Science Applications eiease 5h) - (415) 322-7960 - Created: Sunday, June 18, 1995 17:51 - Page 2 of 21 -------- _____Approved-For-Release 2004/03/07 --ClA-RDP96-00791R0G6200470016-2-------------- Annotated Bibliography UNEDITED DRAFT 16 June 1995 INTRODUCTION The Cognitive Sciences Program was initiated by SRI International in 1972 under contract to the Federal government to determine whether anomalous mental phenomena (i.e., extra sensory perception and psychokinesis) existed and the degree to which such phenomena might be applicable to problems of national interest. Over the years, the terminology has evolved; however, in this document we will use the following definitions:” * Anomalous Cognition (AC)—the acquisition, by mental means alone, of information that is secured by distance, time, or shielding. * Anomalous Perturbation (AP)—the influence, by mental means alone, of physically isolated and secured matter. ¢ Anomalous Mental Phenomena (AMP)—the combination of AC and AP. * Basic Research—Research that is primarily oriented to understanding the mechanisms of AMP. Applied Research —Research that is primarily oriented to increasing the magnitude of the effects. For the first 13 years of the project at SRI International, there was no research mandate. Any research that was conducted was to examine foreign claims or was conducted on an ad hoc basis. To illustrate the point, out of a total budget of $11.3 M spanning 17 years, $5.0 M was identified for research and only $700 K was allocated during the first 13-years. The majority of the research funding ($4.3 M) was allocated under a single contract that began in FY 1986 and lasted through 1989. The temporal distribution of the documents in _ this annotated bibliography reflect this temporal distribution of resources. Rather than simply list the documents chronologically, they are presented in the context of the overall view of applied and basic research. In addition, the emphasis is on anomalous cognition, however, anomalous perturbation and search are presented in their own sections. Infrastructure for Research An outline for basic and applied research is shown in Figure 1. Regardless of the ultimate use of anomalous cognition, success intimately depends on the skill of the receiver. This applied research problem is indicated as Receiver Selection and T raining. In other words, how do we identify individuals who possess a native AC skill, and is it possible to increase that skill by training? * Please see the Glossary at the end of this document for a complete definition of terms that may be found in the document set. UNEDITED DRAFT 2 Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000200170016-2
\ Science Applicationg International Corp. - (415) 322-7960 - Created: Sunday, June 18, 1995 17:51 - Page 3 of 21 ~--L----+-~--Approved For elease.2001/03/07_--ClA-RDP96-00794R600200476046-2 ------------- Annotated Bibliography UNEDITED DRAFT 16 June 1995 ¢ Reliable/Calivrated Receivers ¢ Appropriate Targets * Optimal Protocols for Data Collection * Optimum Data Assessment * Integration of Results (Data Fusion) Basic Applied ¢ Source * Receiver Selection ¢ Transmission * Receiver Training ¢ Detector ¢ Target Selection * Protocols ¢ Analysis Figure 1. Document Domain It follows naturally from these questions to address what are the ideal target systems for laboratory investigations and for potential applications. Figure 1 also shows that “what are the ideal protocols to illicit the best possible functioning” is an appropriate topic under applied research. Determining the level of AC functioning requires a sensitive analytical technique. Basic research as illustrated in Figure 1, demonstrates our use of an engineering communication metaphor. That is, like other human sensory systems, we posit that there is a source of energy/information, a propagation mechanism, and a detector system (i.e, the human). The minimum this allows is to assign all the current research problems into one of these three categories. For example, much of the field focuses upon the psychology of the receiver. Under the engineering metaphor, psychological effects can be considered as affecting “detector efficiency.” Recognizing these cate gories has allowed us to design experiments that more easily separate physical properties from psychological ones and has allowed us to test their relative contribution. UNEDITED DRAFT 3 Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000200170016-2
Science Applications International Corp. - (415) 322-7960 - Created: Sunday, June 18, 1995 17:51 - Page 4 of 21 -------~----Approved ForRelease 2001/03/07 ~-GIA-RDP96-0079TRO002001 700162 —— ~~~ Annotated Bibliography UNEDITED DRAFT 16 June 1995 Caveats For each category in Figure 1, we provide a definition of the major problem and what we have learned from the research that was associated with it. Neither of these descriptions are meant to be definitive; rather, they should be considered as providing a context for the documents in this annotated bibliography and as a guide to reading the associated reports. An attempt was made to include all technically relevant documents. All documents from the sponsor’s tasking that are not discussed below, were deemed not critical for the project review. The documents that were marked “destroyed” or were classified will be accounted for at a later date in our McLean offices. There appeared to be a few errors in the original bibliography. Fore xample, a few titles were incorrect and some author orders was wrong, but they have been corrected in this document. In a few cases, documents were replaced with later versions, and those instances are marked within the body of this report. Documents marked as [***] were not present in the original bibliography, but are important enough to included here. All documents annotated in this report are now on file with the sponsor. UNEDITED DRAFT 4 Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000200170016-2
Science Applications International Corp. - (415) 322-7960 - Created: Sunday, June 18, 1995 17:51- Page 5 of 21 Approved. Annotated Bibliography UNEDITED DRAFT 16 June 1995 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Applied Research We begin with the documents that are a product of our applied research, because they represent the vast majority. Please refer to Figure 1 fora graphical _ representation of the applied topics Receiver Selection Research and applications need high-quality receivers. The problem is to identify them within the general population or within specific special populations. Three approaches have been used: (1) Medical profiles (2) Psychological and/or personality profiles. 146. Humphrey, B. S., Saunders, D. R., Lantz, N. D. (1986). Screening and Selec tion of Personnel: The Personality Assessment System (PAS). [Replacement Document] This report describes the Personality system in detail and its ability as a predictor of good performing receivers. The report also includes and application of | the Myers- Brigs Type Indicator self report instrument. 203. Lantz, N. D., Kiernan, R. J. (1986). Neuropsychological Assessment of Participants in Psychoenergetic Tasks. Dr. Kiernan is a clinical Neuropsychiatrist. He used clinical testing techniques to examine primarily frontal lobe contribution to successful receivers. In addition, Dr. Kiernan provides a commentary on the PAS. *K* May, E. C., Luke, W. L. W., and James, Cc. L. (1994). Phenomenological Research and Analysis. Final Report. Science Applications International Corporation, Menlo Park, CA. 13-16. This is the final technical report for 1994. The Q-sort is an empirically derived instrument to examine personalities that have been used successfully for 30 years. This provides a status report on the Q-sort’s ability to screen for receivers. (3) Correlations with other phenomena. (4) Behavioral profiles. Conclusion Identifying talented receivers remains problematical. Although the numbers are small, the medical profiles of receivers are essentially normal without any discernible spread among them. Some of the psychological/personality measures produce significant results, but it appears that these correlations are likely to be artifacts of the collection methodology. The UNEDITED DRAFT 5 Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000200170016-2 For-Release 2001/03/07 --GIA-RDP96-00791RO00200170016-2 ~~~ --------
. Science Applications International Corp. - (415) 322-7960 - Created: Sunday, June 18, 1995 17:51 - Page 7 of 21 ae _---- Approved For Release-2004/03/07-- ClA-~RBP96-00794R006266170016=2------------~ Annotated Bibliography UNEDITED DRAFT 16 June 1995 cognition ability appears to be static within a given receiver and, like other human activities, there is considerable variability across receivers. Target Selection Analogous to other sensory systems, perhaps AC is more acute on some targets than others. In an application setting, is it a good policy to accept all possible tasking, or are there certain tasks that should not be attempted? In the laboratory, proper target selection may improve the level of AC functioning, and in applications it may improve the efficiency of resource allocation. 243. May, E. C. and Trask, V. V. (1989). Forced-Choice Viewing. Final Report, Project 1291. SRI International, Menlo Park, CA. Guessing binary target is one of the most difficult AC tasks. This report describes a cross-country, 50 trial experiment that was monitored by two government representatives. A 76% hitting rate was achieved. *#** May, E, C., Spottiswoode, S. J. S., and James, C. L. (1994). Shannon Entropy as an Intrinsic Target Property: Toward a Reductionist Model. In May, E.  C., Luke, W. L. W., and James, C. L. (1994). Phenomenological Research and Analysis. Final Report. Science Applications International Corporation, Menlo Park, CA. A reviewed and edited version of this paper has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Parapsychology. It is suggested that the gradient of Shannon’s entropy may be an intrinsic target property and that the quality of AC may proportional to it. *KK May, E. C., Spottiswoode, S. J. P. and James, C. L. (1994). Managing the Target- pool Bandwidth: Possible Noise Reduction for Anomalous Cognition Experiments. The Journal of Parapsychology, Vol. 58, 303-313. This published paper describes what was learned. about target selection from the experiments conducted in 1992 and 1993. Thatis,a compromise between forced- choice guessing, where the receiver knows all possibilities, and open-ended material, where the targets are completely unrestricted on content, can reduce response noise. Conclusions It has been known for some time thatthe results from targets that are symbols, such as simple geometric figures or alphabet letters, are an order of magnitude smaller than they are when the targets are photographs or video clips which are relatively unrestricted with regard to content. We have found, however, that the “noise” (e., incorrect elements in responses) increases as the number of potential differentiable cognitive elements increase in the target pool. Resent results suggest that the quality of AC is statistically proportional to the gradient of Shannon’s entropy for photographs or video targets. We hypothesize that this result would extend to gradients of thermodynamic entropy for physical targets because of the relationship between Shannon and thermodynamic entropy and because of a number of results in the application data set.. That is, accelerators, directed energy systems and explosions appear to be easily-sensed. UNEDITED DRAFT 7 Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000200170016-2
on AB SPEE PSP RETSARE Si GBIF ROR SUBsh PE TRand Bod sbaFe 2 Annotated Bibliography UNEDITED DRAFT 16 June 1995 Protocols What is the optimum methodology to collect AC data? That is, what is the “set and setting for sessions?” How long and how often should sessions be, and what is the best way to indicate the target? What psychological state is best for the receiver? How should we guard against the inadvertent leakage of non-AC information into responses or protect against fraud? In the laboratory, we require strict adherence to the standards of behavioral science such a double blinds throughout. Yet with applications in which it is critical to obtain an answer, what is the degree to which “front loading” helps and how should this non-AC information be tracked in the output. Analysis of data and controls are also protocol issues, but we consider them as a separate item under the analysis section, below. 84. May, E. C. and Hecker, M. H. L. (1982). Audiolinguistic Correlations with the Quality of Remote Viewing Sessions. Final Report, Project 3279-5, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA. To date, there appears to be no a priori indicator of remote viewing quality. Dr. Hecker is a specialist in audio analysis, and he applied his techniques to a series of trials with one receiver. Linguistic style of this receiver predicted performance to a statistically significant degree. 230. Lantz, N. D. (1989). The Effects of Hypnosis on Remote Viewing Quality. Final Report, Project 1291. SRI International, Menlo Park, CA. We used various methodological approaches to hypnosis to improve the quality of remote viewing. Dr. Lantz, a clinical psychologist, gives probable explanations for why the technique is not useful. *** Tantz, N. D., Luke, W. L. W. and May, E. C. (1994). Target and sender dependencies in the Anomalous Cognition Experiments. The Journal of Parapsychology, Vol. 58. 285-302. The published paper describes the primary AC experiment that was conducted in 1992 and 1993. Significant AC was observed. The report concludes that a sender is not a required element in a successful AC protocol. \ Conclusions Although we have not studied all protocol issues systematically, we have evolved to an operating environment that is productive. As guidelines, we believe that for receivers two AC sessions per day lasting no more than an hour each is near the upper limit. For short periods of time this pace may be maintained about every other day. Altered states of consciousness such as dreaming or hypnosis appear not to increases AC-quality. Analysis How to determine, in a statistically valid way, whether an information-transfer anomaly (i.e., AC or RV) exists is the basis of the analysis problem. Although simply put, the analysis of AC data in the laboratory is a complex issue. For example, what constitutes a control depends upon the question under study. After seeing an example of AC that has high visual correspondence with the intended ta rget, the natural question is, “What is the probability that the receiver would respond that way given there were no target?” While UNEDITED DRAFT 8 Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000200170016-2
A Bese easier rtd HAR 82s eH S824 78 tR0d260470046-2-—----------- Annotated Bibliography UNEDITED DRAFT 16 June 1995 compelling, that question is impossible to answer in any specific instance and can only be addressed on the average. In laboratory studies, we ask a different question, “Given a response, what is the probability that it matches the intended target?” This can be answered with statistical rigor because the random element, which is necessary in a statistical analysis of this type, is the initial target choice rather than the response, which cannot be assumed to be random. In the application environment, the analysis problem is compounded in that often the details of the intended target are not known. For example, how should the analysis proceed when the target is the whereabouts of a crashed commercial jet liner? 120. May, E. C. (1983). A Remote Viewing evaluation Protocol. Final Report (Revised). SRI International, Menlo Park, CA. The analysis technique described here is a pre cursor to the application of fuzzy sets. A score is computed from relevance weighting factors of target and response “concepts” and a judge’s blind assessment. 162. May, E. C., Humphrey, B. S., and Matthews, C. (1985). A Figure of Merit Analysis for Free-Response Material,” Proceedings of Presented Papers, The Parapsychological Association 28th Annual Convention, Tufts, University, Medford, MA. 335-372. The figure-of-merit technique is commonly used within the program at SRI. The technique is defined for crisp sets in this paper. Later, the definition of figure of merit was extended to include fuzzy sets. 178. Humphrey, B. S. (1986). Remote Viewing Evaluation Techniques. Final Report A- 4, Project 1291. SRI International, Menlo Park, Ca. Ms. Humphrey describes crisp and fuzzy sets and how they have or can be applied to the analysis of remote viewing. 227. May, E. C. and Humphrey, B. S. (1988). Applications of Fuzzy Sets to Remote Viewing Analysis. Final Report, Objective F, Task 1, Project 1291. SRI International, Menlo Park, CA. This is published in the peer-reviewed technical journal ( Journal of Parapsychology , Vol. 54, September 1990, 193-228—included in the document set). Fuzzy set concepts are applied to visual correspondence between targets and responses in remote viewing experiments. 260. Luke, W. L. W., Frivold, T. J., May, E. C., and Trask, V. V. (1989). A Prototype Analysis System for Special Remote Viewing Tasks. Final Report, Task 6.0.3, Project 1291. SRI International, Menlo Park, CA. The fuzzy set analysis is extended by incorporating an adaptive _ learning technique. A receiver-dependent historical response set might be an a priori predictor of remote viewing performance. *** — Spottiswoode, S. J. S. (1987). Investigating the Semantics of Remote Perception with Similarity Estimates and Multidimensional Scaling. Final Report to the Cognitive Sciences Program, SRI International. UNEDITED DRAFT 9 Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000200170016-2
Science Applications International Oi - (415) 322-7960 - Created: Sunday, June 18, 1995 17:51 - Page 10 of 21 oan _._.-Approved-For Release-2001/03/07- + GIA-RBP96-606791R606200170016-2-———— Annotated Bibliography UNEDITED DRAFT 16 June 1995 Mr. Spottiswoode applies multidimensional scaling to remote viewing analysis. In photographic targets, he found weak evidence for the existence of underlying semantic dimensions of predominately man-made scenes versus predominately natural scenes and the presence versus the absence of land-water interfaces. Conclusions The analysis of choice for laboratory experiments is the rank-order method. In this technique, a target pack, from which the target will be randomly selected, is constructed prior to the experiment. Usually great care is exercised to include targets within a pack to be as different from one another as possible and that the random number generator mects all accepted criteria for being random. For a single response, an independent analyst who is blind to the experimental details, rank orders the targets within a pack from the one that best matches the given response, second best, andso one through the pack. Under the null hypothesis, the average rank after many such trials should be (N+1)/2, where N is the number of targets in the pack. Typically N=5 in our studies so the expected average rank is 3. Our best receivers generally produce average ranks of approximately 2. We have also explored a variety of other methods including concept analysis—reducing a response to conceptual elements, rating scales, and an elaborate application of fuzzy set procedures. In the application environment, we have developed a variety of approaches that rely upon historical responses to similar situations or invoke pre- and post-session calibrations where the target material is completely known. One method has incorporated an adaptive fuzzy set approach; however, these methods have not yet been tested in the field. Basic Research Research that is primarily directed to understanding the mechanisms of AC is called basic. In this section we follow the engineering metaphor as illustrated in Figure 1. Source What is the source of the energy/information that is available to AC-receivers? Some in the parapsychological research community believe we are dealing with non-physical parameters and that traditional science must be signif icantly modified to account for AC phenomena. Our approach is more conservative. We assume that AC will eventually be explained by the known laws of nature, or perhaps small modifications to them. There is no known transfer of information without a concomitant transfer of energy. Our research assumes that is must be true for AC as well. *k May, E. C., Spottiswoode, S. J. S., and James, C. L. (1984). Shannon Entropy as an Intrinsic Target Property: Toward a Reductionist Model. In May, E. C., Luke, W.L. W., and James, C. L. (1994). Phenomenological Research and Analysis. Final Report. Science Applications Intemational Corporation, Menlo Park, CA. [Note: This document is also listed under Target Selection above. The concept applies to both areas of the research infrastructure. ] UNEDITED DRAFT 10 Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000200170016-2
Science Applications International Corp. - (415) 322-7960 - Created: Sunday, June 18, 1995 17:51 - Page 11 of 27 proved-For Release 2001/03/07 - ClIA-RDP96-60794R6662001700T6-2- Annotated Bibliography UNEDITED DRAFT 16 June 1995 A reviewed and edited version of this paper has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Parapsychology. It is suggested that the gradient of Shannon’s entropy may be an intrinsic target property and that the quality of AC may proportional to it. Conclusions Out latest results suggest thatthe gradient of Shannon’s entropy is, or is related to, the source for AC. Considerably more research is required to validate this finding, but to our knowledge, this is the first physical variable that is exclusively related to the target that produces reliable correlations with the quality of AC. Transmission How does the information propagate from the source to the receiver? What isthe carrier for the information? Since there is compelling evidence for precognition (Le., a statistical leakage of information from the future), the transmission is required to be a 4-space mechanism. 207a. May, E. C. and Lantz, N. D. (1987). Feedback and Precognition Dependent Remote Viewing Experiments. Final Report-Objective F, Tasks 1a and 1b. Project 1291. SRI International, Menlo Park, CA. An experiment to contrast real-time versus preco gnitive remote viewing is presented in addition to a feedback experiment using a tachistoscope. The first ex periment did not yield significant evidence for remote viewing, but the second one showed strong evidence. 207b.May, E. C., Lantz, N. D. and Piantineda, T. (1994), Feedback Considerations in Anomalous Cognition Experiments. Journal of Parapsychology. The second experiment has been accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed technical journal, Journal of Parapsychology. [This version has been included in the document set as a replacement for 192. ] Conclusions Very little has been explored in this domain; thus, it is premature to comment other than to say that special 4-dimensional geometries have been examined in hopes to reduce the 4- space distance from source to detector to zero. Detector What are the physiological mechanisms for the detection of AC information? We generally have proposed that AC is detected by an additional sensorial system. | We expect to find neurological structures that behave similarly to the known ones for other senses (e.g., receptor neurons that are sigmoidal in their response, etc.). 13. Targ, R. May, E. C. and Puthoff, H. E., Galin, D. and Ornstein, R. (1976). Sensing of Remote EM Sources (Psychological Correlates). Final Report, Project 4540. SRI International, Menlo Park, CA. This report describes in detail three experiments with a single receiver that demonstrate that the central nervous system (i.e., the brain) responds to sensorially isolated stimuli. This was a joint effort between SRI International and the Langly Porter Neuropsychiatric Institute, San Francisco, CA. UNEDITED DRAFT 11 Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000200170016-2