Approved For Release 2000/§40@ ROEAFRDP96-00789R002200440001-9 February 1989 GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED RESEARCH IN PSYCHOENERGETICS (S) Prepared By: po SG1J SECRET Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200440001-9
Approved For Release 2000/¢aNE ROEAFRDP96-00789R002200440001-9 SUMMARY (UV) (S/NF) Since 1972, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and various elements of the Department of Defense (DoD) have participated in psychoenergetics research. During this time almost 11 million dollars were spent. This is an average of nearly 600,000 per year. While this points out the magnitude of the research effort, it is also important to note that this was not a single sponsor program, rather, there were several programs, funded by a variety of funders, some lasting only a few months. Although it was noted in the early seventies, a basic dichotomy of effort plagued the program for many years. It was apparent that much basic research was needed before applications of the phenomena would be possible. However, the sponsors had no charter to do basic research and hence pursued the application aspects of the program. (S/NF) During their short participation the CIA attempted to utilize remote viewing (RV) to collect operational level intelligence. The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) also pursued that goal, but additionally looked at countermeasures and some aspects of pSychokinesis. The Foreign Technology Division (FTD) initiated research that would assist them with providing a threat assessment of foreign psychoenergetics research. The Navy had a short participation early in the program also, but looked only for physiological markers during psychoenergetic functioning. Several Army elements were involved in the research. Again, applications were stressed until 1986 when Army provided funds for some basic R&D. (S/NF) The psychoenergetics research sponsored by the CIA and DoD elements was conducted almost exclusively at SRI International. The reasons for this were twofold. First, when funding averages just about 600,000 per year it is difficult to parcel it out to several different laboratories. Additionally, there are only a few labs doing State-of-the-art research. Late in the program an attempt was made to sub-contract some of the work, but was not very successful. (S/NF) As one looks over the research experiments done since 1972 it is apparent the emphasis was placed on making RV an operationally useful tool. Projects aimed at various aspects of this goal were carried out. Much effort was placed on screening and selection to find people with ii SECRET Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200440001-9
Approved For Release 2000/G0€ ROHFRDP96-00789R002200440001-9 (S/NF) natural talent for RV, Training people to improve their ability was tried. Ways to increase the signal and decrease the noise were looked at. Support activities were also researched, these included such things as evaluating results, the role of feedback and ways to direct the viewer to the target. (S/NF) As the project draws to a conclusion some overall evaluation of all the research should be made. To that end, the staff at SRI International is preparing a meta-analysis of each research topic. In general, it can be said that the researchers worked hard, were honest and always gave their best effort. The quality of the work, however, varied from excellent to poor. This should not be surprising as in any new field of scientific research many mistakes are made. So, rather than looking back we should look at the quality of the research going on now. It is creditable and the SRI research greatly exceeds the work on psychoenergetics being done at other laboratories. (S/NF) Perhaps the most important aspect that needs to be looked at is, "where are we now?" It is immediately apparent that we are now much further along than we were 15 years ago. The crux is that, currently we are not at a point where complete and accurate descriptions of any and every operational target is possible, It appears we are many years away from being able to do that. Target descriptions by remote viewers still contain a considerable amount of incorrect data and some good data. Over the years the research has made inroads toward increasing the proportion of good data. Does this mean that we should abandon the research or the goal of making it an intelligence collection tool? I think not. (S/NF) So, where do we go from here? Two things must be done, The first is that we need to curtail applications research and increase basic research to gain a better understanding of phenomena and of the variables that affect it. Then it must be honed to a fine edge and applied to those areas of intelligence that are particularly susceptible to the application of RV. In addition, we need to stop thinking of RV as a methodology for complete descriptions of everything. In any RV it is conceivable that most of the data may be wrong, but if one tangible facet is correct and this propels the analyst into a better understanding of whatever he is seeking, then it must be labeled a successful effort. There has already SG1A been at least one such occurrence. SG1A tid SECRET Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200440001-9
Approved For Release 2000/G32€ ROFAFRDP96-00789R002200440001-9 (S/NF) information the analysts explored that possibility and found that, that was exactly what happened. Again, all the other data in the viewer’s description could have been incorrect, but the session would have to be rated as extremely successful, SG1A iv SECRET Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200440001-9
Approved For Release 2 CRE BoROn2200440001-9 TABLE OF CONTENTS (U) SUMMARY (U) . 0... e eee cee eee eee teen cette be eect tenn ett tbbb ber ener ccc ii LIST OF FIGURES (U) 1.0... eee cece eee cce cece ees rne tenn tee e tener sree. vii LIST OF TABLES (U) .. 0. cece ec e ccc eee c cece cece cen eeeeetnetennere cece viii PREFACE (U) cose eee cece cee eee e ene centre cree eee tenn tte ebb beeen rece, viiii I SECTION 1. THE EARLY YEARS--CIA (U) ..... 0. 0c cece cecucccecee ee, 1 II SECTION 2. THE SERVICE YEARS--ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE (S/NF) . 7 A. Navy (S/NF) oo. cette eee cece cnet ener ee ee nt teebebrceec ce. 7 B. Air Force (S/NF) «1.0... cece cece cece eee cece eee entenececrce, 9 C. Army (S/NF) ......eeece eee cece eee teen been cece ccc, 25 Ill SECTION 3. EARLY DIA SUPPORT (S/NF) 0... cee cece ence 33 IV SECTION 4. THE JOINT SERVICE PROGRAM (U) cece cece eee eee 36 Av FY 1981 (U) oo cece cee ccc c ete cece renee tn ecnenenerece 36 B. FY 1982 (U) we ieee cece cere cece tent eben eeeneeeee. 43 C. FY 1983 (U) wee cece cece cece cece nent ete nee ee ees. 45 Vv SECTION 5. THE GRILL FLAME EVALUATION (S/NF) ............., 48 A. Training (U) .. 6 cece cece cet e tence tebe enennbrcece. 50 B. Remote Viewing Enhancement (U) ........... 0.0. cc eceeceseceeen, 50 C. Search (U) 0. ieee cece cen ere cent eine eneeneeeces. 50 D. Evaluation (U) ...... cece cece cece ete cence tent veeneeneercs 50 E. Data Base Management (U) ......... 00... cece cece cccecececee. 50 F, Countermeasures (U) ....... cece cece eect eee ree eeeeeeeeee. 50 G. Foreign Psychoenergetics Research (U) ........ 0.0.0 cceccceccceccen. §1 VI THE FOLLOW-ON PROGRAM (U) .........c ccc cece cece ce eueeeeeces 52 A. FY 1984 (U) . 6. ecc ccc ent e ete ence eer veeen neces 52 B. FY 1985 (U) oc eee e ccc cece cece tence e eee eenenereeerey 53 v Approved For Release 2000s SF Ropes-0078eR002200440001-9