impact
Science with Compassion
Whether you are a researcher, clinician, student, supporter, or simply curious, there are several ways to stay connected with ISRAE and its work.
Stay Informed
Subscribe to the ISRAE Research Update for new research, publications, projects, and institute news.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow the Work. Join the Conversation.
Collaborate With Us
We welcome inquiries from researchers, clinicians, students, media professionals, and organizations interested in our work.
Support Our Work
Help sustain independent, rigorous research into anomalous, religious, and exceptional human experiences.