r Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : Cl Proposal for Research 14 february 1973 SRI No, ISU 73- PSYCHOENERGETIC." PHENOMENA SG1l SGFOIA3 SG1I We at SRI were happy to have a chance to talk with you and your associates during our recent trip to Washington. We have prepared this informal letter proposal for research in the field of psychoenergetic phenomena in response to a variety of suggestions as to the kind of research program that would yield results of the greatest interest to you. In the past half year we have had an opportunity to work with two individuals who appear to have unusual abilities both in the area of psychoenergetic effects, and also with regard to their extraordinary perceptual abilities. In other correspondence with you we have described in detail some of the research we have carried out with these individuals. In this letter we will briefly outline those data we consider to be the most significant. Based on this data, we will then go on to describe a program we propose to undertake to shed further light on those phen- t . omena for which we have the greatest evidence in our laboratory. 1 DRAFT Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000100140001-7
DRAFT - SG\pproved For Relggse 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R0QQ400140001-7 - 14.) February 1973 Arlington, Virginia Page 2 SRI No, ISU 73- Our work in this area began when, based on the reports of successful experiments at the American Society for Psychical Research with Mr. Ingo Swann, we arranged that he come to this laboratory to participate in a series of experiments. In this work using a shielded magnetometer at Stanford University, Mr. Swann apparently demons trated an ability to increase and decrease at will the magnetic field within a superconducting magnetic shield, This experiment made use of an existing facility in the physics department and we have confidence that Mr. Swann had no prior knowledge of either the apparatus or of our intended experiment. The experimental results have now been scrutinized by the relevant Stanford scientists and found to be apparently tree from defects, and: unlike any data previously produced with their apparatus. A second experiment performed by us with another subject entailed oe poet the deflection of a slow electron beam by psychoenergetic means. In this experiment a slow electron beam (a few eV) was made to strike a divided collector consisting of inner and outer electrodes. After the electron beam was magnetically balanced to provide a null, the subject was asked ‘to cause the beam to move, He was told that such movement would be indicated by the motion of the pen of the recording galvanometer. In our preliminary work we found a subject who could apparently cause the electron beam to move in accordance with his will. This experiment 2 DRAFT Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000100140001-7
BY”, | Lo Ada For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R0QQ400140001-7 was performed in a screened room with the subject seated six feet from the _beam tube. A third series of experiments was recently concluded at this lab- oratory with a young Israeli named Mr. Uri Geller, In our five weeks of research with hin, he demonstrated a wide range of apparent psychic ability. In particular, he was able to perceive and reproduce drawings in double envelopes with almost error-free performance. Some twenty drawings were reproduced by him under excellent experimental conditions. Double-blind experiments were also performed in which he located small hidden objects in one of ten identical metal.containers. He did this on twelve occasions without. error. He was. also able to identity which face of a die was uppermost, when the die was shaken inside of a metal file box which was not opened until his call was recorded, All of the above perceptual tasks appeared easier for him than the various psychoenergetic effects we asked him to produce. Among these latter, the most consistently achieved and carefully controlled Was his increase and decrease in the weight recorded. by a laboratory balance under a Bell jar. In this series of experiments, recorded on film and videotape, he caused deflections af up to 1.5 grams. The deflectims were. more than fifty times the noise level that could be caused by striking thé Bell jar, or any other known mechanical or magnetic means. | Mr. Geller was also able to cause deflection of a laboratory mag~ netometer without having physical contact with it. The instrument gave DRAFT Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000100140001-7
RARL., ABE ved For Relegse 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R0QQ400140001-7 readings corresponding to an apparent magnetic field change of 10.3 gauss. This same instrument was first used to examine carefully his hands and his person to make sure that he did not have any magnets or magnetic material available to him, All of the above experiments with Mr. Geller were continuously re- corded on film and video tape, and no event occurring out of the laboratory was considered to have any scientific relevance apart from suggesting further lines for subsequent investigation. In addition, we have observed under non-laboratory conditions a) the turning of watch hands without his having any physical contact with the watch, b) deflection of a compass and magnetometer, and c) the deforma- ' tion of several rings. However, because these effects were not performed under strict laboratory conditions they are not included in the same category as the above-mentioned experiments. Further experiments are currently underway with Swann in which significant results are being obtained in the area of remote perception, 3 . Based on encouraging results in our initial observations, it is = proposed that a mae comprehensive one-year program be initiated. The purpose is to investigate, under rigorous and carefully controlled con- ditions, psychoenergetic and extraordinary perceptual effects of the type discussed above, with the goal of obtaining repeatable results. Specifically, it is planned that the gifted subjects, Mr. Swann 4 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000100140001-7 | D RA FT