Approved For Release 2003/01/09 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200480001-5 SRI recommends that investigations into training be comtinued. In the meantime, good viewers are more easily found than trained. 5. Role of Feedback Feedback is defined as providing the viewer with information about the intended target after a remote viewing experiment. Very few experiments were devised to test the role of feedback in determining remote viewing quality. In the early phases of the project, the primary objective was to provide as good a result as possible, and since feedback appeared not to hinder remote viewing, most of the early sessions always included it in one form or another. The strongest evidence about the role of feedback is provided by the FY 1987 tachistoscope experiment. In that study, subliminal or minimal visual feedback was provided to the viewers. Two of the four viewers produced independent evidence for remote viewing ability (7 = 40; 2 = 2.30, p < 0.012, d = 0.363, and z= 4.43, p < 4.78 x 10-6, d = 0.700, respectively). Neither of these viewers showed any dependency upon the intensity of the visual feedback, including zero intensity (i.e., no feedback at all). The question of the role of feedback was examined for group G/. We examined feedback time (i.e., the time duration after a session before feedback was provided), and feedback type (e.g., site, false site, verbal, visual). We found that there were substantia! and significant differences among the various feedback times and among the various feedback types. To interpret these differences with regard to feedback is difficult. For example, the significant difference between a 11-hour delay compared to a S5~minute delay may result from the fact that most of the 5-minute delay feedback intervals occurred in experiments in which photographs were used as targets. Since the Jonger delay occurred in experiments that used beacons and natural sites as targets, one interpretation is that the observed differences are attributable to target type rather than feedback interval. A similar problem arises in the feedback type category. One clear result, however, does emerge. The effect sizes for feedback of natural sites (d = 0.734) is significantly larger than for feedback of the incorrect natural site (d= -0.137. kX? = 4.55, v= 1; p < 0.042), Giving false feedback appears to inhibit remote viewing. A recent study indicates that feedback in remote viewing experiments is not essential.’ This result is in qualitative agreement with the findings from our tachistoscope experiment. In forced-choice experiments, however, Honorton found that the role of feedback in the precognition experiments was critical.® 18 Approved For Release 2003/01/09 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200480001-5
Approved For Release 2003/01/09 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200480001-5 While the quantitative results are mixed, viewers indicate that feedback js psychologically important. We conclude, therefore, that feedback should be provided whenever possible. 6. Effect of Distance We examined the effect of distance on the quality of remote viewing. Distances were divided into four ranges: < 1 km, < 50 km, < 5000 km, and > 5000 km. For the group GJ, there was no effect of distance on the quality of remote viewing (X2 = 3.56, v = 2; P S&S 0.167). It is possible to be definitive about this Particular result since all confounding variables tend to increase the chi-square rather than decrease it. 7. Effect of Size of Target Only one experiment has been conducted that directly addresses this issue. Photographs were reduced to a spot size of approximately 1 mm in diameter. One viewer from group G/ produced significant results (n = 6, 2 = 2.10, PS 0.018, d = 0.857). We are able to conclude that targets 1 mm in diameter do not inhibit remote viewing quality. No data are available on targets of varying sizes. 8. Physiological Correlates to Remote Viewing In the field in general, the search for physiological correlates has not been successful. Early results indicated that an individual should be moderately relaxed and as free from physiological stress as possible (e.g., headaches, bathroom demands). These results are not surprising in that it is likely that such a “physiological” state would be Optimal for any human activity. SRI has examined neurophysiological correlates to remote viewing in two separate experiments. Specifically, the central nervous system appears to respond to a remote light flash, and thus provides a correlate to remote viewing. For the two experiments, a total of four viewers (all from group G/) produced independent significant changes in &-production in correlation with remote light stimuli,+10 SRI recommends that the effort to isolate particular parts of the central nervous system that respond to remote stimuli be continued. The potential for screening and training are significant. 19 Approved For Release 2003/01/09 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200480001-5
Approved For Release 2003/01/09 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200480001-5 9. Psychological Correlates to Remote Viewing Psychological correlates to remote viewing have provided weak, but significant, evidence for correlations with some forms of psychological variables. In the early work with the Personality Assessment System, SRI found that many of the group G/ viewers clustered near each other in PAS Space. In later work, the PAS predicted viewer performance to a significant degree. SRI's work with self-report personality tests has not been successful: however, Honorton reports small, but significant correlations with the thinking/feeling dimension in the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory.!! In general, psychological correlates have been weak and/or unreliable. 10. Shielding and ELF The main purpose of searching for shielding against psychoenergetic functioning is to provide for a secure environment... M. Kogan proposed a model of psychoenergetic information transfer based on extremely low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic radiation.!2_ In that model, Kogan Proposed that the brain is, in effect, a 10~Hz oscillator and the body is a crude antenna. Radiation at that frequency would exhibit many of the properties of psychoenergetic functioning known at that time. Too few data were collected under known shielding conditions to make definitive statements with regard to shielding. Two trials were collected in a 30-dB shielding at 10 Hz. These trials showed Significant evidence of remote viewing (mn = 2, z = 1.92, P SS 0.027, d = 1.358). In another experiment, when the target material was contained in a SCIF, significant evidence for remote viewing was observed (n = 6, z = 1.91, PS 0.028, d = 0.780). The trend, however, is clear: electromagnetic shielding does not inhibit psychoenergetic acquisition of target material. 11. Audio Analysis In a single study involving 6 trials with a single viewer from group G/, a significant correlation of remote viewing quality with the audio/linguistic character of the response was found (n = 6, r = 0.995, p < 0.050, d= 0.800). One purpose for determining within-session correlations with remote viewing quality is to provide for an independent and a priori measure of quality. SRI recommends that this type of investigation be continued to determine the degree to which the result can be generalized across viewers. 20 Approved For Release 2003/01/09 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200480001-5