Many people do not really understand what ?mental telepathy? means. This term basically refers to the communication that occurs beyond the five senses. Nevertheless it's a world of variation between trying to read some one thoughts and trying to delve in some one's mind without their knowledge. Mental telepathy encompasses a wide assortment of different types of techniques and skills which can be either simple or very sophisticated. Here we will try to give you a brief glimpse into the various types of mental telepathy.

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

A form of non-verbal communication known as Kinesics can be construed as mental telepathy. Kinesics is the ability to communicate using eyes or body behaviors instead. Entire conversations can be had without saying a word, but the other person knows what you mean or are thinking, like parents communicating without speaking when they don't want their children to hear. Kinesics or non-verbal communication more easily attained between people who have a close relationship, such as?spouses, brothers and sisters, parents and children and at times close friends.

Some believe that this doesn't qualify as mental telepathy. The argument is that two people are communication by using their senses, such as eyes or touches so it cannot be telepathy. The fact is this is not true mental telepathy, however it is possible that mental telepathy does play a role. Non-verbal or kinesics communication tends to occur most successfully between people who are related or who have lived together for extended periods of time might mean their minds may be more attuned to each other. It could also mean that this merely means the two people know each other well enough to understand each others body language, or have nonverbal signals to communicate that have developed over time.

EMPATHY

We all know about empathy. When you can feel the other person's pain, elation or other emotions and understand them, then it's known as empathy. There are some people who can really empathize with the other person and think and feel like them. The ability to empathize can be enhanced with regular practice and training. This ability is evident in actors who can actually feel the characters pain and elation to the extent that they can cry and laugh as per the character.

Sympathetic pain is another aspect of mental telepathy where the person physically experiences the pain and trauma of the loved one. Many a times when we witness a loved one getting injured, we tend to have the same kind of pain or ache at the same point in our body though in reality there is nothing wrong with us. Likewise, when someone close to us experiences some emotional upheaval like a lot of joy or grief or even depression, then your mood corresponds to that emotion. There is also something known as long distance empathy where a person we love gets hurt and we get inkling on it even where there are miles separating us.

Psychologists think an overactive imagination could be to blame for these types of reactions rather than mental telepathy. There may be senses being used, such as seeing a medical procedure, but long-distance empathy, where it is a gut feeling and no visual or audio communication has taken place is quite another story and certainly does not reflect any direct communications.

CONCRETE CONCEPTS

A form of mental telepathy that goes beyond the five senses is thought transference of concrete symbols and objects between two minds. Many times this requires a designated sender and receiver, training, practice and super strong concentration.

The principle behind this meaning of mental telepathy is – simpler the concept, the easier it is to communicate through thought alone. For example, simple things, like a color or shape as used in the example above, may be easier to convey than something more complex like an animal or a person's name.

Experiments in concrete levels telepathy use Zener cards to prove mental telepathy skills. They are simple, concrete black-and-white symbols (a circle, square, star, plus sign, and three wavy lines). Critics of the Zener cards have pointed out that with only five cards to choose from, there is a 20% chance of being right, even with random guesses. On the other hand, it may be easier for two people to send and receive thoughts if those are shared, known, and a limited set of concrete symbols. Although anyone can get a 20% success rate with enough guesses, there are success rates of 50% or higher in some cases.

ABSTRACT THOUGHT LEVELS

This level of mental telepathy transcends the mere transmission of shapes and colors to more intangible perceptions like values, actions and ideas. Obviously this is a tough thing to do and only rarely are telepaths able to accomplish this aspect of telepathy. Experiments also are seldom successful in this regard.

Scientists have a hard time figuring out how animals appear to communicate using abstract concepts, and mental telepathy should not be ruled out, even though some of the concepts may just be basic impulses and instincts. Animals lack prefrontal lobes where abstract ideas originate so they are only capable of communicating them on a level lower than expert human telepaths.

Some people are of the view that humans were telepathic creatures but lost their ability with the development of language. If this holds true then it simply means that humans can be taught this ability with the right kind of stimulus.

Some scientists believe however that telepathy is in the 'future' for mankind, instead of part of the past. If enough people can develop these powers, humans in the future could become telepathic on a higher level.