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h
m
14 November
1978
Monthly Progress Letters
5 and
(combined)
Covering the Period
1 September
to
1 November
1978
SRI International Project 7403
SENSORY TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
(U)
By
Harold
E.
Puthoff
Russell Targ
Edwin
C. May
Classification Determination Pending
Protect as
though Classified SECRET
Copy No.
of
5 copies
This document consists
of
12 pages
SRI 8-4514
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333 Ravenswood Ave. • Menlo Park, California 94025
'
333 HavensWOOa Ave. • iviemu ram, v/aiiiuima
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I
OBJECTIVE
The purpose
of
this program is
to provide a basis
for assessing
psychoenerget ic processes as an advanced
threat technology that could
be developed by the USSR.
This
study
is
to determine the state of
the
art and
to evaluate application feasibility of developments
in this
area.
II
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES
A.
Long-Distance Communication of Binary Symbols
It has been difficult
in the field
of psychoenergetics
to
obtain reliability
in the simple task of sending a message consisting
of similar
elements,
such as
Zener cards
or binary digits.
However,
we
instituted
a procedure at
the suggestion of consultant Swann that has
been remarkably productive.
The experiment
is one
in the communication of binary symbols
via psychoenerget ic channels.
The baseline
is New York City
-
SRI
Menlo
Park.
To overcome the boredom factor generally associated with
repeating target symbols,
such as 0110101001*..,
the binary symbols
used here as
in the form of a sequence of word pairs
(sun/moon,
many/few
picture pairs
(:&/(£* ©/©.... ),
and word/picture pairs
(star />T,
moon/(J ....)•
The target pair
is changed
for each trial,
and
the
particular
element of the target pair
(e.g. ,
whether sun or moon in
the sun/moon target
pair)
is determined by random number
generator.
The protocol
involves an SRI experimenter
(H. P. )
calling
subject
II shortly before the experiment
is
to begin.
To carry out
the
experiment,
the SRI phone
is
set
in a speaker phone cradle,
beside which
is a button- operated door
chime,
a random number generator
(RNG function
on a Texas
Instruments
SR-51 hand calculator),
and tabulation sheets.
The subject calls out one of the dichotomy pairs
(e.g.,
sun/moon words).
The experimenter
then enters
the RNG
to obtain a two-digit random number
(00-99),
the last digit
of which,
being odd or
even,
is
taken to represent
or
0,
respectively.
The particular pole of
the dichotomy indicated
is
drawn from a vertical-slot
file and displayed on a desk in front of the
experimenter.
At
this point
the chime
is
sounded and
the subject makes
a call,
to which the experimenter responds verbally with the correct
target which
is
then recorded on
the tabulation sheet along with the
subject's
call.
The subject then calls
out another dichotomy and
the
procedure
is repeated.
To date,
the results are as
follows.
Altogether,
218 trials
have been carried
out,
of which 6170 (133) were hits
(3.25 o,
p -
5.8
X
10 - 4,
or
odds
0 f
1700:1).
Of the three categories
of target pairs
(word
pairs,
picture pairs,
word/picture pairs),
all were independently
significant where the latter yields
the highest hit rate.
In
this
category,
trials have been carried
out,
of which 76%
(28) were hits
(3.13
o',
p = 8.7
x
,
or odds
of 1150:1).
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It appears,
therefore,
that
the best procedure found
to date
for binary communication consists
of a sequence of non-repeating concepts
(sun,
moon,
star,
outside,
many,
near,
etc.),
where for
each the binary
dichotomy
(0, 1)
is word/picture.
B.
Mini- Computer Automated Communications
Experiment
As described
in previous reports,
we have initiated an auto-
mated communications
experiment
of the following
type.
Sender and
receiver are each seated before a console that has
a circular display
of numbers
1 through
10.
The two consoles are located
in separate
buildings.
A button push at the sender's console initiates access
to a
random number generator
in a mini-computer,
which then illuminates
one
of
the numbers
on the sender's
console,
and turns on a "ready"
light
on the receiver's console.
With the sender concentrating on the
illuminated digit on his console,
the receiver
scans his unlit panel
of numbers until he thinks he knows
the answer,
at which time he presses
a button below the number of his
choice.
At that point
the correct
digit
is
illuminated on his panel
to give him immediate feedback.
The
sequence
is
then repeated.
The mini-computer automatically records all data
(trial
number,
target/response pair)
and,
at
the end of a session,
calculates
and displays on video the cumulative hits,
pattern of spatial displace-
ments
(how far around the circular display the receiver's choice was
from the correct
target),
and pattern of temporal displacements
(whether
subject was ahead
or behind
in time with regard
to the target sequence).
All data are recorded on magnetic tape for
later analysis.
Since the automated communications device has been operational,
over
the last
two months we have carried out a number
of sessions,
both
to familiarize ourselves with operation of the equipment and
to find
subjects capable of high scoring.
Progress
toward both goals
is off
to an excellent
start.
To date
12 subjects have carried out a total of
375 trials.
By chance alone we would expect
1 out of
10,
or
37.5 hits; we have
observed
52 direct hits,
which has
a probability of
p = 0.006
(odds
of 167:1),
so overall we are getting significant
instances of psycho-
energetic communication.
A further breakdown of the above scoring
is necessary,
as
some of the subjects are novices,
while some were selected as having
shown ESP ability in previous
tests.
Three subjects who had shown
ability in earlier remote viewing experiments scored as
follows:
one
has obtained
6 hits
in
38 trials
to date
(p =
0.17,
or odds of 5.9:1),
which
is encouraging;
one has obtained
5 hits
in
trials
to date
(p =
0.35,
or odds
of 2.9:1,
as well as especially interesting displace-
ment patterns,
also encouraging;
and
one,
to our surprise,
has obtained
only 4 hits
in
trials,
along with no other evidence
(such as
spatial
or temporal displacement hits)
of orientation to
the
test.
Finally,
the
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the subject most extensively worked with
to date has shown 26 hits
in 160 trials
(p =
0.004,
or odds of 250:1).
The results are therefore
encouraging at
this
point,
and we will continue
to collect and analyze
direct hits,
as well as spatial and temporal displacements.
C.
Abstract Targeting
One of the tasks of principal interest
in this program is
to
define what
is necessary for target acquisition
(e.g.,
cooperative
target person at
site,
names,
maps,
pictures,
various coordinate
systems,
etc.).
In two experiments
last year we made tentative headway
on this problem by examining the extent
to which a subject
in the
laboratory could describe the remote location of
a person not known
to
him.
In those experiments
the subject had only the driver's
license
of
the outbound target
individual.
In both these trials,
the subject
gave excellent descriptions
of
the remote location,
and
in one case
gave an accurate character sketch of the outbound person.
In an effort
to quantify this apparent tracking ability,
given only a photograph of an unknown pers on,
we carried out a series
of five trials
in cooperation wTtTTan experimenter at the University of
Chicago.
The experimenter supplied us with a photograph of herself,
and
set out
for a ten-day trip through the Midwest.
On each of five
days,
our
subject
in Los Angeles made a tape recorded description of
where he thought the person
in the photo would be,
one hour hence ;
that
is,
the experiment was of the precognitive remote viewing
type.
(Other
laboratories
in different parts of~the country were attempting to track
the outbound experimenter
in present
time.)
The five trials by our subject are to be blind matched by
judges
in Chicago,
who are experienced
in rank-order matching on the
basis
of other remote viewing experiments carried
out by the Chicago
group.
The outbound experimenter called
to give us feedback as
to
her subjective assessment of
the transcripts.
She felt
that three of
the subject's descriptions
of her activities would be matched as direct
hits,
with one of them being the most accurate remote viewing description
she had
ever
seen.
("It
is
as
though the subject was
sitting in my lap
the whole time.")
The remaining two transcripts had matchable elements,
but were of
lesser quality.
The formal judging will be completed during
November,
and will be reported next month.
D.
Mini-Computer Based Random-Event Generator Experiment
As
indicated
in earlier monthly reports,
a class
of experiments
that have been extensively reported
in the psi literature
are those
*C.
Honorton,
"Replicability,
Experimenter Influence and Parapsychology,"
paper presented
to
the annual meeting of
the AAAS
in Washington,
D. C.,
1978.
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that
involve alleged human/machine interaction with electronic random-
event generators.
In these experiments,
digital electronic noise derived
either from a
thermal noise source or
from the decay of
a radioactive
material
is monitored while a subject attempts
to alter
the statistical
properties
of the noise distribution.
The usual protocol involves
providing visual and audio feedback signals,
proportional
to various
statistical parameters,
to a subject who
is asked
to concentrate upon
the feedback signals and
to alter them in a prescribed way.
We have
completed
the design stage for a mini-computer based investigation of
^
this phenomenon with the goal of constructing a psychoenergetic
switch.
With the aid
of $15K additional funding from the sponsor,
ire were
able
to finalize the hardware specifications
for
the mini-computer portion
of
the random- event generator.
A purchase order has been placed
for
a
Digital Equipment LSI- 11 packaged laboratory system which
includes
a
sufficient number
of input/output channels
to monitor not only the
random process
in question,
but also a number
of environmental parameters.
The mini-computer also includes sufficient software,
disk storage and
memory to be useful
as
a stand-alone developmental system.
We expect
delivery of special components within a
few weeks
so that construction
of the random process
interface can begin in expectation of the entire
system delivery in January.
Since the hardware specifications have been finalized, we were
able
to begin software development
of analysis techniques with the aid
of our general purpose laboratory computer.
One approach under con-
sideration
is
sequential analysis,
first developed by Wald.
By
adjusting the parameters of the theory,
this
technique can be made to
be very sensitive
to small non-random perturbations
in an otherwise
random process.
Using the computer's pseudo-random generator,
we were
able to model
the theory with standard Monte Carlo techniques.
We found
that,
if we are willing to extend the trial periods
to increase the
reliability,
we could make a switch closure decision with
a generator
that
has been biased by only 0.5% and a
false alarm rate of one closure
in
1000
trials,
as observed by Monte Carlo modeling.
E.
Grill Flame Meetings
On 13-14 September
a meeting was held at
SRI
to discuss
experiments
to
test
tactical applications of the remote viewing
phenomenon.
Discussants
included Dale Graff of
FTD,
WPAFB,
OH;
John W.
Kramar and
Col.
Albert De Prospero of AMSAA,
Aberdeen Proving
Ground,
MD; Marion Bryson,
CDEC,
Ft.
Ord,
CA; Major William Stoner,
ACSI,
Washington,
DC;
SRI personnel Harold
E.
Puthoff,
Russell
Targ,
and consultants
Edwin May,
Charles
Tart,
and
Ingo
Swann.
*Abraham Wald,
Sequential Analysis
(Dover Publications,
New York,
1973).
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The tasks
of
interest
to which psychoenergetic
functioning
might be applied were determined
to be the following:
I
SENSING
A.
Unit State
1.
Quiescent
2.
Preparation
3.
Movement
B.
Target Damage
1.
Massive Physical
2.
Significant Functional
3.
Little
or None
C.
Access
Codes
i.
Computers
2.
Control Systems
LOCATING
A.
Military Materiel
i.
Combat Vehicles
2.
Indirect
Fire Weapons
3.
Aircraft
4.
Systems
B.
Tactical Units
i.
Maneuver
2.
Fire Support
3.
Command
4.
Observation
5.
Support
C.
Strategic Units
1 .
Bases
2.
Launchers
3.
Loaded Launchers
D.
Military Personnel
1.
Commanders
2.
Key Staff
3.
Other Personnel
III
GENERAL
A.
Utility of Successful
Points
B.
Protocols
C.
Screening Criteria
D.
Failure Patterns
E.
Other Applications
mtmoosooi
TENTATIVE
20001-5
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It was planned
that
SRI personnel will visit
Ft.
Ord
in
November
for
a firsthand view of possible experimental scenarios
to
determine
the feasibility and priority associated with individual
entrees
in the task list.
On 19-20 October
1978,
discussions were held at
SRI with
AMSAA representatives
Samuel
Phillips and Lynne
S.
Taylor,
and BRL
representative
Evan
H.
Walker.
The two-day discussion focussed primarily on the protocols
and results
of AMSAA' s remote viewing replication studies,
with some
discussion of physical models
for
the mechanisms.
A number
of points
were clarified as
to specifics
of the
SRI
procedures.
In general,
it appears
from an analysis
of AMSAA results
that
results there are similar
to those obtained at
SRI.
The proceedings
of two
IEEE
(Institute of Electrical and
Electronics
Engineers)
conferences
on psychoenergetic phenomena were
prepared
for publication as a book entitled MIND AT LARGE:
Institute
of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers
Symposia on the Nature of
ESP ,
C.
Tart,
H. E.
Puthoff,
and
R.
Targ,
editors.
The chapter summaries
for
this book,
to be published by Praeger Publishers
in spring
1979,
are attached
as an appendix.
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III
PLANS FOR NEXT PERIOD
Resolution Experiments
In parallel with carrying forward
the items already discussed,
an
additional resolution experiment
is being initiated.
In the past year's
program,
a series
of experiments was
carried
out
to determine the extent
to which a subject could describe the contents
of a metal container
that
was sealed and light
tight.
In these experiments significant results
were obtained,
with the subject
in some cases describing objects
that
were only a few millimeters
across.
To
test
further
the resolution capabilities of remote viewing,
a new experiment has been designed.
For
this
experiment microdot
targets
have been photographically prepared from representational photos
of
ordinary objects
or
scenes.
The basic design concept
of
the experiment
consists
of a comparison of results
obtained with these microdot
targets
versus postcard-sized targets of similar content.
Target pools
for
these experiments
consist
of twelve
items
each:
six
35 mm transparencies
with
1 mm
X
1 mm images,
and six
6 cm
X
8 cm black and white photographs.
Each of
the twelve
targets are sandwiched between stiff cardboard and
placed
in opaque envelopes
such
that
the type of target
(microdot
or
photo)
is indistinguishable.
The experimental
protocol requires
that
the subject
in the laboratory
describe the picture
(microdot
or photo)
in an envelope chosen by random
number generator,
which will
be in the possession of an outbound
experi-
menter who
is
ignorant
of
the target.
(This
follows
the protocol
established
in the sealed container
experiment
of
last year's program.)
At
the close of each individual
trial,
the subject will be given feedback
as
to the target,
by viewing the photograph,
or,
in the case of a
slide,
by examining the slide through
a microscope.
An experiment will consist
of twelve
such trials
employing the six microdot and six photo targets
randomly intermixed.
The results
of
the experiment will be judged separately for
the
slide and photo experiments.
A judge will read
the subject's descrip-
tions
generated
in those experiments
in which
a slide was
the
target
and then rank order
the six transcripts,
best
to worst match,
for each
of the six slides
in
turn.
The same will be done
for
the six photos
and their
descriptions.
A comparison will
then be made between
the
subject's
success
for
the slides and the photos.
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IV
FINANCIAL STATUS
The expenditures are as
shown
in Figure
I.
The program
is
on
schedule and sufficient
funds and subject commitments remain to meet
the objectives
of the program.
Prepared
by:
Senior Research Engineer
Radio Physics Laboratory
Russell Targ
Senior Research Physic
Radio Physics Laboratory
icisT
CL
Edwin
C.
May
Consultant
Radio Physics Laboratory
Appr oved
:
7^
William A.
Edson
Staff Scientist
Radio Physics Laboratory
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FIGURE
PROJECT
EXPENDITURES
(U)
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APPENDIX
Chapter summaries
for MIND AT LARGE:
Institute of Electrical and
Electronics
Engineers Symposia on the Nature of
ESP ,
C.
Tart,
H.
Puthoff,
and
R.
Targ,
editors,
Praeger Publishers,
spring
1979.
1.
Edgar Mitchell,
A Look at the Exceptional .
Astronaut Mitchell asks
provocative questions about
the social
implications and our view of
human potentials and giftedness
in general posed by parapsychological
phenomena.
He proposes
that gifted
individuals of all
types
should
be protected and treasured as
a national asset.
2.
H.
Puthoff and
R.
Targ, A Perceptual Channel
for Information Transfer
over Kilometer Distances:
Historical Perspective and Recent
Research .
For more than 100 years
scientists have attempted
to
assess
claims
that
individuals can sometimes describe remote
situations
in the absence of known,
relevant sensory data.
After
reviewing historical
data,
the remote viewing experiments at
Stanford Research Institute are described
in detail,
with photos
and drawings
illustrating the phenomenal accuracy that can sometimes
be attained.
Physical theories attempting to explain the phenomena
are also discussed.
3.
H.
Puthoff,
R.
Targ,
and
E. C.
May,
Direct Perception of Remote
Geographical Locations .
An extension of the remote viewing research
of the previous
chapter
to
long distance studies and further
specifications
of
the research methods,
showing that distance
is
apparently not
a barrier
to paranormal
functioning.
4.
E.
May,
R.
Targ,
and
H.
Puthoff,
Possible EEG Correlates
to Remote
Stimuli Under Conditions of Sensory Shielding .
Presents
three
studies
suggesting that some individual's brain waves can be
affected by a flashing light even when that
light
is
so distant
and thoroughly shielded they cannot possibly see
it.
5.
E.
Wortz
et al..
An Investigation of Soviet Psychical Research .
Reviews what
is apparently a very large scale research effort by
the Soviets
to develop not only physical explanations
of para-
psychological phenomena,
but also practical uses.
6.
C.
Tart,
Improving Real Time
ESP by Suppressing the Future:
Trans-
temporal Inhibition .
Details
the discovery that individuals
successfully using telepathy to perceive real time targets are
simultaneously and unknowingly using precognitive ESP to suppress
their perception of future targets.
This
is interpreted as
a form
of contrast enhancement that makes
ESP more efficient,
and gives
insights
into the nature of
ESP and
the nature of time as well.
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0.
Costa de Beauregard,
Quantum Paradoxes and Arist otle
s
Two-
Fold
Information Concept.
Discusses ways in which parapsychological
phenomena can be integrated
into a wider view of reality stemming
from quantum theory and modern physics.
J.
Bisaha,
Multiple Information Transfer Across
Spacio-
T
emporal
Boundaries via Non- Ordinary Channels
of Communication .
Extends
the remote viewing procedure by having a group of subjects
successfully describe where an experimenter will be
35 minutes
in the future and having one subject
in Chicago successfully
describe the experimenter's randomly determined location 24 hours
in the future as he traveled through the USSR.
M.
Per singer,
ELF Field Mediation in Spontaneous
Psi
Events:
Direct
Information Transfer
or
Conditioned Elicitation ?
Describes
a theory of extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation
(ELF)
acting as
a carrier
of information for apparently paranormal
events happening
in everyday
life.
H.
Schmidt,
Evidence for
Direct Interaction Between the Human Mind
and External Quantum Processes.
Presents
a variety of experiments
indicating that mental willing can affect
the output
of various
electronic random number generators.
The generators'
output may
be controlled by either quantum processes
(radioactive decay)
or
noise sources.
I.
Swann,
Some Comments on the Subjective Nature of Psychic Research,
The
Subject- Experimenter Relationship and the Psychic
Type of
Personality.
All parapsychological interactions with the physical^
world involve a human subject as an essential component.
One of
the
world's most successful experimental psychics describes
essential
conditions
for making parapsychological phenomena manifest
in the
laboratory.
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