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3.3.
Bio-PK Effect on Electrical Properties of Plants
A
group
of
researchers
in Moscow,
affiliated
to
the
Inter-
national Academy of Human Potential and headed by biophy
s
icist Dr.
Yuri
S.
Dolin,
has been conducting numerous experiments
electrophysiological
activity
of
plants
was
chosen
as
a
ta^
et
system
(Dolin
et
al.,
1992;
Dolin,
Davydov,
Lemeshko,
et
al.,
1993).
The methodology
and
results
of
some
of
these
tests
are
included
in
a paper
that
is
scheduled
for presentation
at
this
convention
and
is
published
in
this
volume
(Dolin,
Davydov,
Morozova,
&
Shumov,
1993 )
.
Therefore,
without
discussing
this
study in detail
(since details can be found in the published study,
we would like
to point out that the controls seem to be
adequate
and statistically significant results have been obtained
in both
experimental
series:
one
involving
an
operator
s
effec
single plant, and another involving an operator's purposeful effect
on one of two plants randomly selected in advance.
This is one of
the most promising groups in Russia that is actively involved in
experimental studies in the field of parapsychology,
and we intend
to continue our cooperation with these researchers.
3.4.
Other Attempts at "Distant Influence" on Plants
Elvira
V.
Morozova
from
the
Russian
Agricultural
Academy,
together
with
her
associates,
carried
out
several
series
o
experiments
which
involved
human
influence
on
plant
seeds
(Morozova,
et al.,
1989,
1991).
The researchers used wheat,
bean,
cucumber,
pea and other seeds.
The seeds were soaked for
12 to
hours
in water,
after which
a test
batch was
"irradiated"
by
an
operator for three minutes.
The control and the test batche? were
allowed
to
germinate
in
identical
condxtions,
and
a^er
-
davs the germination of the seeds was inspected and the length or
the
roots
and
sprouts
was
measured.
The
influence
reportedly
resulted
in
an
increase
in
germination
of
the
seeds.
In
one
experimental series with five different operators,
the wheat seed
germination was
142%,
123%,
132%,
135%,
and
178%,
as compared to
the germination of control seeds.
In other tests,
operators were
reportedly
capable
of
stimulating or
retarding plant
growth,
as
well as causing two sprouts to grow from one wheat seed.
According
to the authors,
this phenomenon was observed spontaneously in one
of
967 control
seeds,
but in one or two seeds from every
10 to
seeds subjected to operator's effect.
In experiments with kidney
beans,
sprouts
of the
seeds
subjected to
an operator's influence
had
an
additional number of
leaves.
With control
seeds, m
one
series from 38 control seeds, one sprout had this effect while from
test
seeds
four
sprouts
had
it;
in
another
series,
from
3 1
control
plants,
four
sprouts
had
the
effect
while
from
test
plants,
14 sprouts had it.
In many of these tests,
seeds were placed in a grounded metal
box,
wrapped
in
black
paper.
Furthermore,
a
glass
vessel
with
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water was placed between the experimenter's hand an^he^f fectJ of
order to remove the infrared radiation of
.
*
, alass) were
other screens
(made of aluminum,
copper,
leather,
and glass) were
studied as
well.
In
all
the
tests
the
results
appeared
not
to
depend on the material of the screen.
These tests seem to be well-controlled, but there insufficient
data for detailed calculations.
We recommend caution in that plant
systems are particularly problematic bio-PK targets.
3.5.
"Distant Influence" on Electricity-Generating Fish
Gurtovoy and Parkhomov
(1991,
1992)
attempted a bi°-^ study
in
which
they
monitored
the
electric
response
of
electn
y
generating fish
( Gnathonemus Petersii)
to
"study by
"slow down" the fish.
This was a replication of a earlier study by
P?o?asov and his associates
(Protasov,
et al.,
1981)
conducted a*
?ha “te 1970s at the Research Institute of
and
Clinical
Ecology
in Moscow
and
published m
a major
soviet
scientific journal.
The dependent variable
:
j-n bhaae tests was the
time interval between electric pulses emitted by the fish.
In tb
preliminary series (screening) with unselected subjects^,
six ofjl
Li-ie were
successful
(>
standard deviations),
p
<
x
.
in the
subsequent formal
experiment,
ei9bb f8ub 3 ecbs ^le^Sts
trials
being
successful,
p
<
x
.
In
these
tests,
operators
started working
at
random moments
of
time.
The
tests
were conducted with the purpose of
“ cal!"1D9 d°™f *5® f—rAase
iA
the shifts that occurred were in the direction of
an increase
in
the pulse intervals.
At the same time,
as Gurtovoy and Parkhomov
pointed out,
it is known that the electric fish Primarily
D^S°£e
S
to
changes
in
its
environment
( e . g .
,
a
change
of
temperature
,
liahtino
magnetic field or to sound) with a decrease m the pulse
intervals.
Still,
although the controls as described by Gurtovoy
and Parkhomov
(1991,
1992)
seem to
be
adequate,
we believe more
caution is necessary in working with biological systems which are
highly reactive to changes in their environmen
.
3.6.
"Distant Influence" on the Eating Behavior of White Mice
Dr
Seraei
V.
Speransky,
whom one
of
us
(LF)
has
known
for
over
20* years,
holds
a
Ph.D.
in
Biology
and
is
a
specialist
in
toxicology
with
a
long-term
interest m
parapsychology.
As
a
biologist, he has always been interested in studying ESP in animals
and
using
animals
as
biological
detectors
of
human
distant
influence
"
In the 1970s,
he conducted tests on "anomalous
commu
nicition Aetweeu two groips of white mice
(Speransky,
1983,
1990).
The
current
study
that
Speransky
shared with
us
during our
trio
was Conducted
in
collaboration
with
Leonid
M.
Porvm,
a
specialist in electronic engineering, who, according to Speransky,
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(the
last was
in the
group
of
nine
mice),
respectively.
While
other ^operators worked ^t relatively -all dietaroee^eterefron,
the mice), ’the operator who turned out to be the most successful
affected
mice
located
in
Moscow
from
the
town
of
Yalta
in
the
Crimea
at a distance of about 800 miles.
In January 1993,
15 n^ce
39 in the test group were still alive as compared to zero in
the oontiSl group.
In the third series, nine out of
10 animals in
onl
test
subgroup
and
all
in
another
subgroup
survived,
as
compared to tfres mice in the control group.
The researchers in
Moscow plan to replicate the experiment.
kKojnwecTBO Mbnueft (urr.)
S
i
iiL...
* 2
i
U
|
I
I
»
l
Time after irradiation
(days)
Pnc.1.
rVt6tnb MurneA
nocne
f
- odny^eHH*
(900
paa.),
rxwiepniJHxca
- M.B.OaTbKHH
(OTcraHUHOHHo); 5
-
H.H.noicMee*.
Fig.
3.1.
The mortality rate of mice after gamma-irradiation of
900
rad
in
control
and with attempted preventive bio-Pk effect^
(1)
control;
(2)
operator
N.
G.
Balashov;
(3)
0.
G.
Bonso
glebskaya;
(4)
M.
B.
Fatkin
(long-distance);
(5)
N.I.
Pokazeyev.
3.8.
"Mental Interference" into Another Person's Thinking
Process
Anatoly Arlashin
of
the Bioinformation
Laboratory
at
A.
S.
Podov Society for Radio Engineering,
Electronics,
and Communica-
tions in Moscow conducted an experiment in which trained sensi ives
were
asked
to
"interfere"
at
a
distance
into
another
(sensory-
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isolated)
person's
mental
process.
Forty-four
college
students
(average
age
years)
were
invited
to
partrcrpate, as
subjects
They knew neither the focus of the laboratory's activities , nor the
real
ourpose
of
the
test.
Each
subject was ^asked
to
solve
six
mathematical problems which consisted
in
^en^lind
number
by
another
two-digit
number without
the
help
of
a
JJf
naoer
with
closed
eyes.
Problems
4,
5,
and
consisted
of
multiplying the same numbers as problems
1,
2,
and
3,
but because
the numbers were reversed,
the subjects did not noticei that^these
subsets were
identical
(this,
however,
may be
a drawback
of
the
experiment).
The
mental
"interference"
group
consisted
of
sensitives
trained
in
mental
imagery
techniques.
Prior
J*®
beoinning of the test, each subject was invited to come to the room
where the "interference" group was located.
The subjects were le
to
believe
that
this was
done
in
order
to
ask them
some
form
Questions,
but
actually
it
was
done
to
giver the members
of
the
"interference" group the opportunity to see the subjects they wtou
be asked to affect mentally.
In attempting the "interference,
the
sensitives imagined mentally "bombarding" the subject when he was
Inalged
in
a mental
calculation task,
by
a continuous
stream
of
numbers
as
well
as
"sending"
the
subjects
emotions
of
Pan^
uncertainty,
and a lack of self-confidence.
During the test,
tne
"interference"
group
and
the
subject
were
located
in
different
rooms,
with another room located between the two.
Before
the
actual
test,
each
subject was asked to
solve
an
additional math problem to "enter"
the working mode.
to the subjects,
they were divided into four groups.
.
(!)
a ^roup.
subjected to "mental interference" when they were s°lvxng
three
(1-3)
problems;
(2)
a
group
subjected
to
"mental
inter
ference" when they were solving the last three
(4
6) problems,
(3)
agroup adjected
to "mental interference" when they were solving
problems
2,
4,
6;
and
(4)
a control group not subjected to
mental
interference M
at any time*
The results were as follows:
when "mental interference" was
used when the
subjects were working on P^lei^
l-3 ,
there was
statistically
significant
increase m
the
time
spent
by
tne
subjects
to
solve
the problems
(42.7%,
p
<
0.001).
The
inter-
ference" of two experienced sensitives, Karl Nikolayev and Ludmila
Korabelnikova , was more effective,
increasing the time of calculg
tion by 71.6%.
However,
if the "interference" was applied when the
subjects
were
working
on
problems
4-6,
their
calculation
time
decreased by 21%
(p
<
0.01).
This
is consistent with literature
data
on
effects
of
sensory
interference
on
performance
of
any
mental
task:
when
a person
starts
concentrating on
a
task,
any
distraction
usually
impedes
his/her
performance
to
a
certain
degree, but if the person is further ahead in executing the task he
or she responds
to distractions by increasing concentration.
If
the
"mental
interference"
was
applied
interchanging^
when
the
subject
was
working
on
problems
2,
4,
and
6,
there
was
n
significant effect.
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3.9.
"Distant Influence" on Humans with EEG Recording
Dr.
Yuri
S.
Dolin,
a
biophysicist,
whose
experiments
with
plants we discussed above,
showed us the equipment and design
another bio-PK experiment.
While in Moscow in the fall of
,
were invited to actually participate in one trial,
^.^v^ided
a subject was located in a dark,
soundproof, electrically-shielded
chamber; his electroencephalogram (EEG) was monitored, and chang
in alpha rhythm as the result of remote attention were recorded.
The dependent variable was the relative alpha power change during
effort
compared
to
control
periods.
The
data
suggest
that
an
operator °seems
to
be
able
to* affect
alpha power
of
the
sensory-
isolated
subjects.
As
in
the
above
experiments
on
the
remote
effect
of
electrophysiological
responses
of
plants,
preliminary
results of this study are published in this volume <™±a'Jg?ov^
and
Khatchenkov,
1993),
and
the
experiments
are
currently
in
IrtrCriin? to Dolin,
the main condition for success
of
these tests,
similar to most of the above-discussed bio-PK tests,
is proper training and skill of the operators.
3.10.
"Distant Influence" on Humans with Monitoring of
Reaction Time
Dr.
Natalia
N.
Lebedeva,
a
biologist
from
the
Research
Institute
of Higher Nervous Activity
and Neurophysiology
of
the
Russian
Academy
of
Sciences
in
Moscow,
showed
us
preliminary
results of a pilot bio-PK study.
A subject in a shielded chamber
was given a standard task to respond to
a visual stimulus
(a dot
appearing
on
a
computer
screen
at
random
time
intervals)
by
pressing a button,
and the subject's
reaction time was measured.
At certain time intervals, an operator located outside the shield
chamber was asked to affect the subject's right hand to slow down
his/her performance with
this
hand
and
thereby
increase
his/her
reaction time.
This study is still in progress,
and evaluation of
the data has not yet been completed.
According to Lebedeva,
pre-
liminary
analysis
of
the
data
shows
a
statistically
significant
increase
in
the
subject's
reaction
time
during
the
operator s
effect
(when
the
subject
perfomed
the
task with
the
right
hand
affected by the operator)
in the majority of cases
(70-80°) of the
tests.
In some cases the significant increase in
re, time
after the
the
right
(affected)
hand included the
period
of
time
after the
oDerator
' s effect as well .
Sometimes ,
an increase in the reaction
?|Uewas seen for Soth hands of the subject during the operator
s
effect.
Thus,
a certain degree of variability of the data probably
requires the use
of different methods
for statistical processing
and/or changes in the experimental protocol, with the purpose being
the establishment of all the variables and factors which may affect
thl resets! e. g
, physiological, methodological, operator/receiver
compatiiilit; or'ment^ images created by the operator.
In dis-
cussions with Dr.
Lebedeva in our laboratory,
we identified some
methodological improvements for a formal replication.
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3.11.
Additional Summary of AMP Experiments
In our interaction with researchers in Russia , we learned of
a nmnber of other experimental
studies.
Some
of them were very
intriguing and were
conducted under the
auspices
of
Prestigio
TPsearch
institutions.
At
the
same
time,
some
of
the
studies
apparently have methodological problems.
For
°| ^aliation°
not have sufficient information to provide a detailed evaluation.
Therefore, instead of discussing each of these studies separately,
we summarized them in Table
2. Although the emphasis is °nbio-PK
experiments, one PK attempt to affect inanimate systems is included
as well.
Table
Summary of Some AMP Studies in the Former Soviet Union
Principal
Location
Experiment
Experiment
Comments
author and
tyP®
task
reference
Krendeleva
Moscow State
PK on
change pH
pH appears to de-^
(Pogosyan,
University,
physical
of water
crea
®
e
,°P®|5s
t
al.
Biology
systems
tn'nnntrols
1993)
Department
more controls.
Krendeleva
same
(Nikolayev,
et al .
,
1993)
bio-PK
change
NMR para-
meters
of plant
seeds
Dolin
International
bio-PK
change
(Sidyakin,
Academy of
plus EMF animal
et al .
,
Human Poten-
behavior
1992)
tial in Moscow
and Simferopol
State University
Dolin
(Tkachuk,
et
al .
,
1992)
International
Academy of
Human Potential
and a group in
Kiev,
Ukraine
bio-PK
Kaznacheyev,
Institute of
bio-PK
Mikhailova
Clinical and
(Mikhailova
Experimental
Merenkova,
Medicine,
& Feldman,
Novosibirsk
1991)
change
enzyme
activity
in plants
increase
growth
of a
tissue
culture
positive results
are reported;
in-
sufficient data
for assessment.
significant results
are reported;
EMF
modifies effect;
insufficient data.
positive results
are reported;
insufficient data.
20% to 30% increase
in cell mitoses
is
reported;
details
of the tests are
not described.
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Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5 CPYRGHT Principal Location Experiment Experiment Comments author and ° task reference Mikhailova Institute of bio-P positive results (Kazna- . Clinical .and are reported; cheyev, Experimental synthesis insufficient data Mikhailova, Medicine, in tissue for assessment. & Vladimir- Novosibirsk cultures sky, 1990) 4; Conclusions ‘In concluding this review of some aspects of parapsychology in the former Soviet Union, we would like to point out that in Russia, as elsewhere, there is a wide range of research skills. We found the researchers to be enthusiastic and, in some cases, the experi- mental work ‘suffers. At times, some experimenters are not as self- critical as good science might dictate. Writing styles and report- ing standards often make formal analysis difficult. Additionally, the "culture" is strongly biased toward an influence (PK) model. Alternative theoretical views, similar to the Intuitive Data Sort- ing (IDS) . informational model (May, et al., 1986), are not only non-existent, but in discussions are often rejected outright, | without being examined.. Nevertheless, one conclusion can be made with a high degree of certainty: for a number of years, researchers in the former Soviet Union have been engaged in a broad range of studies of anomalous mental phenomena, primarily in the PK and bio-PK areas. ,Such prestigious institutions as Moscow State University and the research institutes of the Academy of Sciences have been involved in AMP studies that are supported by both government and private funding. We believe a more comprehensive review and meta-analysis of AMP studies in Russia should be conducted. We also hope that our cooperation with our Russian colleagues will continue and will provide all of us with deeper understanding and insights into manifestations of anomalous mental phenomena. Acknowledgements We thank Dr. Marilyn J. Schlitz, Mrs. Charlotte Berney, and Mr. Douglas MacGowan for their comments and editorial assistance. References Bobrov, A. v., Kolesnikova, T. V., & Shraivman, F. O. (1986). [Remote influence of man on an electrode system]. Biofizika, 31(2), 365 (in Russian; English translation in: Biophysics, 31(2), 406). Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5
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Dolin,
Yu.
S.,
Davydov ,
V.
A.,
Lemeshko,
B.
D.,
Mirotin,
I.
V.,
Morozova,
E’.
V.,
&
Shumov,
D.
Ye.
(1993,
April).
[Recording of
human
distant
influence
on
plants ]
.
In
Sverkhslabyye
vzaimo-
deistviia v tekhnike, prirode i obshchestve [Ultraweak interactions
in technology,
nature,
and society]. Abstracts of papers
(pp.
19-
20).
Moscow:
A.S.
Popov Scientific and Technological Society of
Radio Engineering,
Electronics,
and Communications (m Russian).
Dolin,
Yu.
S.,
Davydov,
V.
A.,
Lemeshko,
B.
D.,
Morozova,
E.
V.,
Mirotin,
I.
V.,
&
Shumov,
D.
Ye.
(1992,
October).
Recording of
human
distant
influence
on
a
plant
by
electrophysiological
reactions.
Abstracts of papers presented at the conference Dusha
i nauka
[Science and Soul],
Yalta,
Crimea
(p.
21).
Simferopol.
Dolin,
Yu.
S.,
Davydov,
V.
A.,
Morozova,
E.
V.,
&
Shumov,
D.
Ye.
(1993,
August).
Studies of a remote mental effect on Plants with
electrophysiological
recording.
Proceedings
of
the
36th
Annual
Convention of the Parapsychologycal Association,
Toronto,
Canada,
PP-
?•
Dolin,
Y.
S.,
Dymov,
V.
I.,
& Khatchenkov,
N.
N.
August).
Preliminary
study
of
a
human
operator's
remote
effect
on
the
psychophysiological state of another individual with EEC recording.
Proceedings of the 36th Annual Convention of the Parapsychologycal
Association,
Toronto,
Canada,
pp.
?•
Gurtovoy,
G.
K.
,
Dubitsky,
Ye.
A.,
& Parkhomov,
A.
G.
( 1993)-tA
person's remote influence on a screened microcalorimeter:
Experi-
ment Moscow-Novosibirsk].
Parapsikhologiya
i Psikhofizika
[ Para-
psychology and Psychophysics],
No.
1(9),
29-39
(in Russian).
Gurtovoy,
G.
K.
,
&
Parkhomov,
A.
G.
(1991).
Human
distant
influence
on
physical
and
biological
systems.
In
Anomalnyye
vavleniva:
Fakty ,
issledovaniya,
gipotezy
[Anomalous phenomena:
Facts,
studies,
hypotheses]
(issue
1,
pp.
6-11).
Moscow:
Center
GALS
( in Russian )
.
Gurtovoy,
G.
K.
,
& Parkhomov,
A.
G.
(1992).
[Experimental study on
a person's
remote influence
on physical
and biological
systems].
Parapsikhologiya i Psikhofizika [Parapsychology and Psychophysics],
No*
4(6)
,
31-51
(in Russian;
English translation m:
Journal
of
the Society for Psychical Research,
in press).
Kartsev,
V.
I.
(1993).
[Lethal gamma-irradiation and bioenergy
therapy].
Parapsikhologiya
i
Psikhofizika
[Parapsychology
and
Psychophysics],
No.
1(9),
44-48
(in Russian).
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Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5