re ye ry F; ane Appt alk or Release 2000/Q8/0 : CIA-RDP96- -00787R0002001 20002 \ ; CLIENT PRIVATE TL BACKGROUND In a number of Laboratories evidence has been obtained indicating the existence of ‘an as~yet-unidenti fied channel wherein information is observed to couple from remote electromagnetic stimuli to the human nervous system as indicated by physiological response, even though overt responses such as verbalizations or key presses provide no evidence ‘For such information transfer. Physiological measures have included plethysmographic re ssponse’ and EEG activity. 2° Kamiya, Lindsley, Pribram, Silverman, Walter, and others have suggested that a whole range of EEG responses such as evoked potentials - (EPs), spontancous BEG, and the contingent negative variation (CNV) might be sensitive indicators of the detection of remote stimuli not mediated by usual sensory processes." A pilot ‘study was therefore undertaken at SRI to determine whether EEG activity could be used as a reliable indicator of information trans- ‘ mission between an isolated subject and a remote stimulus. Following the earlicr work by others, we assumed that perception could be indicated by such a measure even in the absence of verbal or other overt indicators yy With regard to choice of stimulus, it should be noted that Silver- man and Buchsbaum attempted, without success, to detect EP changes in a subject in re sponse | toa single stroboscopic flash stimulus observed by another subject.° Kamiya suggested that because of the unknown. tem- -poral characteristics of the information channel, it might be more appropriate to.use repetitive bursts of light to increase the probability of detecting information transfer.” Therefore, in our study we chose to use repetitive light bursts as stimuli. The results, described below, have been reported in the open literature under the title "Information Transfer Under Conditions of Sensory Shielding," by R. Targ and ll. Puthoff, Nature 252, 18 October 1974, and reprinted in the IEEE Communica- tions 13, January, 1975. -In the design of the study it was assumed that the application of remote stimuli would result in responses similar to those. obtained under conditions of direct stimulation. For éexanple, when normal subjects are stimulated with a flashing Light, their EEG typically shows a decrease in the amplitude of the resting vhythm and a driving of the brain waves at the’ fre- quency of the Flashes. We hypothesized that if we stimulated re MA Fas | - | | lie Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200120002-7 ony vi al
~ Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200120002-7 CLIENT TE : . LENT. P } ved For Release 2000/08/40 :, CIA-RDP96- 007878 00200120002-7, ww one subject in this manner (a putative sender), the EEG of another subject in a remote-room with no Flash present (a receiver), might show changes in*alpha (9-LI Hz) activity, and possibly EEG driving similar to that of the sender, either by means of coupling to the sender's EEG, or by coupling directly to the stimulus. We informed our subject that at certain times a light was to be flashed in a sender's eyes in a distant room, and L£ the subject perceived that event 3 consciotsly or uncon sciously, it might be evident from changes in his LEG output. The receiver was seated in a visually opaque, acoustically and electrically shielded double-walled steel room shown in ‘Figure 1.. The sender was seated in a room about 7 m £rom the .receiver. ' We initially worked with four female and two male volunteer subjects. These were designated "receivers." ‘The senders were either other subjects or the experimenters. We decided beforehand to run one or two sessions of 36 trials each with each subject in this selection procedure, ‘and to do a more extensive study with any subject whose results were positive. A Grass PS-2 photostimulator placed about 1 m in fronk of the sender was used to present flash trains of 10 s duration. The receiver's EEG activity from the occipital region (Oz), referenced to. linked mastoids, was amplified with a Grass 5P-1 preamplifier and associated driver amplifier with a bandpass of 1-120 Ha. The EEG. data were recorded on magnetic tape with an Ampex SP 300 recorder. On each trial, a tone burst of fixed frequency was presented to both sender and receiver and was followed in one second by either a LO s train of flashes or a null flash interval presented to the sender. Thirty-six such trials were given in an experi- ‘mental session, consisting of 12 null trtals--no flashes following. the tone~-12 trials of Flashes at 6 f.p.s. and 12 trials of flashes at 16 f.p.s., all randomly intermixed, determined by entries From a table of random numbers. Hach of the trials generated an Ll-s EEG epoch. ‘The last 4 s of the epoch was selected for analysis to minimize the desyuchronising action of the warning -cue. ‘This 4-8 segment was subjected to Fourier analysis ona LING. 8 computer.
»)d ee ‘pdr d For Release 2000/08/40 : CIACRDPUG 087870002001 200027, -FIGURE 1 SHIELDED ROOM USED FOR EEG EXPERIMENTS ain Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200120002-7
yO Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200120002-7 ‘all “CLIENT PRIVATE Jord ed For Release 20008Q8/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R0002001200Q3,7 Spectrum analyses gave no evidence of EEG driving in any re- ceiver, although in control runs the receivers did exhibit driving when physically stimulated with the flashes. But of the six subjects studied initially, one subject (H.H.) showed a consistent alpha blocking effect. We therefore undertook further study with this subject. Data from seven sets of 36 trials each were collected from this subject on. three separate days. This comprises all the data collected to date with this subject under the test conditions described above. The alpha band was identified from average spectra, then scores of average power and peak power were ob- tained from individual trials and subjected to statistical analysis. Of our six subjects, U.N. had by far the most monochromatic EEG spectrum, Figure 2 shows’ an overlay of the three averaged spectra from one of this subject's 36-trial runs, displaying changes in her-alpha activity for the three stimulus conditions. Mean values for the average power and peak power for each of the seven experimental sets are given in Table l. The power measures were less in the 16 -f£.p.s. case than in the O £.p.s. in all seven peak power measures and in six out of seven average power measures. Note also the reduced-effect in the case in which the subject was informed that no sender was present (Run 3). It seems that overall alpha production was reduced for this run in conjunction with the subject's ex- pressed apprehension about conducting the experiment without a sender.. This is. in contrast to the case (Run 7) in which the subject was not informed. “Siegel's two-tailed t approximation to the nonparametric randomi- zation test® was applied to the data from all sets, which in- cluded two sessions in which the sender was removed. Average power on trials associated with the occurrence of 16 f.p.s. was Significantly less than when there were no flashes (t = 2.09, d.f. = 118, P < 0.04). The second measure, peak power, was also significantly less in the 16 f£.p.s. conditions than in the null condition (t = 2.16, d.f. = 118, P < 0.03). The average response in the 6 f£.p.s. condition was in the same direction as that associated with 16 £.p.s., but the effect was not statistically significant. As part of the experimental protocol the subject was asked to indicate conscious assessment for each trial as to
Sh La Wankel sy PR ad ed . A pived For Release 200Q(93/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R0002001 200Q347 ‘eta bn CLIENT PRIVATE POTENTIAL (arbitrary units! § Hz oo 10 Hz 15 Hz THREE CASES — 0, 6 and 16 Hz flashes (12 trial averages) SA-2613-15 FIGURE 2. OCCIPITAL EEG FREQUENCY SPECTRA, 0 TO 20 Hz, OF ONE SUBJECT (H.H.) ACTING AS RECEIVER, SHOWING AMPLITUDE CHANGES IN THE 9-11 Hz BAND AS A FUNCTION OF STROBE FREQUENCY , f i Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200120002-7_ ee Ge F A
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<<< A a - ARprpved For Release 2000/08/10 : CiAsROPHR:901E7R000200120002- 7 wad ‘bua bad we found evidence for EEG correlates (alpha reduction arousal response) of the detaction of remote strobelig ht stimuli. The goal of such repli- cation is the further delineation of the Gharacteristics of the coupling mechanism under increasingly severe experimental conditions to com- | pletely circumscribe potential mundane mechanisms. To accomplish the proposed research objectives, SRI will furnish the personnel and facilities required for the following efforts. — ” a (1) Evidence for detection of remote strobelight stimuli as indicated by EEG correlates shall be investigated as dis- cussed in Section II, with the addition of a. Use. of a self-contained battery-driven” Lamp with mechanical ‘chopper to eliminate potential pickup and re- . radiation by a.c. power lines; b, Use of increased distance between source and receiver (up to kilometers); and (2) Independent experimentation and analysis on the part of con- sultant Dr, Robert Ornstein, Langley-Porter Neuropsychiatric Institute, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, has been arranged to provide for intra-program checks and balances on protocols, data gathering, and analysis. (3) Use of alternative ' stimuli (e.g., audio , tones) to follow up previous work which: suggests that physiological response to remote stimuli may constitute a class of non-specific arousal behavior in response to general stimult, (4) The exploratory nature of the program requires that 15 ‘ percent of the effort will be set aside to explore, with the client's cognizance, additional avenues of research that may surface as high-priority items during the course of the program. mom soe . ~ 5 od o SRI personnel shall undertake a research program of approximately one~ ~month duration to investigate the abilities and characteristics of the designated individual to be supplied by the clients. eee pornos ee A me ee a 10 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R0002001 20002-7
Approved For Release 2000/93/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R0002001200Q3-7 D R A FT CLIENT PRIVATE D. Reporting Schedule. A technical report detailing the tests and their results will be delivered 60 days after the commencement date of the contract. Throughout the effort the investigators plan to remain in close telephone communication with the client. DRAFT 7 Cc oh LASSIE foul TON - _ - Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA- conte -00787R000200120002- 7 RS 18
PP pees _ ae out oer For Release 2000/95/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R0002001 2009347 oa ba L . | - CLIENT PRIVATE. IV QUALIFICATIONS OF SRI SRI is an independent, nonprofit organization performing a broad spectrum of research under contract to business, “industry, and govern- ment. The Institute, which was formerly affiliated with Stanford Uni- versity, was Founded in 1946. Its operations include the physical and life sciences, industrial and development economics, management. systems, engineering systems, clectronics and radio sciences, information science, - urban and social systems, and various combinations of disciplines within these fields. , SRI has no endowment; payments by clients under research contracts and grants amount to approximate ly $80 million annually and are used to cover all operating costs. Such revenue also helps the Institute main- tain the excellence of its research capabilities. SRI's facilities include more than one million square feet of office and laboratory space and incorporate the most advanced scientific equip- ment, including unique ingtrumentation developed by the staff. The bulk of these Facilities and most of the research stafE£ are located at the Institute's headquarters in Menlo Park, California. Regional office locations include Washington, D.C.; New York City; Chicago; Houston, and Los Angeles, : . yd OF SRI's total staff of almost 3000, approximately one-half are in professional and technical categories. - Some 450 members of the profes- sional staff have Ph.D, or equivalent degrees; 600 others have their Master's degree. , The project leader and other research personnel who would be active in the proposed work are members of the Electronics and Bioengineering Laboratory. This group currently occupies 40,000 square feet of labora- tory space, divided into many separate Laboratory rooms, technicians | work areas, a machine shop, and a computer room housing a LINC +8 and related terminals and, equipment. In addition, a well-equipped computation center is available. The Electronics and Bioengineering Laboratory employs a number of technicians and engineering assistants and has available electronics material and test equipment useful in Che research proposed here. specially suited to this work are a number of shielded rooms with various A instrumentation available. 12 PAP NP roe Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200120002-7 et a
Le ace aaa ARR For Release 20008BIN : CIA-RDP96- 00787R000200120002-7 7 D R CLIENT PRIVATE Finally, a backup team of psychologists and statisticians can be brought into the project on an internal consulting basis. ! The proposed research will be conducted by SRI staff members within the Electronics and Bioengineering Laboratory under the management of its director, Mr. Earle Jones. The principal investigator will be Dr. Harold Puthofe. Mr. Russell Targ of the Electronics and Bioengineering laboratory will be a co- investigator. Dr. Robert Ornstein of the Langley- Porter Neuropsychiatric Institute, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, will act as consultant to this program. In addition to the scientific personnel directly engaged in the research aspects of this investigation, Stanford Research Institute has established an internal technical advisory board. This board con- sists of several directors of SRI's operating divisions, together with our legal counsel, all under the chairmanship of the senior vice president for research. It is the function of this advisory board not only to make recommendations and approve or disapprove every new direction taken by the Institute in this research area, but also to monitor related ongoing projects as well. Approved For Release -s000/08i10 ia -RDP96- 00787R000200120002-7 RS 18
Q Approved For Release 2000/98/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R0002001209g2-7 _ BARLE DIRECTOR ° conan ton AID BIOENGHIBERING LABORA TORY INFORMATLOI SCIENCE ND ENGINES D. JONES, Spectaltzed professtonal competence Analysis and design of ERING DIVISION electronic-optical systems, television, fac~ simile systems including bandwidth compression techniques, electro- y« . . . « 4 . . + static printing, bioengineering instrumentation, and ultrasonics Representative researen assignments at SRI (stnes 1956) * Director, Electronics and Bioengineering Laboratory; responsible for “* Ultrasonics: four research programs: . Optics: * mote detection and nondestructive testing * Electronics: simile :. Bioengineering: Manager, Electronics and Optics electrostatic printing, television systems, laser applications in oceanography , spectroscopy, and re- ‘peal~time acoustic imaging for medical diagnos tics and fac-~ vision research instrumentation, prosthetic devices, and diagnostic medical instruments Group; project leader, Meteorological Satellite Facsimile printer; delay line:s Academie background * B.S, system, * Research engineer; character generator design; color television cameras electrostatic label scanning; high density photographic recording of television signals; frequency syntnesizers ; time domain equalizer; color facsimile; bandwidth compression in electrical engineering (1956), M.S. in electrical engineering (1958), work (1965-68) including statistics, communication theory, Fourler optics, and bioengin Publicattons and patents eering Georgia Institute of Technology ; Stanford University; graduate - Many papers and reviews in the fields of character generators, cir- cuitry, ‘color television cameras, bandwidth recording, and. ultrasonic imaging .* American Physica p 1 Soc * Eta Kappa Nu; Phi Eta ety ign * Seven sizer, and electrostatics ep ONE EO and honors 14 - compression, television issued U.S. patents in character generators, Frequency synthe- June 17 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200120002-7 4 hs