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SUBJECT : Mind/Behavior Control

I. The purpose of this memorandua is to succinctly outline the various techniques that fall under the rubric of "aind" or "behavior control" (paragreph 2) and to indicate which projects has supported, is currently supporting, or is coasidering for support that may be misconatrued as having the control of others as the primary goal (paragragh 3). The terms "nind control" or 'behavior control' can be interpreted in context of controlling others or controlling self; the question of echics is likely to arise if che former interpretation is used. Whatever interpretation is used, the techniques are nor as efficacious or finely tuned as the popular media leads cne to believe. Lastly, one should bear in mind that nost of the tcchniques are still experinental in nature and have es a primary goal the undorstanding of brain-behavior relations wiich in turn may lead to "coatrol" in the sense of therapcutic iutervention or patient management.

2. The following techaiques are geacrally considered under "control" techology:

a. Psychosurgery - direct intervention into the neurological pathays that mediato or control behavior. The procedure msy be nonrevbrsible (surgical extirpation) or reversible (electrical stimulatiou). This approach has rocelved a great deal of publicity recently in context of surgery being performed to control asgressive behavior.

b, Psychopharmacolozy - behavioral control is achieved by altering the brain chenistry. Tranquilizers and energizers are the two most common classes. This technique is widcly used in clinical medicine.. The technique is for the nost part safe and effective but does not really afrord fine control. The notion of a "peace" pill, "truth" pill or "smart" pill is still in the wish stage.

5 March 1973

METDORANDUEI FOR:

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c. Behavior nodification - this ter refers to alterations in behavior that arc achioved by using conditioning tocimiques, usually variations on operant or perfornance conditioaing. The bclavior being altcred or controlled can bo cither external (bchavior) or internal (autonomic or central nervous system) responscs. The con-.ditioning or control of internal response (biofeedback), particuiurly those of the ceutral nervous systea, e.S., alpha waves, has roceived rauch publicity as mind control with fantascic clains for its utility. Whilo rhere is no doubt thar' thc physiological rosponses are indeed controllable (within linits), there is no good evidence thar the desired behavioral concomitants are autonatically changed, i.c., creativity incrcased. On the other hand, there is sone evidence that control of autonouic nervous sýstea fuactions may have sone therapeutic utility, e.g., control of cardiac arhythaias or. hypertension, again within limits.

d. Education - thc noct inaocuous, nost,effcctive and acceptable means of effocting behavioral coutrol or change is education. The eduçacive procoss vhich includes propaganda techniques, does not mercly transzit informntion but a bclief or value systen as well. It is the latter which oftea provides the iopetus to dranatic and difiiculc to andorstand behaviors, c.g., suicidal terrorist activirios.

e. Special tcchuiques:

(1) Hypuosis and self-hypnosis (autogensis) - this is a real but very poorly understood phenomena. Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis is effective only vith very coogerative and suggestible subjects. luch is dopendent unon the belief systen of thc subject, particularly in self-uypnosis. Except vith rare subjects, the technique does not appear uniforuly reliablc. Of latc, hypnosis and biofeedback are beinz tied together apparencly on the siaple preaise that two is better thaa one. Thore is no good eviuonco for or against this linitage.

(2) ESp - interest in this arca is on the upswing again, in large part due to current popularity in lay litorature of "biofccdback" technoiogy. The basic prenise appears to be that all indlividuals (or nosz) have "Esp" as a latent capability

SUBJECT: Hind/Behavior Control

2.

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and that biofeedback prograns vill allow it to beconc mauifest. This then bocoues the route to "pind conirol" in the sonse that the individual wili have at his beck and call telepathic, clairvoyant, psychokinctic or other unusucl capabilities. The claims are made by conpanies offoring training prograns, markoting biofeedback cquipment or both. Thus far, no evideacc (other than testinonials) has surfaeed.which substantiates these clains.

3. Past, present, or planned jprojects by category as in paragraph 2, which may bo misconstrued as a CLà prosram in mind or behavior control:

a. Psychosurgery、has supported a basic research project
on the Localization of Hemory Procasses. The experimeutal animal is
the rhesus monkcy; solected arcas of the auimals prefrontal lobes are
surgically renoved and the animal is tested to determine its ability
to "remembor old tasks and/or to learn nev ones. This class of
rosoarch has been going on in academia for over 35 years and is
decmad "respectable" in that setting. Thcre are nq renewal plans
upoa the expiration of the current contract wich! This research has been UNCLASSIFIED.

b. Psychopharmacology - the (z progra fell into this category. Tho objective of the MATERIÁLS ANALYSIS/QrTENprogram was to develop the capability of detecting and nullifying the use of psychoactive drugs on U.S. personnal abroad. The central project in the progran vas the paintenance of a facility to. deternine the biological and behavioral activity of certain compounds in nice, rats, and 'nonkcys. Per direction, ell prtm projects have been cancelled and are in various phaseout stages. Aasociation vith the Ageucy has been classified; major contractor was the

e. Behaviormodification:

(1) Operant conditioning, biofeedback - no work: in thia area has becn supported in the past. Biofeodback vill be examined in contaxt of the/ iprogras. Association with the Agency vill be classified; probable ccntractor is the:

SUBJECT: Mind/Belavior Control

.3.

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SUDJECT: liind/Behavior Control

(2) istudiec - this is an on-going project vhose goal is to deteraine whather the potential can be uscu as an indicator that an individual my have undergone sore "coniitionins." proccss fapinging on his value syaten. Tha. is thc contractor, work and association are UCLASSIFED.

d. Educction- no jactivitics; -sone past vork in support of e.g., progran assisted instruction studies.

e. Spccial tcchniques:

(1) Rypnosis - past involvexent was to use expertise of a contractor (who had been tasked to exanine other things) to stay abreast of developments in tho ficld. Current plans call fer prelininary work on hypnosis in context of tha

program. Probable contractor is the association with the Agency vill be ciassified but the work will be UNCLASSIFIED.

(2) ESP - the basic positiont Thas taken has been to stsy abreast of the developnents through the use of a perscnal services contract. Apart fron the monitoring effort, did support a project with

fon cDincident Ed's in twins. Results were negative. Plans ror future active rescarch are umccrtafa but are likely to be a cooperative endeavor with) in context of current progran at,

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4. Sleep and sleep learning. studies are continuing with no problems. Data is suggestive but not particularly exciting.

Project Summary

19 December 1966