Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0 3. Problems in Perceptual Translation A basic problem in using the ESP machine was not so much the obtaining of perceptual data as the translating of those data into sufficient in- formation to allow the action of selecting the correct button, While the act itself is so simple as to be trivial, the information processes (gathering, filtering, dynamically translating) underlying that act seemed to me very substantial. It is within this unseen and unrecorded portion of the ESP testing process that most of the “action takes place. From this vantage point I would like to suggest two impediments that might partially account for relatively low scores, First, I am still not fluent in the "language" of extrasensory per- ceptions--analogously, it is like hearing many separate commands in Russian (or another unfamiliar language), each time spoken in slightly different ways and with different intonations and inflections. The call for action may be clearly heard but the translation of that command into operational reality is an imprecise process until the language can be better understood, Second is the problem created by shifting back and forth between rational and intuitive knowledge processes during the course of the ex- periment. In selecting a single button I would use intuitive knowledge processes for perception and oftentimes, rational or semirational knowledge processes to interpret those perceptions. This is not to say that the rational component is absolutely necessary, but it did seem to be useful for me, In any event, since the experiment covers thousands of trials (button selections) it required thousands of translations from one knowledge mode to another. Although the rational mode did seem helpful for interpretation, it was also “costly” (i.e., by shifting to a rational mode, I could be thrown slightly off-balance in maintaining contact with 75 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0
Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0 the subtle and delicate intuitive processes--thereby introducing an additional element of ambiguity and error). Related to the problem of differential knowledge processes is the problem of having to translate between states of consciousness in order to act upon extrasensory perceptions, LeShan’ analyzed the experiential properties of what he has termed Clairvoyant Reality and found that while certain events (such as telepathy, precognition, and clairvoyance) are “normal” to this reality, certain other events (such as being able to take directed action toward a goal) are "paranormal," For me this was mani- fested experientially as the feeling that when I obtain extrasensory per- ceptions, I am so much a part of, and immersed in the Clairvoyant Reality that in order to act, I must causally separate myself from the Clairvoyant Reality and enter the dualistic, subject/object Reality that LeShan terms "Sensory Reality.'' Encouragingly, the "pattern recognition” process seemed to offer a means of both perception and action, which did not re- quire the same degree of transfer between these subtly different states of consciousness, The preceding points suggest that one difficulty in testing and assessing extrasensory perception may be the apparent need to translate it into an output that is not isomorphic with the perceptions themselves-—- a person must translate the perceptual “language” to a familiar form, across rational and intuitive dimensions, and relatedly, from one state of awareness to another. Is it possible, then, that our means for testing ESP may not be highly congruent with the nature of the phenomenon, and this may inherently reduce the significance of the test results that can be obtained? * Lawrence LeShan, The Medium, the Mystic, and_the Physicist (Viking Press, New York, 1974). 76 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0
Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0 4, Two Views of the ESP Process I suspect that, to an external observer, my work with the ESP machine might appear as fairly consistent scoring slightly above chance--the logical inference could then be made that a small amount of extrasensory perception was mixed with a substantial amount of pure guessing. While the scoring data may support this inference, my awareness of the input process does not, Consider the following: on the first run, a person could get 6 "hits" out of 25 by pushing buttons at random; then on the second run, he could get 6 "hits" out of 25 by using extrasensory per- ception. To the statistician who looks only at the output, the scores are identical--they are no more than would occur by chance--and the logical inference would be that the input processes were identical or at least very similar. However alike they might appear externally, internally they could feel like quite different runs. In the second instance, the chance level of scoring would be the result of an imperfect but operative extrasensory perception process, Obviously, then, measurement of ESP by statistical output alone obscures the nature and extent of the extrasen- sory input. A relatively modest score on the ESP machine can--I think-- substantially understate the amount of learning and perceptual development that actually occurs. The foregoing is consistent with my impression that my scores, though statistically significant, still did not reflect the actual amount of learning that had occurred. 5. Supportive Mind Set There emerged, after a time, what seemed to be a series of precondi- tions to good performance in terms of mind set. These were: e A high level of motivation seemed essential. The task of pushing one of four buttons over thousands of trials could be rather boring--enough to allow one's attention to wander. With each trial, it was necessary to have a high level of V7 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0
Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0 motivation to ensure adequate levels of concentration and focused attention, e Although motivation concentration, and attention were im- portant, it was also necessary not to be too concerned with the success or failure associated with each selection. If I became "attached" to the outcome of a previous trial, whether a success or a failure, it could divert a signifi- cant amount of attention from the present trial. Therefore, each trial must be separate/fresh/clear/unconditioned by the actual success or failure of previous trials and separate from the imagined successes or failures of upcoming trials, e A relatively stable, undisturbed emotional state also seems important. I noticed the most substantial fluctuation in my scores when I was emotionally stressed (angry, hassled, and so on). e Feeling rested physically also seemed important. This was particularly true if I were to work with the machine for an hour or two--as this required a substantial amount of energy. e« <A positive attitude--a feeling that I could do well and could always score at least at the chance level--was also important, A corollary to this was that I found I did better when I "al- ways liked myself" even if I did poorly. Self-deprecation seemed to be a sure way of rapidly diminishing the accuracy of the perceptual processes, 6. The Environment There were attributes of the surrounding environment that seemed to enhance the accuracy of my selections. The more significant factors seemed to be the following: e« It was helpful to have a relatively quiet working environment, Or, if there were noises, to have them of a sort--fairly con- stant ones that remained in the background--that could be readily filtered out of my consciousness, My impression was that external sensory information--particularly sounds--could readily overload/override subtle and delicate internal sen- sory information, e It also seemed to help to have low light levels-~-I would al- ways turn out the overhead lights in the testing room, I 78 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0
Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0 experimented with closing my eyes to further reduce external sensory stimulation and I found that this would increase the sensitivity of sensory cues, but this increase in sensi- tivity was offset by a lack of visually based feedback to verify the accuracy of the selections. AS a consequence, I chose to keep my eyes open. e 1 found it essential to work with the ESP machine by sitting somewhat above it so that I could look down on the face of the machine. For some reason, perceptual discrimination seemed much more difficult when I would sit at a lower level which placed the buttons in a plane more nearly horizontal to my face and upper body, 7. Transferability of Processes The perceptual learning gained in this experiment seemed generally transferable to other situations where I might use ESP abilities, in particular, telepathy, precognition, and clairvoyance. The inference is that a process or faculty is being developed which has numerous applica~ tions in other situations which would rely upon ESP. Analogously, just as jogging could exercise muscles to make a person more adept at playing football, dancing, swimming, and the like, the use and development of these "psychic" muscles seems to have some degree of transference to other situations, 8. Conclusions I found the experiment to be a very substantial learning experience in which, I feel, I learned much more than was reflected in the scores. It allowed me to begin to identify an ability which I presume was largely latent within--never having had a prior opportunity for overt expression. Finally, it suggests to me that this must be a common ability among many people that they simply do not recognize--primarily because they have never had the opportunity to explore it as a legitimate and “real” phenomenon, 79 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0
Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0 Appendix 3 SAMPLE OF RAW DATA--MEDICAL EVALUATION OF SUBJECT 1 80 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0
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—— - oe Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0 Appendix 4 PRELIMINARY NOTES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING 103 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100430001-0
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