A novel electrochemical system has been designed and assembled to study the kinetic activity of cytochrome c oxidase. Gold electrodes coated with 3-mercapto-1-propanol formed the surface for the physisorption of monolayers of cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase or a preformed cytochrome c−cytochrome c oxidase complex. The films were investigated by cyclic voltammetry at scanning at rates slow enough to permit near redox equilibrium between electrode and redox protein and hence obtain redox midpoint potentials. Cytochrome c monolayers alone displayed a reversible midpoint potential at pH 8 (E m8 vs NHE) at +240 mV, close to the native cytochrome c value observed in solution. In contrast, oxidase monolayers alone failed to support any detectable redox contact between electrode and protein, implying that the distances between the oxidase redox cofactors in the adsorbed oxidase are too far away from the electrode to promote significant electron transfer rates. However, adsorption of a preformed cytochrome c−cytochrome c oxidase complex promoted effective redox contact, demonstrating electron transfer with an apparent onset halfpoint potential at +225 mV. This effect is consistent with the mandatory requirement for cytochrome c to mediate electrons from the electrode to cytochrome c oxidase and presumably in a way reflecting the physiological pathway. Cyclic voltammetric measurements arranged to determine the rates of electron transfer between electrode and the complex showed that at scan rates up to 50 mV/s, extraordinary kinetic turnover is displayed attributable to the catalysis of oxygen reduction. Thus it is established that the protein complex can be assembled and enable the natural mediation of electron transfer from the electrode by cytochrome c to the enzyme at a rate fast enough for catalysis to be observed and controlled.

A novel approach is introduced to explain the appearance of telepathy-like effects as the consequence of disturbances in the normal equilibration or 'equilibrated non-equilibrium' of ordinary human experience. A new electromagnetic version of Freud's psychoanalytic model is proposed, which begins by treating the mind as a charged object that interacts with others and the environment in a generally balanced pairwise fashion. If the brain is assigned a net charge for a given state of mind, there may be considered to be a balancing of superego, ego, and id level interactions. A temporary altered state of consciousness may result from an over or undercharged experience (from a social perturbation or unconscious wish) that would otherwise be processed during normal habituated experience as part of interdependent behavior during conscious awareness or sleep. Deviations from the normal "equilibration" of such balanced charge states that are not immediately cathected or decathected during personal interactions may result in the deceptive perception of telepathy or a neurosis-like symptom, perhaps in the form of a remembered dream. However, a genuine telepathy-like phenomenon may be postulated to exist due to synchronistic effects when considering the unique aspects of synchronous human behavior and possible subconscious information acquisition through inference. Electrochemical charges and energies may be assigned to the thoughts, emotions and actions of the human body and these may often be psychologically and socially coordinated and coherent with others: two people may change state at the same time. A macroscopically relevant coherence may result in approximately simultaneous thoughts and actions, and even a form of knowledge, between separated people.

We sought to test whether mindfulness can increase interpersonal synchronicity. To achieve this, a novel method was developed to measure complementary cognition and behavior in dyads. Pairs of individuals in a mindful treatment and control group were asked to converse in pairs, separate and complete another task, and return to talk again when they felt ready. Control group pairs returned in a relatively uniform amount of time, while mindful pairs displayed a higher level of differentiation. Mindfully primed partners enjoyed the second conversation more, were rated as being more comfortable with each other, and often returned closely together. Individuals and pairs high in trait mindfulness also had increased enjoyment. Additionally, the mindful group showed a physiological matching in the closeness of their heart rate. These results suggest that mindfulness, when present, can regulate coordination dynamics and increase interpersonal synchronicity.