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(1)
Galvanic
skin response
(GSR) was recorded using
finger electrodes
taped
in place on second and fourth fingers
U
(2)
Blood volume/pulse height was recorded using a
ref lected-light plethysmograph
(3)
Unfiltered EEC was recorded
from the right occipital
region
(4)
Percent-time in alpha
(8
to
12 Hz) was recorded on
the fourth channel;
the alpha filter was
a sharp cutoff
digital
type with essentially zero-pass outside the prescribed
bandpass
limits.
A sample chart record
is shown in Figure
24.
(Time runs
from
g
left.)
The traces,
top
to bottom,
are the unfiltered EEG, blood volume/
pulse height,
GSR,
and filtered
(alpha)
EEG.
During the course of an experiment,
the subject was asked
to
describe his perceptions
as
to
the nature of
the remote
target.
His
comments were tape-recorded and noted on the polygraph,
along with the
time.
A correlation was
then attempted between those descriptions
that were found
to be uniquely correct and accurate,
and
the corresponding
sections
of polygraph recording.
Seven experiments of
this
type were carried out.
In our inves-
tigations we did not
find any significant correlations between the observed
physiological parameters and
the indicators of accuracy in the data.
The failure
co observe any physiological correlates
of
a
putative "state" associated with paranormal functioning thus parallels
the similar failure
to observe any physiological correlates
of
the
putative hypnotic state reported by others.
In a survey of the major
literature on hyponsis by Sarbin and Slagle,
entitled "Hypnosis and
Psychophysio logical Outcomes"
,
they cataloged experiments dealing
with measurements
of heart rate, hemodynamics and vasomotor function ng
genitourinary functions,
gastrointestinal functions,
endocrine and metabolic
functions,
cutaneous functions,
dermal excretions,
skin temperature,
electrodermal
changes,
evoked potentials,
spontaneous EEG activity,
rapid eye movements,
slow eye movements,
optokinetic nystagmus,
changes
.104
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FIGURE
POLYGRAPH DATA
Correct
verbal
description
given
during time
interval
tAB>
105
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in pupillary diameter,
and ocular anatomy.
Their conclusion
is
that
"there
is no evidence for a physiological process
that could serve as
an independent criterion of
the postulated hypnotic state."
Similarly,
we found no evidence
in the physiological processes
that we monitored
that could serve
as an indicator of
the postulated paranormal state
beyond
the general EEG arousal response observed
for discrete stimulus
conditions.
D.
Identification of
the Nature
of Paranormal Phenomena and Energy
This portion of
the program was devoted
to efforts
to understand
the nature and scope
of paranormal phenomena,
including investigation
of
the physical laws underlying
the phenomena.
1.
Experiments with Physical Apparatus
a.
Experiments with Geiger Counter
A series
of experiments were conducted with subject
SI
to determine whether
a Geiger counter
in the y-ray mode
(i.e., beta
shield
in place) would register subject-directed efforts.
The output
of
a Geiger counter,*
fed
into
a Monsanto
Model 1020 counter/timer ,
indicated
that
the background count
due
to
cosmic rays was approximately
counts/minute.
Experimental protocol
required
the subject
to
try
to change
the registered count by concen-
tration on
the Geiger counter probe from a distance
of about 0.5 m.
Each
run consisted
of
60-s
trials, with 10-s separations between
the
trials.
Preceding each run was
a control run of
equal duration.
The results,
shown
in Table
21,
indicate no effect of
statistical significance,
either
in
the mean or standard deviation of counts.
Table
GEIGER COUNTER EXPERIMENT SUMMARY
Control Runs
Experimental Runs
Run
Mean
Standard Deviation
Mean
Standard Deviation
36.07
5.73
35.33
6.00
34.87
6.23
33.87
7.27
~3
33.87
5.88
34.00
5.25
35.20
5.09
35.67
5.77
A
OCDM Item No.
CD V-700, Model
No.
66,
Electro-Neutronics
,
Inc.,
Oakland,
California.
106
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UNCLASSIFIED
b.
Experiments with Laser-Monitored Torsion Pendulum
In this
series
of experiments we examined
the possibility
that
a subject may be able
to
exert
a physical influence on a remotely
located mechanical system.
The
target was
a torsion pendulum suspended
by a metal fiber inside
a sealed glass bell jar.
The pendulum consists
of
three 100-g balls arranged symmetrically at
120° angles on a 2-cm
radius.
The entire apparatus
is shock mounted,
and protected from air
currents by
the bell
jar.
The angular position of
the pendulum
is measured by means
of an optical readout system.
The system consists
of
a laser beam from
a low-power argon laser* reflected from a small mirror on the pendulum
onto
a position-sensing silicon detector+1.5 m from the pendulum.
The
detector yields an output voltage proportional
to spot position.
The
output from the detector
is monitored by
a chart recorder^, which
provides
a continuous sine wave record of pendulum position.
The system exhibits
a sensitivity of approximately lOyrad.
Under
typical experimental conditions,
random acoustical fluctuations
drive
the pendulum in
its
torsional normal mode of
10-s period
to
a
level ~100yrad angular deviation.
During control runs
the pendulum
executes harmonic motion with
a maximum variation
in amplitude of ±10%
over an hour period.
Sudden vibrational perturbations
in the environ-
ment
(artifacts)
produce oscillation of
the pendulum in
the vertical
plane
at
0.1
IIz.
The subject
is
asked,
as
a mental
task,
to affect
the
pendulum motion,
the
results
of which are available
as
feedback from
the
chart
recorder.
The subject
is
then encouraged
to work with
the
pendulum from a distance of
1 m,
observing effects being produced.
If
satisfied
that
there
is
a possibility of producing effects,
the subject
is removed
to
a room
22 m down
the hall with three intervening office
spaces
to determine whether
effects
can be produced from a remote loca-
tion.
The subject
is provided feedback at
the remote location either
by closed circuit video
or by
a second chart recorder
in parallel with
&
Spectra Physical Model
262.
•f"
^United Detector Technology Model
SC/10.
Brush Model Mark 200.
107
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UNCLASSIFIED
the recorder
in
the enclosed target
laboratory.
The remote aspect was
instituted both
to prevent artifactual effects from body heat, motion,
and
the like,
and also
to determine whether energy can be coupled via
the remote-viewing channel
to
a remote location.*
In an experiment,
timing of subject efforts
to increase
or decrease oscillation amplitude are determined by an experimenter
utilizing
a randomization protocol described
in Appendix
C.
Each ex-
periment lasts one hour and consists
of six five-minute work periods
alternated with six five-minute rest periods.
Although there appeared
to be some evidence
in pilot
studies
that
a subject could,
by concentration,
increase or decrease
pendulum motion on command,
data taken
in three controlled experiments
produced
11 changes
in
the correct direction out
of
tries,
a result
nonsignificant at
p = 0.24 by exact binomial calculation.
c
.
Experiments with Superconducting Differential
Magnetometer
(Gradlometer)
One
of
the first psychoenergetically produced physical
effects observed by
SRI personnel
in early research
(1972)
was
the
apparent perturbation of
a Josephson effect magnetometer.
The
conditions of
that pilot
study,
involving
a few hours use
of an instru-
ment committed
to other research,
prevented
a proper investigation.
The number of data samples was
too
few
to permit meaningful statistical
analysis,
and
the lack of readily available multiple recording equipment
prevented
investigation
of possible "recorder only"
effects.
At
the suggestion
of
the
sponsor,
a series
of experiments
was
carried out using the superconducting second-derivative
gradiometert
shown
in Figure
25.
/V
Both experimental evidence and theoretical work indicate that distance
may not be
a strong factor
in paranormal phenomena.
See,
for example,
"Foundations of Paraphysical and Parapsychological Phenomena," by E.H.
Warlker
,
U.S.
Army Ballistic Research Laboratories, Aberdeen Proving
Ground,
Maryland. 26
^Develco Model
8805,
Develco,
Inc., Mountain View,
California.
108
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