Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2 RECENT REVIEWS “THE ANOMALY CALLED PSI: RECENT RESEARCH AND CRITICISM’; BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES, NOVEMBER 1987 “ENHANCING HUMAN PERFORMANCE’, NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL: 1988 | "REPLICATION AND META-ANALYSIS IN PARAPSYCHOLOGY": STATISTICAL SCIENCE; VOL 6, No. 4: 1991 “DOES PSI EXIST? REPLICABLE EVIDENCE FOR AN ANOMALOUS PROCESS OF INFORMATION TRANSFER’; PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN (PENDING) Approved For Release 2000/08/08: CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2
SGIA Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2 SECRET (S/NF) Several important basic and application-related findings resulted from the later SRI investigations. These were: (1) distance/shielding do not effect results; (2) some people have an innate capability to perform well; (3) goal orientation is more important then psychological factors/states or the nature of the target; and (4) a potential correlation between remote viewing capability and certain brain area activity may exist. These findings were based on research procedures and techniques that received critical review by an expert nine-person Scientific Oversight Committee. The research approach and procedures were judged scientifically sound. Some of the procedural problems associated with early work in this field had been resolved and corrected. (U) Appendix B contains specific comments from a research panel that reviewed some of this work in the 1983-1984 time- frame. This Science Panel review led to later research efforts that included a variety of basic and applied research objectives. (S/NF) The effort at SRI was discontinued in 1990. However, as a result of Congressional direction in FY 1991 for DIA, new research in this area was established with the Systems Applications International Corporation (SAIC), in Menlo Park, CA. III. (U) APPLICATION INVESTIGATIONS (S/NF) In the early 1970's, U.S. researchers at SRI- International, Menlo Park, CA, also initiated research into phenomena understanding and application pursuits. This work, centering on “remote viewing (RV)" came to the attention of the CIA. CIA then provided funding to SRI for continuing RV research. Then funding was discontinued in 1975; subsequent funding for RV investigation at SRI was provided by DIA and some of DIA's service support elements with occasional support from SECRET /NOFORN/WNINTEL/LIMDIS STAR GATE Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP9-00789R002800180001-2
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2 SECRET various R&D organizations. DIA's interest in funding this area was primarily from a threat assessment point-of-view in order to help understand the Soviet work. (S/NF/SG/LIMDIS) The successful long distance SRI remote viewing experiments from the 1970's generated interest in operational pursuits with in-house government personnel. In the late 1970's, HQDA/INSCOM established a small unit for “development of a community capability' in RV. This unit was transferred to DIA in 1986 when 12 billets were authorized in the GDIP budget for this activity. A Special Access Program (SAP), SUN STREAK, was established in order to protect identity of the individuals and due to the nature of some of the projects examined. (S/NF/SG/LIMDIS) A variety of potential operational projects were investigated over the next few years; in 1989 the Military Intelligence Board (MIB) agreed to examine the utility of the project under field conditions involving counternarcotics projects. The MIB reviewed results of this test period in September, 1990. Subsequently, STAR GATE was established to expand on earlier efforts and to permit systematic and scientifically sound investigations to continue. All STAR GATE activities are conducted in accordance with appropriate scientific procedures and methodologies. (S/NF/SG/LIMDIS) Over-all, STAR GATE activity is based on both a concurrent research and application philosophy. It is recognized that formal scientific proof of this phenomena may yet be available, even though "anomaly demonstration" may be granted in some academic areas. Although formal scientific acceptance could be helpful, the history of application investigations in this field demonstrates that at least some level of application reliability can be achieved for some types of projects. The issue is how to improve overall data quality/reliability so that wider use can be made of this potential capability. (S/NF/SG/LIMDIS) In addition to recent research reviews (Figure 6), formal reviews of operational potential or activity have also been conducted. One review examined a four-year investigation period and was summarized in a briefing given to the Military Intelligence Board (MIB) in 1989. Overall findings are shown as Figure 7 and Figure 8. Key points from this review were: - Potential applications exist for certain projects types: -- cCounternarcotics (CN) -- Counterterrorism (CT) -- Counterintelligence (CI) qeReeeNOFORN/WNINTEL/LIMDIS STAR GATE Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2 PROJECTS WORKED | 1986-1989 TOTAL PROJECTS = 192 o KNOWN SEE PARTIALLY KNOWN NOT KNOWN ” pea © Li ~ Oo sel oO. CT. CN . cl DOC PRED. —— CONTENTS: PROJECT TYPE aronet NOFORN "senso Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2 FIGURE 7
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2 Tlwenk I A | OVERALL DATA CORRELATIONS = ° we os r uw ia oF) co o < aoa < ao. CN. ci = =~=—s_—dvbOC.. PRED. CONTENTS . PROJECT TYPE © ~ LARGE SCALE ~ove. SMALL SCALE - © TEST FACILITY, » AIRFIELD) a * (LASER TEST, ANTENNA DISH) OnOncT NOFORN - | seins Approved For Release 2000/9f/68 CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2
SGIA Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2 _ SECRET - Limited potential exists for detailed data: -- S/T parameters -- Precise locations - Low potential exists for predictive tasks - Individuals! performance: -- Correlates with project tasks -- Can improve with high demands/needs and strong goal orientation. (S/NF/SG/LIMDIS) Another review occurred in 1990. This followed from an earlier MIB recommendation that operational investigations focus on counternarcotics projects. Figure 9 shows results of this effort. Overall, about one third of all projects were judged to have provided data of good quality. This was based on evaluation of 32 projects. Although 104 projects were conducted, weather/operational constraints prevented follow- up for ground truth on the majority of those projects. IV. (U) FOREIGN ASSESSMENTS A. (U) INTRODUCTION (S/NF) The FY 1991 Defense Authorization Act identified DIA as executive agent of a new program for examining parapsychological phenomena. As part of this program, DIA was directed to develop an integrated foreign data base on parapsychological activities SECRET /NOFORN/WNINTEL/LIMDIS STAR GATE Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP¥6-00789R002800180001-2 SGIA
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Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2 APPENDTIX Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 / Staitd60789R002800180001-2 APPENDIX A TERMINOLOGY (U) The investigations described in this report involve a class of human capabilities generally referred to as parapsychological or paranormal phenomena. There are two general types, informational and energetic. (U) Informational aspects include the ability to describe remote or concealed data without the use of known sensory systems. This aspect is generally referred to as remote viewing (RV) or extrasensory perception (ESP). Another term, anomalous cognition (AC), is also currently used by researchers in this field. The ability to predict future events is usually referred to as precognition. (U) The energetic aspect refers to the mental ability to influence material or biological systems via unknown mechanisms. This aspect is sometimes referred to as psychokinesis (PK). (U) Soviet researchers generally use the term "“psychoenergetics" to identify this research area. Chinese researchers prefer the terms "extraordinary human body functions" or "somatic science" for similar functions. (U) A variety of other terms have, and probably will, be used to describe specific aspects of the basic phenomena. Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : élatrpP96-00789R002800180001-2 UNCLASSIFIED
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2 SHOCRET APPENDIX B S PANEL REPO SRI STUDIES IN V : A PROGRAM REVIEW 1 MARCH 1984 B-1 Approved For Release 2000/dBiA CA REP IF'007s9RogzemmnaBonOACE — SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE : SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
ifs Approved For Release 2000/08/08 whate ited 6-00789R002800180001-2 | SRI STUDIES IN REMOTE VIEWING: A PROGRAM REVIEW For the past eleven years, a small group headed by Dr. H. Puthoff has sought evidence that would support the case for extrasensory perception. In recent years, the focus of these studies has centered on “remote viewing" by subjects claiming to visualize the scene at a point beyond the field of vision, and in many cases, in a remote part of the world, typically not known to them by actual experience. The implication of success in remote viewing, if it exists, are revolutionary; since as described to the review team, it is mani- festly incompatible with currently accepted scientific principles. Remote view- ing of future events--"precognition"--evidently violates causality; real time remote viewing clearly requires a transmission mechanism other than any known process: electromagnetic, gravitational, etc. The lack of a physical model should not be taken to preclude the existence of the capability to view a remote location. However, this circumstance has thus far limited application of the classic methods of scientific investiga- tion to less cogent issues, such as controls for inadvertent cueing, statistical evaluation of the incidence of positive findings, estimation of false-positive and false-negative responses, and in particular, the design of experiments that would limit as far as possible intrusion of extraneous factors relating to personal interaction and observer biases. The evidence shown to us is too impressive to dismiss as mere coincidence. Certain similarities between the SRI and Princeton results, obtained in very different circumstances by unrelated investigators, are particularly compelling. The Princeton work is somewhat more quantitative than that at SRI and leads to an estimate by Dr. R. Jahn that the phenomena he has observed could be B-2 R bf Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : ote VaR 00789R002800180001 -2 WASHING NOTICE . 10 CSOHRAFS ANA METH fang IMAP n
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : ae lalit -00789R002800180001-2 explained by a transfer of information above noise at a level of about one bit per thousand. This of course raises the question of how much information is required to construct the impressions gained by remote viewing, a question which the investigators cannot presently answer. Therefore, the review team feels that remote viewing is either real or due to some sort of experimental interference from one or some of the participants; something one might describe as “inadvertent cueing." Although, on the basis of our brief exposure to the SRI program, we found no obvious evidence of cueing or collusion between the viewer and the experiment monitors. The briefings strongly emphasized the investigator's ability to train others in their techniques. This training program has developed over the past five years through the dedicated participation of Mr. Ingo Swann. His diverse talents have been devoted to self-training which he now feels competent to impart to others. Approximately a dozen trainees have completed instruction to various levels of claimed competence. An important aspect of Swann's contribu- tions relates to his dissection of separate elements in the perceptual process. Under his guidance, the technique centers around the use of a coordinate method to describe the remote location, expressed in degrees of latitude and longitude. It is here that any attempt at a rational understanding of the perceptual process is lost. Since the significance of the coordinates so expressed is unknown to the viewer in most instances, it is impossible to understand why such a method should be translated in the viewing process into a precise delin- eation of geographic characteristics of the.target site. The arbitrariness of this approach has not escaped the investigators, but repeated attempts to B- 3 Approved For Release 2000/08/08 :-CIA-RDP96-007,89R002800180001-2 te Pi Pres
or MRE Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : choke be} 00789R002800180001-2 elicit a rational basis for this procedure, or to secure definitive informa- tion about possible success or failures with other methods that they may have tried, were uniformly unsuccessful. The investigators’ attitude was that since they had found the coordinate method to work, they were not disposed to query the mechanistic basis of its applications, nor to seek an appraisal of other potentially successful methods. Mr. Swann has distinguished three phases in his subjective interpretation of his viewing capabilities. The initial percept appears very rapidly with a latency stated to be as short as 1/50 of a second. Thereafter, for a period that may persist for several minutes, increasing detail may be added. There- after, and only after as much material has been added to the initial percept as possible, is the subject encouraged to examine his subjective image in a crit- ical way, or to make syntheses or judgments about the significance of the perceived material. Swann pointed out that intrusion of a judgmental or inter- pretive attitude too early in the building of the percept was generally destructive, and to be discouraged in the course of training others. A considerable variety of material was presented with photographic backup in support of the validity of the perceptual method. Much of this was highly impressive. The data showed the effects of training on the success rate, which typically reached a sustained plateau at a level higher than prior to training, both for groups of subjects as well as for individual trainees. What then may be anticipated if the program is continued? In the absence of a physical model for the perceptual process, no predictions are possible about higher success rates in larger groups of viewers concentrating on the same target, nor about the effect on success rates to be expected if the B-4 4 be i “ete q Approved For Release 2000/08/08 :. CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2 ral Varro ell Rae Seen aeea See Bed TD Diet TERS ee weed
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : dik Labtisd oo7soro0z800180001-2 technique were extended to those with special intellectual abilities or professional backgrounds. Exploration of the phenomenon should not be restricted to specific applications. Rather, remote viewing should be studied as a scientific research program aimed at establishing the existence or non-existence of the phenomenon. In this way, a comprehensive and credible evaluation of the phenomenon should be available from continuing effort over the next five to ten years. The potential impact of this phenomenon is clearly profound. Therefore, a mandatory requirement would be the existence of independent but related programs conducted by others, with the free exchange of techniques and results. Only through independent reproducibility can a phenomenon so unconventional ever become accepted. It is our conclusion that Dr. Puthoff's team warrants cautious continued fiscal support, and that the research should be conducted as much as possible in an open unclassified mode so that its reproducibility and accuracy can be independently verified by others. W. ROSS ADEY / > / F. ZACHARIASEN ‘ “5 1 March 1984 B-5 ee res qe ae 7 f H SELAE Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2 nee 5 Was StU
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