C) Approved For Release 200 (oastn . cian») P56 -D07STRODpsnoaaooo1o_ Report RV-79-1 = Copy Number a -_ - i B i Pe SUMMARY AND CRITICAL EVALUATION ” F aK i be = OF Cory = RESEARCH IN REMOTE VIEWING RETURW WW - $0 DAYS -_ by HARRY L. SNYDER and ARLENE G. SNYDER = , FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT CONTRACT 77F 104420 1 JUNE 1979 [ (Part 1) 4 Approved For R se AITS - CIA-RDP9Y6- SIR Z j PP Systemetrios. ine. Post OHice t Drawer ‘Blacksburg, FO00490440001 9
t t Approved For Release 2003/0 : -RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 ABSTRACT This report summarizes and critically evaluates all known, published and unpublished, research in the United States on "remote viewing." Particular attention is given to sources of inaccuracy, inconsistency, and misinterpretation - of the obtained results. Based upon these evaluations, guidelines are suggested for improvement of the currently popular research protocol to develop an experimental approach acceptable to the behavioral science research community. This set of protocol recommendations addresses the areas of target selection, subject selection and treatment, experimenter and investigator knowledge -and behavior, judging, and feedback. KEY WORDS Remote Viewing Parapsychology Paranormal Psychology Extrasensory Perception Clairvoyance Psi Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
Approved For Release 2003/AdgRapRgeeRDP26-00791 R000100440001-9 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1 I. INTRODUCTION «6. ee ee ee te ee eee ee ee Background 2. 6 6 ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee Purpose . 6 6 ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee Approach . 2. 1. 6 6 ee 8 ee ee eee te ee eee ees II. SUMMARY OF SRI STUDIES .. . ee ee ee ee ee ee A. Project SCANATE: Long Distance Remote Viewing by Geographical Coordinates © 6. 6 6 8 6 6 ee ee we es Virginia Site 2. ww ee ee te eee ee Urals Site . 6. 6 6 6 we ee et ew we we ee ee Island Site... ee Project Atlas Site A Sylvania Laser Laboratory . . «6 + + + «© © ee ee Berkeley Laboratory Bevatron . . © e+ 6+ © © se ee Utah and China Lake . . 2 6 6 ee ee ee te ee es USSR. Sites 2. 6 6 6 ee ee ee te ee we we ee ee Critical Evaluation... . a ee rr B. ‘Long Distance Remote Viewing by Target Person Cueing . Costa Rica «6 6 wwe eh we ee ee ee ee Continental U.S. 6. 1 6 ewe ee we ee ww C. Local Targets with Target Person Cueing «+ - + + + e+ + Training with Feedback . . . 6 6 ee ee ees . ‘Demonstration of Ability ..... . . soe Precognitive Experiments . aoe * oe ee Technology Targets ... + 6 1 + 2 «© © © © e see Critical Evaluation, Local Targets .. +. + « «© +s «© «© + Critical Evaluation, Long Distance Targets .. . . PART 2 Critical Evaluation, Remaining Long Distance Targets with Coordinates . . 2. 6. 6 6 «© © © © © we ew we ee D. Alphabet Letter Experiments .. 1. 6 ese ee ee eee _E. Random Stimulus Generator Experiments Critical Evaluation . . 06 6 6 6 ee ee ee ew ee ee ee F. EEG Experiments .. . a G. Summary of SRI Studies . 6. 6 6 © ee ee eee es Positive Characteristics . 6 1 6 «© © © © © ee ew es Negative Characteristics . 2. 6 + + ee 6 ee ee ee TIL. DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION OF NON-SRI REMOTE-VIEWING EXPERIMENTS ... «+ oe . . , rs ‘A. Allen, Green, Rucker, cohen, Goolsby, and Morris (1976) . B..Bisaha and Dunne (1977a) . 2. 6 6 ee ew ee ee ee ee C. Bisaha and Dunne (1977b).. 2. 2 6 ee 6 ee ew ee ee DP. Dunne and Bisaha (1978) . 2. 6. 6 6 2 8 eee we ee Approved For Release a 8 Ta nl R000100440001-9 174 179 180 180 181 182 182 186 197 202
eT r Approved For Release 2003/04 geet hep 96-00791 R000100440001-9 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page E. Hastings and Hurt (1976). - 6 + ee he tt tt 205 F. Jahn (1978) ... er 210 G. Karnes and Susman (1978) wee rr ee 213 -H. Rauscher, Weissmann, Sarfatti, and Sirag (1976) . «ws ee 224 I. Solfvin, Roll, and Krieger (1978) 2. 2 ee ee te es 228 J. Tart (1977) ... er 232 K. Vallee, Hastings, and " askevold ee ee er 237 L. Whitson, Bogart, Palmer, and Tart . +++ 8 e+ 68 © 8 8 245 IV. EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL CRITICISMS . - s+ e+ ss es st es ees 253 V. RECOMMENDED RESEARCH IMPROVEMENTS . 2. e+ ee ¢ # eo hoe oes 261 REFERENCES . «+ 6 © © © © © # & ee ee 270 APPENDIX A. SUMMARY AND EVALUATION OF MORRIS' (1972) FREE- RESPONSE ANALYSLS TECHNIQUE . .. «+ + . oe ee 274 APPENDIX B. REMOTE VIEWING PROTOCOL - - - + +s 8 e+ es se ee ee 282 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : L1A-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 a=GEGDLE,
Approved For Release 200 TOT EA eres P 96-00791R000100440001-9 I. INTRODUCTION Baekground Interest in paranormal psychology has ebbed and flowed in many countries and many laboratories since the early 1800s. Several professional societies, a few scientific periodicals, a couple} pniversity departments, and a variety of popular publications have been devoted to the general subject matter. (u) While numerous scientific investigations have been reported in various types of paranormal functioning, ‘the field has also been plagued with constant criticising from the "harder" sciences, including the more conventional experimental psychology. To cast more doubt upon the claims of paranormal functioning, there have been several reported.and verified cases of fraud -and falsification of data. (ur) As a result, skepticism of paranormal claims is generally maintained by most scientists outside the field. Paranormal researchers have thus been placed in a position of distrust, doubt, and. often considered akin to magicians, charlatans, and writers of fiction. In essence, the paranormal researcher has been asked to prove his results and claims far beyond the levels of acceptance required by researchers in other scientific areas. (u) Recently, considerable attention has been given to research publications emanating from Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in the area of "remote viewing," a term used by Puthoff and Targ at SRI to describe their research in clairvoyant description of distant objects. Because these researchers are trained and recognized as "hard" scientists (i.e., physicists), they have achieved a much greater acceptance in some quarters than have the many researchers who preceeded them. Their publications in scientific journals 1 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 a0 4 de
Approved For Release 2009104 di FoR 9791 R000100440001-9 such as Nature and IEEE Proceedings have augmented this reputation. Finally, they have, through their many publications, stimulated related and replicative studies. (U) Purpose The SRI work, as well as that of others relating to their approach, has implications for covert intelligence information gathering. As a result, their research has been sponsored by several government organizations, both within and without the intelligence community. (s) Puthoff, Targ, and their associates have not gone unchallanged, however. Reputable scientists have evaluated and often criticized their methods, analyses, claims, and results. They have responded to such criticisms, publically and apparently meaningfully. (4) Thus, there exists a growing body of such "remote viewing" literature which has some very startling (to the nonbeliever) results, but which appears to be well planned and executed. Because the skeptics of these results are also vocal, quantitative, and respected in scientific quarters, the time appeared ripe to evaluate the bulk of this literature and to offer guidelines (c0 the sponsor 22 this review)for future research, procedures, and possibilities. Accordingly, the purposes of this report are as follows: (1) Summarize all known controlled experimental research in remote viewing, at SRI and elsewhere; (2) Evaluate this research in terms of the appropriateness of its methodology and conclusions; and. (3) On the basis of this evaluation, recommend experimental or procedural safeguards and protocols. that should be followed in future remote Approved For Release 2003/04/18 -“CIA-RDP96-00791 R000100440001-9
Approved For Release a ol R000100440001-9 viewing research to gain the acceptability of the behavioral and physical science communities (4) Approach Section II of this report summarizes and critiques the SRI research, largely because other studies are based upon this methodology. Published experiments are collected together by type and evaluated collectively. (4) Section III similarly cummarizes and evaluates all other research efforts, published and nonpublished, known to the authors. (Because the sponsor is less familiar with the non-SRI work, more detail is presented on these studies ) S Section IV evaluates nine of the potential criticisms of the SRI and related results. (U4) Section V offers guidelines and recommendations for future research protocols and procedures, based upon the preceeding analyses and summaries. It is hoped that adherence to these guidelines will serve to reduce criticism of remote viewing research and to permit the scientific community to accept the results, positive or negative, more readily. (4) Finally, it should be emphasized that this report does not, deliberately, address the question "Is remote viewing a veal phenomenon or ability?" Rather, we are concerned with an evaluation and possible improvement of methodologies appropriate to study the remote viewing abilities of people. Adherence to the recommended procedures should permit a more valid answer to this question than can an analysis of existing data and publications. (u) Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : &IA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
Approved For Release 2003/0444 EERE? 96-00791 R000100440001-9 II. SUMMARY OF SRI STUDIES Research in remote viewing at SRI was preceded by psychic research in psychokinesis and more conventional clairvoyance within the SRI laboratories. The major impetus for the remote viewing work occurred when a subject, Ingo Swann, suggested that the experimentation could be made more interesting . because he could "Look anywhere in the world if you just gave me some coordinates like latitude and longitude". (Targ and Puthoff, 1977, p. 27) § Initial "experiments" were done largely to placate Swann; however, when these were considered to be successful, more controlled experiments and a "standard" protocol were developed. The remote viewing effort was enlarged, various subjects were used, near and far targets were selected, individual success predictors were evaluated, and several sponsors supported the work. $s In this section, we summarize and evaluate the remote viewing work at SRI conducted by Puthoff, Targ, and their several associates. The individual experiments and groups of experiments are described only to the detail necessary to permit objective evaluation and comparison. The reader is directed to the various referenced sources for a complete description of the studies. (tu) To place the various experiments, references, and events in chronological perspective, we have compiled Table 1. Reference will subsequently be made to the entries in this table to show the temporal relationships among various SRI activities. Similarly, Table 2 should be used to locate specific sources of information or reports pertaining to the groups of experiments which will be discussed berow. (4) Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : GIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
| i i i i i i i ii i i i i i i k. t - Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 SECRET TABLE 1. CHRONOLOGY OF CRITICAL EVENTS IN SRI RESEARCH PROGRAM YEAR/MONTH — RELEVANT EVENTS _ EXPERIMENTS PUBLICATIONS 1971 Harold Puthoff affiliates with (¥) Stanford Research Institute. 1972 Proposal submitted to Research ( Puthoff, H.E. Toward a Corporation for basic research tn) quantum theory of life , into quantum biology; copy sent processes. ) to Cleve Backster. pope | oe north Sate: March Ingo Swann visits Backster's (uw) bat laboratory; sees Puthoff's proposal. March 30 Ingo Swann writes to Puthoff. (vy April Puthoff's proposal funded by ‘ Leos Science Unlimited Research (e) vo , an “os Foundation, San Antonio, Texas. June _ Ingo Swann visits Puthoff. (a) Magnetometer fous Hidden objects-in-box \ = July-August Targ, R., and Hurt, D. (Ly | Learning clairvoyance and precognition with an ESP teaching machine. August 11 Puthoff, H., and Targ, R. ‘ Proposal: Document, 1 Su- ‘72-1348 Approved For Release 200s8hGRE bia-Rp96-00791 R000100440001-9
YEAR/MONTH August. 23-25 September 2-5 September November December 1973 January i i | | » & & & 8 : 8 48 i t Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 TABLE 1. RELEVANT EVENTS International Conference Para- psychology and the Sciences, Amsterdam. (4) Russell Targ's affiliation still listed with Sylvannia GTE, Mountain View and with the Parapsychology Research Group. Fifteenth Annual Convention of My the Parapsychological Association, Edinburgh, Scotland. Targ affiliates with Stanford Research Institute Meeting with Andrija Puharich; learn about Uri Geller. ‘ \ 4 we (3 Preliminary 6 weeks with Uri (Cu | Geller. Letter to Seientifte American +« inquiring about interest in receiving survey on ESP. ‘ wk) f os Ingo. Swann returns for eight _ 4) months (1/73 - 8/73) Jerr : thse secnel (continued) EXPERIMENTS PUBLICATIONS ? d ¥f ; : : * yp Targ, R. Precognition in lu met Sipe everyday life - A physical © ware] tage bt f° ? model. (ex ppt Cig Gat a a Fg Targ, R. Precognition in (uw) ry ‘ everyday life - A physical ~ “ model. Dice box 6 Hidden objects in box (E>, Picture drawing Metal bending Approved For Release 2003/Q FB 7 CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 AS a gi bite
i L i i i i i | i i i i Li i LT i LI | Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 TABLE 1. (continued) YEAR/MONTH | RELEVANT EVENTS EXPERIMENTS PUBLICATIONS March 9 Columbia University Physics -!, Six weeks with Geller; “4 Colloquium. , magnetometer experiment: , Swann. March Geographical coordinates: Ks results beginning to show. May 29 First experiment: Project Cs) SCANATE, Virginia site: First reading: Swann May 30 ‘Virginia site: Second reading: G) Swann June 1 Pat Price calls SRI; given 6) Va. site coordinates. . June 2 Virginia site: Price G} June 4 Letter arrives with Price Gs) description of Virginia site. June Price volunteers reading (Ss) Urals site ae on Urals site. July 21 Second experiment: Project 6 oy] SCANATE, Kerguelen Island: First reading: Swann July 22 Kerguelen Island: Second C6) reading: Swann Approved For Release 20pidanse CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
YEAR/MONTH July July August 4-11 August 13 August September 6-8 December 7 December End of Year | i t a i i 8 i i. i E i i k t Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 Sana TABLE 1. (continued) RELEVANT EVENTS Puthof£ and Swann attend Inter- Research, Prague, Czechoslovakia EXPERIMENTS PUBLICATIONS {2 on es hal Summary of work national Conference on Psychotronic | fwe “ CLL | 7 Duane Elgin starts working with (ery the teaching machine. Additional work with Geller. Swann ends stay at SRI. Cu) The Sixteenth Annual Convention of the Parapsychological Cry Association, Charlottesville, Virginia. r Editorial: Nature (lu) Picture drawing (13) -? Target pictures (100) ‘ Targ, R. Report: Experiments— Uri Geller at SRI, August 4-ll, 1973 Cu) Targ, R., and Puthoff, H. ESP experiments with Uri Geller (“)> Puthoff, H., and Targ, R. PK experiments with Uri(4) Geller and Ingo Swann Week of experimentation _ ? with Uri Geller ‘ More than 20 experiments ce carried out with Price and ~ ¢ Swann EEG data gathered (6 subjects) Approved For Release een CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
YEAR/MONTH 1974 | January 28 March 1 March 11 March 12 March 1 April 1 | | E | i Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 TABLE RELEVANT EVENTS First reporting period begins: G ) SRI Project 3183 First reporting period ends (5 Targ, R. and Puthoff, H. Information transmission under conditions of sensory(l1] shielding: received by Nature Second reporting period ‘'s begins: SRI Project 3183 Second reporting period ends: G) SRI contract 3183 Approved F For Release 200.404 f wi. wl i 1. (continued) EXPERIMENTS Remote viewing experiment designed Pilot series with walkie-talkies Preliminary pilot experiment: 5 (Hammid) Detection of variable density target material Testing program 4 -Random target generator ‘é >) motivation study: S, (Price) ; 7075 trials Pat Price experimental series completed Puthoff, H. Perceptual augmentation techniques, Progress report No. 1, _ Appendix: Targ, R. and Puthoff, 4H. Information transmission under conditions of sensory Project 3183, shielding Remote viewing of local targets continuing: 70 sites Detection of variable density target materials: two series completed Psychological and medical testing EEG: repeated three times: 20 15sec trials: 0, 16 Hz G) FP RO Po S-o07e R000100440001-9 PUBLICATIONS 6)
OT t «a 8 i L : & i i a E Li al i | L i I Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 SECRET TABLE 1. (continued) YEAR/MONTH RELEVANT EVENTS EXPERIMENTS PUBLICATIONS April 24 Puthoff, H. Perceptual . augmentation techniques, Progress report No. 2 © SRI Project 3183 Appendix: Galin, D. and Ornstein, R.E. Hemispheric specialization 6b and the duality of conscious— ness April 1 Third reporting period begins: SRI contract 3183 (6) April 7-17 Long distance targets: Costa (approximate) Rica: 8} (Price); S, (Hammid); Targ Long distance target: San G Andres, Columbia airport 5) Local targets with walkie- talkie feedback: 84-1; So-1; 53-2; 84-5 Remote viewing of local targets using azimuth bearings (2) Remote viewing of local targets Cs) Line drawings (50) June 10-21 Gradiometer: $1, 13 10-trial cS) runs; S9, 1 10-trial run; Sg, 2 10 trial runs June 21 Pat Price leaves SRI ‘ {4° (approximately) MS Approved For Release 2003 44k P1A-RDP96-00791 R000100440001-9
TT YEAR/MONTH July 8. July 10 July — August 1 August 22-24 i LT L Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 TABLE RELEVANT EVENTS Targ, R. and Puthoff, H. we % Information transmission under (es conditions of sensory shielding> revised for Nature i | i fi i spon 1. (continued) EXPERIMENTS 7 European a Sy (Price) Project Atlas: R&D test facility: Random stimulus generator a“ $1, 82, 56: 100 25-trial runs; Sy: 84 25-trial runs End of third reporting period: SRI Project 3183 = The Seventeenth Annual “o Convention of the Para- { psychological Association, — * Jamaica, New York ia’ ~ he Approved For Release 2003/ oat aie. RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 PUBLICATIONS Targ, R-, Cole, P., and 7 | Puthoff, H. Techniques. to enhance man/machine communica— tions. Final report on yNASA Project NAS7-100 , e Puthoff, H. Perceptual augmentation techniques a Report No. 3 SRI Project 3183 Targ, R., and Cole, P. Use (4 of an automatic stimulus ‘ generator to teach extrasensory perception Puthoff, H., and Targ, R. ( ’) Remote viewing of natural |” ”. targets
él YEAR /MONTH August 26-27 September 26 October 7 October 18 November 8 November 12 November 13 November a 1 i LI | 7 i i i i Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 TABLE 1. (continued) RELEVANT EVENTS EXPERIMENTS International. Conference on me pus peo’ fe f Quantum Physics and Para- /f} psychology,. Geneva, wo Switzerland Abacus/clock target S3 (Swann) New York City b) White Plaza: Sg (Cole) 5 - (first experiment) Experiments: V1, V5 5 Bridge overstream - V9 Baylands Nature Preserve - Vy Merry-go-round - V1, Miniature golf course: 53 ¢ (Swann) City Hall, Palo Alto: ‘'S3 f (Swann) Ingo Swann makes list of things he "sees" but are not at scene. Second list of things at scene Approved For Release 2003/QMWLFA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-8 PUBLICATIONS Puthoff, H., and Targ, R. “yy ‘ Physics, entrophy and es psychokinesis Targ, R., and Puthoff, H. (4\ Remote viewing of natural / targets Targ, R., and Puthoff, H. Information transmission under conditions of sensory shielding
¥T YEAR /MONTH August. 21-23 (continued) November 7 November December 1 il | i : 8 i L | ry i Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 o URET TABLE 1. (continued) RELEVANT EVENTS EXPERIMENTS Puthoff, H., and Targ, R. A perceptual channel for information transfer over y kilometer distances: Historical Co perspective and recent research. Revised for IEEE a 4 * 1 Beginning of final reporting s EEG experiments with 5" period, SRI Project 4540 Hammid ‘ re ; Approved For Release 2003/04 UREA-RDP96-00791 R000100440001-9 i | i L i PUBLICATIONS Puthoff, H., and Targ, R. Precognitive remote viewing Rauscher, E. A., Neissman, G., Sarfatti, J., and Sirag, 5. -P. Remote perception of natural scenes Targ, R., and Puthoff, H. Replication study on the remote viewing of natural targets Puthoff, H., and Targ, R. Perceptual augmentation techniques. Part two: Research report. Menlo Park, California: Stanford Research Institute, Final report, Contract 3183
LT YEAR/MONTH July 2 July 6 August 18-21 August (5 days) October 30 October 31 October i i i i Approved For Release 2003/04/1 8 : RELEVANT EVENTS TABLE 1. Nineteenth Annual Convention of the Parapsychological +; Association, Utrecht, The * Netherlands sues Approved For Release 2008/04 FF: CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 uy) i i i i L. eS PY (continued) EXPERIMENTS Long distance remote viewing: r Grant's Tomb: S87, Se Long distance remote viewing: s Washington Square: S7, Sg Bisaha, J. P., and Dunne, B. J. Long distance precognitive - remote viewing experiments: (4) Czechoslovakia, U.S.5S.R. ° Long distance remote viewing: ~ New Orleans - Palo Alto: California Bank Building: Sg Long distance remote viewing: Menlo Park - New Orleans: , Louisiana Superdome: 87 ‘\ incall R000100440001-9 PUBLICATIONS Bisaha, J. P., and Dunne, B. J. Precognitive remote viewing ay in the Chicago area: A 4 replication of the Stanford experiment Hastings, A., and Hurt, D. i; A confirmatory remote viewing experiment in a group setting Vallee, J., Hastings, A., and Askevold, G. Remote viewing 2) experiments through computer conferencing
8T i i i a | a i i i | i i i Approved For Release 2003/04/ IA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 SECRET TABLE 1. (continued) YEAR /MONTH RELEVANT EVENTS a EXPERIMENTS October (continued) f- October | End of reporting period: »Y Long-distance targeting (?) SRI Project 4540 1977 April 19-22 Electro 77: Special Session: The State of the Art in Psychic ve) Research, New York, New York , Approved For Release sooth PE Tora. RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 PUBLICATIONS Whitson, T. W., Bogart, D. N. Palmer, J., and Tart, C. T. ‘Preliminary experiments in Qa, \ group "remote viewing". Comments on Perceptual channel for information transfer over kilometer distances: Historicai perspective and recent research. Calkins, J. L., Deutsch, S., Harris, W. A., McConnell, R. A., and Muses, C. A. Replies: Puthoff, H. E., and Tare, R. la} Targ, R., amd Puthoff, H. g., G) Mind-Reach May, E. C., Targ, R., and Puthoff, H. E. Possible EEGs correlates to remote stimuli (A) under conditions of sensory shielding Puthoff, H. E., and Targ, R.f% ) Direct perception of remote “ geographical locations
6T a | YEAR /MONTH April July August 10-13 September December 1978 Winter i E | 7 i fl i fi i i | i i i i Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 TABLE 1. (continued) RELEVANT. EVENTS EXPERIMENTS , PUBLICATIONS End of reporting period: . SRI Project 5309 »} Puthoff, H. E., Targ, R. and May, E. €. Advanced threat technique assessments. D Stanford Research Institute Project 5309, Document 7-4375 The Twentieth Annual Convention Dunne, B., and Bisaha, J. P. of the Parapsychological bt Multiple channels in a Association, Washington, D.C. precognitive remote viewing International Conference on lr. Bisaha, J. P. and Dunne, 8. J. Cybernetics and Society, ; Multiple subject and long Washington, D.C. distance precognitive remote We viewing of geographical locations Targ, R., Puthoff, H. E., and May, E. C. State of the art — tA in remote viewing studies at SRI an 4 Puthoff, H. E. Memo: % + judging procedures : eo ! Robert G. Jahn and carol’ 4 ) Experiments conducted at / Ui Curry visit SRI i SRI: Holiday Inn, Chapel, Stanford ; ; rl a . Approved For Release 2003/4/j 8 F1a-RDP96-00791 RO000100440001-9
0c | i YEAR/MONTH Winter March 28 April April 17 May 1 December 4 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 SECRET TABLE 1. (continued) RELEVANT EVENTS Jahn, R. G., J. E. Farnum Lecture, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey i i E i EXPERIMENTS Karnes, E. W., and Susman, Wy r Approved For Release 2005 ARE Tcia-RDP96-00791 R000100440001-9 PUBLICATIONS Karnes, E. W., and Susman, E. P. Remote viewing: A response’! ur bias interpretation . Puthoff, H. E. Letter to E. P. | Targ, R., May, E., and Puthoff, H., Galin, D., and Ornstein, R. Sensing of remote EM S sources (Physiological correlates): SRI Project 4540: Final Report A L é Puthoff, H..E., Targ, R., and May, E. C. Psychoenergetic research: suggested approaches Jahn, R. G. Psychic processes, energy transfer and things [4 that go bump in the night.
ALPHABET LETTER EXPERIMENTS DPPreed Far-Releage 200 HB oR & & oO oO QoQ > Ay +t ae + am 5 at BS a oO a ~t 0 wr wr we ¢ 9° Se ga aA > 8 & 5 S a On ct es a 2 aa #5 oO jam Aa ao 9 ei Es te] Ss HH a Ke a a a a4 faa] mG EXPERIMENTS nr) ea) wa wa LONG DISTANCE /GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES TRAINING MODE: x 100 TARGETS DEMONSTRATION OF ABILITY LOCAL U.S. TARGETS x FOREIGN TARGETS X Xx TARGETS LONG DISTANCE/TARGET PERSON COSTA RICA: Sj, S13 R.T. . x xX CONTINENTAL U.S.: S87, Sg SRI - NYC (2) NYC - OHIO (1) NEW ORLEANS - PALO ALTO (1) SRI -— NEW ORLEANS (1) LOCAL TARGETS TRAINING WITH FEEDBACK x DEMONSTRATION OF ABILITY S,: PAT PRICE . X x S,: HELLA HAMMID x So: DUANE ELGIN x 53: INGO SWANN 55? MARSHALL PEASE PHYLLIS COLE PRECOGNITIVE EXPERIMENTS: TECHNOLOGY PARGETS: 82, 83, S,, V2, V3 54 TT U FE(1974 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 VW 04/18 : By aN © w ma hm Hi a 5S A! a} jaa) rd * oO ea wo el co) eS a W Gy “A TARG AND PUTHOFF (1979 w A- PUTHOFF AND TARG (197 LAL U <<] TARG AND PUTHOFF (197) : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 C 4 S- aN ron a - ct ca ce a0) “-—s o™ oN —_ — ad 4 oo on - =< oo7@Ro@iomaod1-s Fes 2 ss y oo o B may 2 BS es # 8 8 4 Ege Be DE . 2m wm Ape Bs a6 Ee 42 & & B fy es Soe. f . oe B8SB g oe Fe 2  & 2 ER e 84 Pp’ sg mf & S Ske 8 a oS x x x XxX 4 XX x xX xX x X xX x X X x x x xX - x x Xx x x x x x x x ».« x Xx x x xX xX x X x Xx x x x X x D4 xX x x x x x
Approved For Release 2003/0GDSE SD EROP 26-0794 R000100440001-9 The following sequence of experiments and groups of experiments is in an approximate chronological order, approximate only because some dates of experimental work are unknown or undocumented and because several sequences of experiments overlapped in time. To hopefully make this section and our perspective of the SRI work more intelligible, we have attempted to combine the experiments into cohesive, logical groupings where it seems appropriate. A. Project SCANATE: Long Distance Remote Viewing by Geographical Coordinates. In the training mode of this sequence, "100 targets on the earth's surface, ten per day for ten days, were chosen at random, often by different experimenters. For each ten-trial session, the experiment would begin with the subject (Swann) being given a target location by latitude and longitude only, for which he had to provide an immediate response of what he saw. Following his response, some brief indication was given as to whether there existed any correspondence between his description and the target location .... A run of ten coordinates was always completed in less than thirty minutes for the entire run." (Project SCANATE Report, no date, pp. 1-2) Ss The experimenters were impressed with the results. As indicated in Targ and Puthoff (1977, p. 28), "even though the descriptions were perhaps a bit vague here, a little ambiguous there, they were accurate enough to make us begin to wonder whether we had on our hands a case of paranormal remote viewing or paranormal memory." They recognized (SCANATE Report, p. 2) that the results were only indicative, since “even under the carefully controlled experimental conditions in force, a) an individual could, in principle, obtain 22 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : -_ R000100440001-9
Approved For Release ee R000100440001-9 good results on the basis of memory, and b) given the hypothesis of extra- ordinary functioning an individual could, in principle, obtain the data subliminally from an experimenter who knows the target location." They recognized at that time the need for "double-blind" targets in successive tests. $ | | Figure 1 indicates the trend of the results over the ten runs of ten trials per run. “while the scoring is somewhat arbitrary, the general trends are supportive of remote viewing. Table 3 indicates results of responses to Run 10 targets. Presumably these are representative, although no such response data or target coordinates are presented for most of the targets. (A few brief responses to selected targets are quoted in Mind Reach, p. 27.) Of most interest is that this sequence of demonstration experiments generated hypotheses and concern for careful experimentation. Puthoff and Targ recognized that "An individual could--in principle--obtain good results (L 57% 4 5-4 on the basis of eidetic memory. In certain cases, an individual also could-- in principle--obtain the data subliminally from an experimenter who knew the target locations." (Mind Reach, p. 30) This possible source of information is directly relevant to future experiments in their program. Virginia Site (38° 23! 45-48" N, 79° 25" 00" W) To gubject the remote viewing phenomena to a more rigorous test, the sponsor transmitted a set of coordinates to Puthoff, who presented them to Swann. No maps were permitted and Swann was requested to give an immediate response (SCANATE Report, p. 4). The session was videotaped. Ss His immediate response included "seeing" mounds or rolling hills, a city to the north, some lawns, maybe a covered reservoir, some highways to 23 Approved For Release hee R000100440001-9 t
Approved For Release 2003/04/1 P96-00791R000100440001-9 SCANATE TRAINING RESULTS (SWANN) _ So HITS/RUN out of 10 trials/run LESSER CORRESPONDENCES/ RUN out of 10 trials/run MISSES/RUN out of 10 trials/run ONROMOOONH KA HDDWONH BADD. RUN NUMBER SA-2613~-1 Figure 1, Results of Ten 10-Trial Training Blocks (Swann), Project Ss - SCANATE . 24 Approved For Release vant ! — R000100440001-9 ©
Approved For Release 2003/ CREA ef P-96-00791R000100440001-9 a | | 5K | TABLE 3. RUN 10, SCANATE TRAINING RESULTS <a Target Response Evaluation 45°N 150° Ocean, beautiful blue-green waves, H (ocean) . sun shining, ship toward north 2°s 34°R | Sense of speeding over water, landing H (eastern shore, Lake on land. Lake to west, high elevation Victoria, Africa) 55°N 150°R: . Not many trees, patches of snow, marsh? M (Sea of Okhotsk) 64°N 19° Volcano to southwest. I think I'm H (20 miles ENE of over ocean. Mt. Hekla volcano, Iceland) 55°N 130°E Wind blowing there, night, telephone N (Soviet Union) wires. Land, flat place with fields; Cold. 60°N 90°" Open water, stands of pine to north H (Hudson Bay) 60°N 91° City, snow on ground, city to north- N (Soviet Union) east, factory to south 30°s 0° Ocean, Atlantic, deep blue water H (ocean) 42°N 105°E Mountains H (Gobi) 28°s 137° , Islands, Land mass to east, west, H (Lake Eyre, Australia) An open sea, night, ne nr rn NOTE: H = hits good description of area in near vicinity of target; N = neutrals some possibility of correspondence; M = miss, clear lack of correspondence, 23 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
Approved For Release 2003/GaiGBARREBOP 96-0791 R000100440001-9 the west, possibly a river over to the far east, to the south more city. This report, while general and fitting many locations in that general area, seemed to have some correspondence. | The next morning Swann submitted a written report of a second reading. (No mention is made of exactly when this "reading" was made, but the report 7 appears to have been written 0735-0758 PDT that morning. There is no 4 statement of any request that penerated this second reading or a written report.) The written report mentions a circular building, and asks if it is a former Nike base. It also mentions the impression of something under- ground. ‘) sb on 1 June 1973, and Price's written response, dated 2 June 1973, was received Two days later, the coordinates were given to Pat Price (then held anonymous) for "a backup test." The coordinates were telephone to Price in the mail 4 June 1973. The written response describes the mountain chain, roadways, vegetation, distant city and Civil War battleground, weather conditions, etc. Of 5 greatest interest is his detailed description of a large underground storage area and its contents of file cabinets, room sizes and lighting, personnel - names, elevators, etc. He also "read" the ehseription on a marble colonnade dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the battle of Lynchburg. On a later date, Price was asked to return to the Virginia site with the goal of obtaining codeword information. ‘He then provided several iy) codewords presumably under lock in the files, along with personnel names. These were subsequently verified as having "some" validity. 26 Approved For Release 20 Gites OTM R000100440001-9
Approved For Release 2003/04! ert fROP9E-00791 R000100440001-9 7 wate siveL_ Price also volunteered to scan the other side of the globe for an ™ equivalent Soviet Bloc site, and "found" one in the Urals. He then .- described the terrain, vegetation, concrete underground site, personnel, . helipads, rail tracks, and radar installations. a Apparently Swann was not requested to scan this target, although the S coordinates were "provided" by Price. It should be noted that Swann was in = residence at SRI at this time (Table 1). - Island Site (49° 20' S, 70° 14' E) mi The coordinates of this target were given by a scientist (unnamed) challenging the SRI work. Puthoff gave Swann the coordinates. No maps >) - were permitted, and Swann's immediate response was recorded on video tape. Response indicated an island, which was confirmed by experimenter. ™ [Thus, experimenter knew nature of target prior to subject's response. ] a= Buildings, radar antenna, cylindrical tanks, trucks, wind are mentioned. y) Then Swann terminates response and submits sketch of area containing those _ elements (Figure 2). The following day a second reading without maps was obtained. At this = ' time, he gave considerable detail regarding the shape of the island, rocks, a aa beach, vegetation, maybe a lighthouse. <A detailed sketch of the island (Figure 3) was also made. o- Projeet Atlas Site mi - The sponsor provided map coordinates for a European R&D test facility = as an experiment to determine the utility of remote viewing under operational = 27 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 am SECRET
Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 (uueMs) SuTMeIg pueTs] UseTenSszey 3sitg +z eansty ; kay 3 pyr t a 4 TIVLAG 'I NOILOYS ° 28 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
7 Approved For Release edition, ., |. enone conditions. The experimenters did not know. anything about the nature of the target except that it was a test facility. They then provided the coordinates to Sy (Price), who provided sketches of both a building layout and a gantry crane. The response was judged by the sponsor to be of sufficiently good quality to progress through verifiable physical data of the client (Phase II) and the generation of nonverifiable data (Phase IIL). Reports and evaluations S by the sponsor indicate substantial validity of the Phase II results. The precise timing of the transmission of the coordinates to the experimenters, the relaying of the coordinates to the subject, and the time of the subject's Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III responses are unknown and unstated in available reports. Opportunities for receipt of target informac tion, by the experimenters or the subject during this time period, are not precluded by the experimental detatls presented, S Sylvania Laser Laboratory, Mt. View, California This and the subsequent targets in this section on remote viewing by geographical coordinates were conducted "to evaluate the applications feasibility." (Puthoff, Targ, and May, 1977) § Targ (who previously worked at Sylvania in Mt. View) chose the target and gave the geographical coordinates to Puthoff. Puthoff then served as the experimenter with subject I, (probably Swann) to obtain a description, sketch, and clay model of the target. "As is the usual procedure, the experimenter with the subject probed for more detail with regard to what the subject had generated." Ss | the subject's description was very good. No mention is made of whether the subject had ever seen the laboratory or if the subject was aware of 30 Approved For Release 2 Veafbabieraeas ROP SS-89791 R000100440001-9
Approved For Release ee R000100440001-9 Targ's employment history. [The latter is likely because of the close relationship the experimenters had with the subjects. ] >) Lawrence Berke Ley Laboratory Bevatron, Berkeley, California In this case, the experimenter with the subject "(1) knew only the name and general function of the target, (2) did not have any detailed information about what was inside the target building, and (3) took every ‘conceivable precaution to prevent cueing or leading the subject." The eubject, H,» was probably Hella Hammid. S The description was quite good, with the sketch and model very close. The authors conclude that "(1) remote viewing on the basis of coordinates is at least as effective as remote viewing on the basis of an outbound experimenter at the site, and (2) subjects not technologically oriented can nevertheless produce meaningful descriptions of technological installations. (Puthoff, Targ, and May, 1977, p. 73) Ss Real-Time Targetting, Utah and China Lake, California Five Minuteman and Poseidon static test firings were kept blind to SRI personnel. until all five firings were completed. Coordinates were given to subjects qT (in Menlo Park) and Hy (in Los Angeles). mT participated in all five targets, H, in two. > The results included recognition of g0 and no-go conditions, timing to within ten seconds, and descriptions of the events as “drawn-out muffled roars" which "raised dust clouds" and involved "glowing melted materials." They were judged to be excellent and to constitute a significant breakthrough with regard to real-time data collection. (Puthof£, et al., 1977, p- 75) Ss | 31 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 -.GlA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
Approved For Release 2003/eu PRR EFROP96-00791 R000100440001-9 Sponsor-Designated USSR Target Stites Two Soviet Sites (A and B) were passed by coordinate to subjects I, and E Subject I, gave apparently valid responses of major structures such as L’ 1 airfield and buildings. When asked to search general area for airfield, subject E, also provided sketch of runways and buildings. 1 Subject I, correctly described Site B as a town and barren area. The authors conclude that the subjects’ responses were valid and were not "simply geared to match the expectations of the experimenters ... or what. may reasonably be expected to be correct .... [Rather, the response ] describes the area appropriate to the coordinates even though it may run counter even to the subject's own expectations." (Puthoff, et al., 1977) Ten additional sites were scanned by subjects Ey and I: The experimenter was kept blind to the target. The data were partially verified. The authors state that the results "constitute a useful supplementary data collection technology." (Puthoff, et al., 1977, 94-95) >) Critical Evaluation At this point, we present a critical evaluation of the methodologies used for the training mode targets, the Virginia site, and the Island site. Evaluation of the methodology and results of the remaining targets, U.S. and foreign, will be delayed until later in Section II, simply because the methodologies are similar and were largely developed in close chronological sequence. > | Abstract targeting (Project SCANATE) began as a result of Swann's consideration of abstract thought versus linear thought during the period of early experimentation at. Stanford Research Institute. "I decided thought Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000100440001-9
Approved For Release 2003/ert EERE? 96-00791 R000100440001-9 itself constituted a threshold somewhat on the nature I was searching for, especially abstract thought as contrasted to linear thought. If this were true, then the physical targets arbitrarily and endlessly utilized by contemporary parapsychology were the worst possible kinds of targets. This would naturally be the case since the psychic entity could not relate to unknown physical targets. very well in the absence of a mental or thinking access to them .... The problem immediately arose as to what constituted an abstract target. This worried me for some time until I realized that abstract targets were lying around all over the place in the form of anything that in itself referred to thought before it referred to physical things. These are words, mathematical symbols, understanding, intuition, ... but refer to nonphysical things .... The abstraction of the coordinate sufficed to provide orientation for the psychic probe... to locate by transcendental means the place to which the coordinate referred and thence to inspect it and describe what was there .... This idea, of course, was totally foreign to even the brilliant thinkers ... at Stanford Research Institute .... However, due to their initial lack of enthusiasm for this irrational approach, and because we had not yet understood the precision of the abstract ability, the coordinates were rather loosely put together." (Swann, 1975, p- 107-109). " ,. many of the coordinates were simple, merely seeking to ascertain if the coordinate related to ocean, mountain, desert, and so forth." (p. 110) U These coordinates were apparently taken off rather general maps with little resolution since a discussion ensued over Swann's response as to the correctness to the Lake Victoria coordinates. At that time, "... we went out to a book store to purchase The Times Atlas of the World ...." (p. 110) This target appears, one might note, in Run 10, the last run of targets to 33 ‘ Approved For Release 2003/0 RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
i Approved For Release 2003/0. epeeBPP 96-00791R000100440001-9 be used.’ Thus, the logic and sequence of these events appear to conflict. In Mind Reach, Targ and Puthoff (1977) agree to compile a list of ten coordinate pairs, latitude and longitude" a since it was just a gamen-an interlude from our scientific experimentation, we simply consulted a map .... on a later day, we ran through another series of ten pairs ... the phenomenon we were observing with Ingo was interesting enough to take ten "breaks' altogether, yielding a total of 100 descriptions, one for each coordinate pair." (pp. 27-28) Ww However, in writing the technical report on Project Scanate, the "came" was presented somewhat differently. "As a result of the experimentation carried out on what might be termed micro-abilities, Swann expressed the opinion that the insights obtained had strengthened a macro-ability which had been researched prior to his joining the SRI program; namely, the ability to view remote locations. In order to test the above assertion, SRI researchers set up a series of experimental protocols on a gradient scale of increasing difficulty .... For the first experiment, considered to be a training mode, 100 target on the earth's surface, ten per day for ten days, were chosen at random ... under carefully controlled experimental conditions ...." (pp. 1-2) What appeared to be purposeful to Swann became, variously, a game and serious experimentation to Puthoff and Targ. ¥ Puthoff£ and Tare quantify the results of this experiment "4. Since, ... a) an individual could, in principle, obtain good results on the basis of memory, and b) given the hypothesis of extraordinary functioning an individual could, in principle, obtain the data subliminally for an experimenter who knows the target location." (p. 2) Swann, on the contrary, comments in his book, "... evidence mounted to indicate that psi-ability was undergoing 34 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
Approved For Release 200 URAEARE ADP 96-00791 R000100440001-9 some sort of a learning process, reflected tn a rising curve of both accuracies and increasing descriptions of the site." (Swann, 1975, p. 110) iA However, a calculation of the linear relationship between the number of hits and trial blocks yields a. product-moment correlation of 0.20, which predicts only 4.2% of the variation in hits over trial blocks. This correlation is not statistically significant (p > .05), indicating no ! ; pe sll justifiable conclusion of learning over the trial blocks. wu - wae As indicated above, these successes led to following, more rigorous experiments which required Swann to provide details that would not be available on a map. Several items are important in evaluating those results. Virginta site, Subject: Swann. It is interesting to note the possible clues given to the subject at the time the coordinates were introduced: " .. a skeptical colleague of ours on the Bast Coast ..." (Targ and Puthoff, 1977, p. 2) Although it is not clear as to what preceded the introduction of the coordinates to the subject, Swann's initial description is an extremely general one. It was not until the second reading on the following day that any real detail is included in his description, such as "Cliffs to the east ... a circular building ... a former Nike base ... something under- ground ...." This, however, is reported in Mind Reach as a single veading. (5) Swann also states: "This is about as far as I can go without feedback, and perhaps guidance as to what was wanted. There is something strange about this area, but since I don't know particularly what to look for within the scope of this cloudy ability, it is extremely difficult to make decisions on what is there and what is not." (Project SCANATE Report, pp. 4-5) This comment is made during his second reading. If Swann can “sea, why does he need guidance as to what to look for? (S ) 35 Approved For Release “= het : — R000100440001-9
Approved For Release 200 LOAHBRERRDP96-00791 R000100440001-9 In addition, Puthoff and Targ did not quote their own sources accurately. "There's a circular building (a tower?) .+." (SCANATE, p. 4) and "There's a circular building, perhaps a tower wane! _ (end Reach, p. 2) These may appear as minor points until another more obyious discrepancy occurs relating to Pat Price's appearance as a subject. "As a back-up test, the coordinates were given to a second subject who appears to possess similar ability in vt casual testing ...." (SCANATE Report, p. 5) "It began with a phone call from Lake Tahoe, ... I've been following what you fellows are doing so I thought I'd call to let you know that I have similar abilities .... On an impulse, I read off to him the coordinates of the East Coast site that Swann was targeting ...." (Mind Reach, pp. 46-47) - Virginta site, Subject: Price. Again, one finds the same discrepancy in the reporting of Price's viewing as is found with Swann. The entire viewing is reported as a single viewing in one source, (Mind Reach, pp. 47-48), rather than the two readings that Price actually supplies. One wonders how Price knew about the work going on at SRI with Swann since it was just a “oame", There was certainly sufficient time for contact to be made between Swann and Price, assuming that they knew each other or had common. associates. It is alleged, although unverified by the authors, that Price had once worked for the organization that had control over that particular site and therefore might have had access to the reported information. Ss Approximately three weeks later, a second set of coordinates was given to Swann, those of Kerguelen Island. 5 Kerguelen Island, Subject: Swann. Two readings were allowed again. His first impressions were of an island which was verified almost immediately by the experimenter although no maps were permitted. "My initial response 36 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
Approved For Release 2003/08 SREP 96-0791 RO000100440001-9 is that it's an island, maybe a mountain sticking up through cloud cover (experimenter checks, gives positive feedback)." (SCANATE Report, p. 8) Ss Swann verifies this in his book, but with a different twist: “Well, said the experimenter present, I think that is wrong. I checked the target just before we began, and it is in the middle of the ocean." (Swann, 1975, p. 112) Swann also relates: me it was seen that .the coordinate referred almost exactly to the 1,600-foot mountains rising out of the eastern end of Kerguelen Island." (p. 112) His directions, however, seem to get reversed when he draws his map the following day as he then places the mountains in the west.” | ‘In comparing his descriptions of his map, we again find another discrepancy in reporting: "Tf I look to the west, hills; to the north flatlands and, I think, airstrip and ocean in the distance; to the east, rolling bumpy grass- lands with bumps; to the south is--I can't see anything to the south .... May be a lighthouse (on tip?) ... I lacked ...."  (SCANATE Report, p. 94 The other accounting: "If I look to the west, hills: to the north flatlands, and I think, airstrip and ocean in the distance to the east} can't see any- thing in the south ... maybe a lighthouse. I lacked courage ...." (Mind Reach, pp. 32-33) \ It is interesting to note what appears to be two different types of handwriting on the first detailed map Swann drew of the airport strip and buildings, although the authors do not profess to being handwriting experts ("maybe 6' long, like gas storage tanks"). SECTION 1. DETAIL (SCANATE Report). > Note the different "r's" and "s's". A comparison with the airport drawing, draum by one of the experimenters during the Costa Rica experiments, might w be in order. (Mind Reach, p. 12) Note also that this is referred to as Experiment 66. (SCANATE Report) although this number has been removed from y 37 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 eh
Approved For Release 2003/04 BAREFROP96-00791 R000100440001-9 the same drawing in Mind Reach (p. 32). After Puthoff£ and Targ describe the Kerguelen Island site in Mind Reach, they qualify the results by stating that prior knowledge could have been possible. Therefore, another experiment was performed in which no prior knowledge was available. "No such criticism could be leveled at the following type of experiment ... A target site on the. East Coast ...."' (Mind Reach, p. 33) leading the reader to believe that this target came after Kerguelen Island. Although they have stated the date and have stated that this was the first experiment of many, the reader can easily be led to believe that Kerguelen Island came before the East Coast site, unless the reader returns to the earlier description in the early pages of the book. (Mind Reach, pp. 1-4) ’: In general, the Kerguelen Island and Virginia site results are impressive until one carefully considers the timing, and the notion that each subject could have obtained the impressive detailed information during the day that ensued between the first and second readings. ° Similarly, inconsistent and conflicting detail reporting cause the careful reader to be at least slightly suspicious. However, these are early attempts in the research program, and the investigators were perhaps ' feeling their way. Judgement about these particular experiments is. not critical. The later experiments are the ones designed to improve the methodology and verify the existence of a remote-—viewing ability. iN B. Long Distance Remote Viewing by Target Person Cueing. A number of studies have been conducted at SRI (and elsewhere) to evaluate the abilities of subjects to describe remote target sites identified only 38 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : — R000100440001-9 Wie
Approved For Release 200 3K PETPS6-00791 R000100440001-9 by the presence at the target of a known individual or group of individuals ("target persons"), Costa Riea Experiment Puthoff's itinerary. for a one-week trip was known to the subjects (Price and Hammid), who described his Location each day at 1330 PDT. Puthoff kept a detailed record of his location and activities, including photographs. s Sy (Hamid) contributed five daily responses, of which "two were in excellent agreement, two had elements.in common but were not clear correspon- dences, and one was clearly a miss." (August 1974 Progress Report, p. 5) S Nothing specific is offered in this progress report on S's responses. However, in Mind Reach, the authors indicate further “excellent correspondences" for targets such as "poolside relaxation, a tropical forest at the base of a. truncated volcano, a hotel room, and so on." (p. 13) vA The picture presented most frequently to exemplify the success of this experiment is that of the airport in San Andres, Columbia, and the related sketch by Targ, who "filled in" on that day because one of the subjects (S,) was absent. | | Upon his return, Puthoff attempted to, blind match the twelve responses to the seven target locations. He correctly matched five of the twelve responses, a result "significant at odds of 50:1." (Targ and Puthof€, 1977, p. 13) §$ . Assuming independence of the responses and events, one can verify this probability estimate with the binomial distribution, asking the probability of obtaining 5 or more correct matches out of 12, when the a priori chance probability is 1/12. Thus, 39 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 athe
Approved For Release 200mg RRDP96-00791 R000100440001-9 1 11. 12-n Ga Ga 1 1i- [ n 12 CH frou p( > 5) ] (1) . 00026 il That is, under the above assumptions, the probability of this occurrence by chance is .00026; or, the odds are better than 3000:1! Continental U.S. Experiments Based upon the various local remote viewing experimental results, the Project SCANATE results, and the Costa Rica results, it was decided to explore the accuracy of long-distance remote viewing for U.S. targets demarcated by a target person. Puthoff, Targ, and May (1977) described the results of experiments with five such targets. These experiments are also reported by Targ, Puthoff, and May (1978). They all followed the same general procedure. p) The DARPA computer teleconferencing network was used to coordinate experimental timing, and to provide time/date stamped permanent records of all communications. With this system inputs at one location can be read out in real time at another location. $ After Logging off the computer, the target person used a random number generator to-determine which of six locations in the target area.would constitute the target. Neither the subject nor the experimenter knew the contents of the target list, which was compiled after the target person logged off. The target person selected the target, proceeded directly to the target, arriving there 30 minutes after logging off, and remained at the target site for 15 minutes. $ Approved For Release 200 UmReRRNEFFE RDP 96-00791 R000100440001-9
Approved For Release 2003/0diReSRABAROP 26-00791 R000100440001-9 The subject, at the beginning of start time, would begin to type his impressions into a special computer file established for this purpose. When the target person returned from the target site, he entered his description of the site into a limited-access file. “He would then return to the executive level of the computer, and await the appearance of the SRI experimenters and subject who could then (and only then) link the [target location] and Menlo Park terminals. At that time both files would be printed out on both terminals (and at a third location if desired--for example, at the sponsor facility), and the subject and the outbound experimenter would each learn what the other had written." (Puthoff, Targ, and May, 1977) The. results are summarized below by target. S Grant's Tomb (New York City), Both subjects Ss, (probably Swann) and G, (an SRI systems analyst) were located in California, and made independent responses. One subject (unspecified) drew a sketch. [These subjects are renumbered S5 and Ses but still unnamed in the 1978 report.] The selected target was Grant's tomb. Other targets in the pool were a railroad bridge, the 20-story NYU law library, the fountain in Washington Square Park, the nd Street boat basin. Ss Columbia University subway station, and the 72 Responses deemed correct by Gy were “outdoors, large open area ..-, white building, ... arched look ..., large shade tree close to Russ." Responses by Sy included "eree on your left ... in front of a building you were entering ... looking at coins in palm of your hand, maybe giving some to Nicky (son of target person)." s These responses are essentially correct; other details were correct, and some clearly incorrect. | AL Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
4DP96-00791R000100440001-9 Approved For Release 2003/04/€8: st = Washington Square Fountain. Subject S, was accurate in description of 1 column, pigeons, dry fountain pool, cement steps, rounded edge of top of - depression. Drawing also appeared fairly accurate. Ss - An SRI -seientist, familiar with New York City but blind to the target, identified the target correctly on reading twenty lines of printout as it _ emerged from the terminal. y, An admittedly crude content analysis of the responses of subject 8) - indicates that about 66% of the transcripts is accurate. If matched against the other target sites, only 37% of the transcripts would apply. "Although —_ crude, this analysis strongly suggests a method for further single transcript = analysis to be carried out by professional linguists." (Puthoff, et al., 1977, p. 46) 5 - Ohto Caves, Springfield, Ohio. The target person, under sponsor observation, ; telephoned subject H, in New York City that the target person was somewhere - between New York and SRI, and would shortly be taken to a target site.. The wt experiment was set to begin at 2:00 PM EDT, with the target person to call Hy at 3:00 PM to obtain the impressions of HY and to provide feedback. | = The cave depths are about 150 feet, and the cave is entered through a small building having a long flight of steep stairs. The response included ™ "underground caves or mines ... deep shafts ... darker, cool, moist earth- ~ smelling passages." These are considered quite accurate. A second, less experienced subject (Gy) at SRI also served as a subject. on . His transcript contained some correct elements, but he believed the target to be a museum. No paranormal functioning was concluded from his transcript. 5 - Northern Calt fornia Bank Plaza. Subject S, was in New Orleans, while - the target was in Palo Alto. The subject correctly reported “overhang of a _— 42 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : -RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
- Critteal Evatuatton | Approved For Release Pons a papOP 96-0072 R000100440001-9 building over their heads ... also a round gold rim around a sunken depression." He also reported “there was a projectile coming toward [the target person]. Like a ball or frisbee «eee Actually, they had tossed a paper airplane back and forth several times, This appears to be a rare instance of a subject reporting rapid motion. 9 Loutstana Superdome, New Orleans. Subject G, in Menlo Park described this target as "a large circular building with a white dome." The sketches are considered close. Subject saw rings, seats, inside lighting color, ‘nearby freeway, parking lot, newness. The target was selected randomly from a New Orleans guide book list. , Puthoff, et al. (1977, pp. 57-58) conclude that "Taken overall, the results ... are of roughly the same accurady with regard to site descriptions as those obtained in local remote-viewing experiments. The descriptions not only contain correct information beyond that expected by chance, but also show remarkable detail and resolution. Furthermore, real-time activities are observed and correctly described in a nunber of instances .... Any application of paranormal functioning need not, to first order, consider | distance as a barrier." y) A critical evaluation of these resultg and methodologies is contained at the end of Section II because of the chronological proximity of the experiments and the methodological similarities. Cc. Local Targets with Target Person Cueing , “43 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : BRED 96-20721Ro0OTOMAAO0OT-8
| . Approved For Release 2003/04, RE ARE POr96-00791R000100440001-9 ? ‘Avery large portion of the SRI work has dealt with a somewhat standard- ized procedure in which a target ‘person goes to a nearby, randomly selected target at a designated time. The subject then describes the target site in as much detail as possible. In the following sections, we summarize these "local" experiments by related categories. “Since these studies form the most quantitatively judged experimentation, they are probably the most important studies for the purposes of method evaluation and improvement. Tratning wtth Feedback Puthoff (1974, August Progress Report) describes a series of local experiments which were designed to give immediate data to the experimenters. "pilot" experiments in the traditional experimental While these are clearly sense, they are also described and discussed elsewhere (Targ and Puthoff, 1975; Targ and Puthoff,- 1977) and therefore warrant inclusion here. - In this series, the subject and experimenter remain in a laboratory at SRI, while the target person leaves the area and proceeds to a remote location of his choosing. The target person and the experimenter are in two-way radio communication by "walkie-talkie" to provide the experimenter with real-time data and to give the subject immediate feedback. Thus, this serves as a training technique for the naive subject in particular, permitting the subject to "learn to separate real from imagined images." (Puthoff, 1974, p. 9) Ss Transcripts of "representative" experiments indicate queries and responses between the experimenter and target person. Puthoff (1974) reports that one experiment of this type was carried out with 85 one with’s,, two with Sas and Five with S,. subjects to be Price, Elgin, Swann, and Hammid, respectively.) "A number of (We believe these 44 Approved For Release 2003/04/18: -RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 qbfi* descriptions were essentially Free of érror and with no feedback other than verification following the remote viewer's description." (p. 12) $ In one such experiment, "... Swann gave a description of Hal walking across some blacktop, stopping in front of a blue building, and then walking into a depression .... Now you really have to have a very high level of confidence in your perceptions ... to say that somebody stopped near a blue building. The probability of encountering a blue building is about the same as a purple cow, but Harold in. fact did stop in front of a blue building on his way to the depression." (Targ and Puthoff, 1975, pp. 172-173) & Demonstration of Ability Successful results in the above feedback experiments and the long-distance trials with Swann led to the formulation of a protocol for better controlled experiments to be conducted in the San Francisco Bay area. This standard protocol is taken, as follows, from the August 1974 SRI Progress Report (Puthoff, 1974). 5 | "This experiment consists of a series of double-blind tests involving local targets in the San Francisco Bay area which can be documented by independent judging. Target locations within thirty minutes driving time from SRI- are randomly chosen from a list of targets kept blind to subject and experimenters and used without replacement. § | "To begin an experiment, an experimenter is closeted with a subject at SRI to wait 30 minutes to begin a narrative description of the remote location. A second experimenter [target person] obtains a target location from the target pool’ and proceeds directly to the target without communicating with the subject or experimenter remaining behind. The second experimenter remains 45 Approved For Release ape ~ R000100440001-9
Approved For Release 2003/02 aeper6-0079" R000100440001-9 at the target site for an agreed-upon thirty-minute period following the thirty minutes allotted for travel. During the observation period, the remote viewing subject is asked to describe his impressions of the target site into a tape recorder. A comparison is made when the experimenter [target person] returns. “Following a series of nine experiments, the results are subjected to independent judging on a blind basis by five SRI scientists not otherwise associated with the research. The judges are asked to blind match locations, independently visited, against typed manuscripts of tape-recorded narratives of the remote viewer. A given narrative can be assigned to more than one target location. A correct match requires that a transcript of a given date be associated with the target of that date. Probability calculations are on the basis of the @ priort probability of the obtained series of matches by chance, conservatively assuming assignment without replacement on the part of the judges." (pp. 18-19) § Elaboration of this protocol is given in Appendix B, an unpublished 1977. communication from Puthoff to a Sponsor. Comments on this protocol, as -written and executed, are offered throughout this section of the report in the context of critical evaluation. Other comments are contained in ’ Sections IV and V. F Results from these experiments have been reported in various progress reports, technical reports; and open literature publications, They are summarized below by subject. An overview of the ranking of each subject's transcript, by target, is presented in Table 4, along with summary statistics following the procedure of Morris (1972), as summarized in Appendix A and Appendix B. 46 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9
Ly | t i i | i 5 i | | | j Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : cia-fpp96-ob791R080100448001-9 A a kh TABLE 4. SRI RESULTS, BAY AREA TARGETS. Tabled values are ranks assigned by judges. | a“ COLE PEASE S63 TARGETS S,: PRICE S,: HAMMID |S,: SWANN |S,: ELGIN 8. HOOVER TOWER a “BAYLANDS PRESERVE P.V. TELESCOPE R.C. MARINA FREEMONT TOLL PLAZA DRIVE-IN THEATRE _ARTS/CRAFTS PLAZA CATHOLIC CHURCH SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX METHODIST CHURCH NESS AUDITORIUM MERRY-—GO-ROUND PARKING GARAGE “SRI COURTYARD BICYCLE SHED RR BRIDGE PUMPKIN PATCH PEDESTRIAN OVERPASS CITY HALL MINIATURE GOLF COURSE KIOSK 3 BART STATION SRI SHIELDED ROOM TENNIS COURTS GOLF COURSE BRIDGE WINDMILL WHITE PLAZA AIRPORT BOATHOUSE _ BRIDGE OVER STREAM SWIMMING POOL 5 -6 REPORTED p-VALUE: 2.9x 107] 1.8 x 10 3.8 x 10° 5 6 PREPARE HEH NRFPNNE NB BB RH NM NF “ 0.08 0.017 4 CALCULATED p-VALUE: 2.95 x 10 ~| 1.84 x 10° 3.83 x 10° 0.08 | 0.018 —%: JOINT TARGET Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 SECRET
Approved For Release 2003/0 EETROP 96-00791 R000100440001-9 Subject 53: Price. This subject, a former California police commissioner and city councilman, "indicated the functioning of a remote perceptual ability. A Hoover Tower target, for example, was recognized and named by name. Nonetheless, in general, the descriptions -contained inaccuracies as well as correct statements." (Puthoff and Targ, 1976, p. 335) iF | Of the nine targets viewed by Price, an SRI research analyst who served as judge correctly matched seven to the correct transcript, as indicated in Table 4. The authors conclude that this result is significant at p = 2.9 x 107° by exact calculation, using Morris" (1972). procedure. Our calculations verify this p-value at 2.95 x 10°. Wo In Experiments [targets] 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9, Price was secured in a double-walled copper-screen Faraday cage, which provides 120 dB of attenuation for RF radiation over a range of 15 KHz to 1 GHz. For magnetic fields, the attenuation is 68 dB at 15 KHz and decreases to 3 dB at 60 Hz. The authors conclude that this shielding does not reduce the subject's remote viewing performance, a conclusion which appears quite valid based upon the rankings of Table 4. K Subject § Hammid. This subject was a professional photographer selected 4 for her successful performance in an earlier EEG experiment. She had no previous experience with apparent paranormal functioning. Judging of her transcripts resulted in five direct hits and a p-value of 1.8 x 10° (Table 4). | “While the naive SRI analyst served as the judge for both Price and Hammid manuscripts, a panel of five SRI scientists was used as backup judges, each independently following the same Morris (1972) procedure. Under the null hypothesis of random matching, each judge would be expected to obtain 48 ; Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 Sapae i=
Approved For Release 7008 Cae fiteper oe 9079 1Ro00t00sAo001-8 : , one correct match out of nine. ‘Por the Price transcripts, the backup judges obtained 7, 6, 5, 3, and 3 correct, while they obtained 5, 3, 3, 2, and 2 for the Hammid transcripts. It is yorth ‘noting that none of the backup judges, for either subject, did better than the naive "chosen" judge. A G-test comparing the backup judges’, number correct against the chosen judges score results in at of 4.34, witha pevalue of 0.0019, two-tailed. Thus, the likelihood of the chosen judge being selected randomly from the same population as the five (or perhaps ten) backup judges is less than one in five hundred. Stated another way, the éhosen judge did significantly better, at odds of 500:1, than the backup judges. No reason for this difference (or acknowledgement of its existence) .is given by the authors. fA In Targ and Puthoff (1975), the distribution of the matching responses by the five backup judges for Price's transcripts are given. As reported, the number of correct matches is highly significant although judge C matched three different transcripts to the Baylands Nature Preserve target and no transcript to either the Bridge Toll Plaza or the Swimming Pool Complex in in Rinconada Park, No explanation is given although the judges "were asked to find a narrative which they would consider the best match for each of the places they visited." (p. 154) | (Elgin). Subjects S, and S, are considered to 2 3 be experienced subjects. Their individual results and the combined probability Subjects Se (Swann) and So of their 8 transcripts being ranked as well by chance are shown in Table 4. Again, as with Price and Hammid, the results are highly significant (p = 3.8 x 107"). Apparently no backup judges were used for these subjects. if Subjects 8. (Pease) and 5, (Cole). These two subjects were on the SRI professional staff, and were selected to balance out this series of experiments. 49 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000100440001-9