The first time I allowed myself to pray in tongues concerning something deliberately, I saw immediate results, so I was convinced of the supernatural power of it

I too have known prayer to be extremely effective, in any or no language. After that accident prayers were immediately launched from all over the world in as many languages, from groups and individuals as diverse as Southern Baptists, Quakers, Buddhists and Taoists (and even some atheists) - there was even a Medicine Wheel built and walked day and night in Arizona by members of one of the Bear tribes (healers).

A priest/physician was involved (Catholic-heavy 'burb of New Orleans and a Catholic medical center), and we even got a whole investigatory contingent from the Vatican. It ended up as the first legally adjudged Miracle on record in the US (or anywhere else, far as I know). Anyway, the prayers were coming in so hot and heavy - aimed to the ICU - that several Miracles of healing occurred there during the 10 days, and the prayer circle in the waiting room grew every day. Made believers out of some pretty jaded doctors, nurses and EMTs. We even had increasing police participation once they got wind of a Miracle in the works.

Because we do not know of any material/physical means of this effectiveness, the term "supernatural" certainly applies. Yet at the same time, I have come to the opinion that if one accepts that there are entire realms of existence/experience that are NOT material/physical (as-we-know-it), it might be natural after all.

Joy, that is amazing about you son, that everybody could understand what he said. The only instance I am familiar of that particular phenomena is recorded in Acts chapter 2, other places in the Bible tongues is generally understood not to be understandable to the prayer or hearer.

The priest (a physician who became a priest late in life) who had originally saved our son's life was present when this occurred. I suppose he's the one who had originally called in the Vatican, since his brother was some sort of official there. It took a couple of repeats of a command before we actually realized we knew what he was saying, and that was… completely amazing to all of us. The speaker (at the time, I didn't think it was really my son and neither did the rest of us family members) most assuredly knew what he was saying.

As well as what indicated to me the existence of that 'mother-language'. Something we couldn't possibly know we understood unless we'd heard it and understood, a language none of us had ever heard before or since.

I don't understand what I am saying when I pray in tongues, although I believe when I am praying concerning a certain matter and I pray in tongues, the tongues address the topic I am praying about. When I pray in tongues concerning a specific matter, all the same emotions accompany the tongues as if I was speaking my native tongue although I don't understand specific words.

Joy, that is amazing about you son, that everybody could understand what he said. The only instance I am familiar of that particular phenomena is recorded in Acts chapter 2, other places in the Bible tongues is generally understood not to be understandable to the prayer or hearer. See, 1 Corinthians 14.

The brain anomalies are even more fascinating for what they seem to indicate about consciousness, awareness, language and perception. I'll post some tidbits to that as I've time.

Sorry for repeating your questions, I did not see your post when I was writing.

Do those who practice glossolalia know what they are saying? Is it generally some sort of worship or praise? Is it understandable, but not in normal words? At the times you are not conscious of it, does it have any informational content, and if so, are you only aware of what was said later when you focus on it consciously?

Just wondering.

I have suspected ever since that there is a built-in (where?) mother-language underlying all human speech. Not just syntax atop which humans stack their tribal 'namings'.

I find it very interesting that you still have control while experiencing - or is the better word 'practicing'? - glossolalia. The five subjects of the UPenn study apparently did not. The synesthetes who end up seeking out neurologists and cog-scis usually are having problems separating out their blended perceptions so they don't scare others, leading to emotional problems I never had.

I learned to control it when it became obvious others didn't perceive the way I did, and at this late stage of my life it very seldom intrudes unless I deliberately open my mind to it for a reason. I have had success teaching synesthetic perception to others, including people I'm not related to. Thus I'd figured out years before Cytowic did that it comes naturally to humans.

Whenever the percepts are apprehended by a student, they tell me it's "like remembering."

Do you understand what you are praying when this happens? Does anyone else understand you?