L)RAI T SG1D Approved For RNwe 2000/08/10 Proposal for-Research S111 No. ISU 73- PSYCHOEINTERGETIC' PHENOMENA SG11 SGFOIA3 SG11- Dear 14 February 1973 We at SRI were happy to have a chance to talk with you and your associates during our recent trip to Washington. We have prepared this informal letter proposal for research in the field of psychoenergetic phenomena in response tb a variety of suggestions as to the kind of research program that would yield results of the greatest interest to you. In the past half year we have had an opportunity to work with two individuals who appear to have unusual abilities both in the area of psychoenergetic effects, and also with regard to their extraordinary perceptual abilities. In other correspondence with you we have described in detail some of the research we have carried out with these individuals. In this letter we will briefly outline those data we consider to be the most significant. Based on this data, we will then go on to describe a program we propose to undertake to shed further light on those phen- omen,a for which we have the greatest evidence in our laboratory. DRAFT Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787ROO0100140001-7 DRAFT SCApproved For ReWAse 2000/08/10: CIA-RDP96-00787ROQW0140001-7 Arlin-ton, Virginia SRI No. ISU 73- 14 February 1973 Page 2 Our work in this area began when, based on the reports of successful experiments at the American Society for Psychical Research with Mr. Ingo Swann, we arranged that he come to this laboratory to participate in a series of experiments. In this work using a shielded magnetometer at Stanford University, Mr. Swann apparently demonstrated an ability to increase and decrease at will the magnetic field within a superconducting magnetic shield. This experiment made use of an existing facility in the physics department and we have corfidence that Mr. Swann had no prior knowledge of either the apparatus or of our intended experiment. The experimental results have now been scrutinized by the relevant Stanford scientists and found to be apparently free from defects, and:unlike any data previously produced with their apparatus. A second experiment perfo3:med by us with another subject entailed the deflection of a slow electron beam by psychoener.-etic means. In this experiment a slow electron beam (a few eV) was made to strike a divided collector consisting of inner and outer electrodes. After the electron beam was magnetically balanced to provide a null, the subject was asked to cause the beam to move. He was told that such movement would be indicated by the motion of the pen of the recording galvanometer. In our preliminary work we found a subject who could apparently cause the electron beam to move in accordance with his will. This experiment 2 DRAFT Approved For Release 2000/08/10 i CIA-RDP96-00787ROO0100140001-7 .W'radTor Reliva e 2000/08/10: CIA-RDP96-00787ROqWO140001-7 p was performed in a screened room with the subject seated six feet from the beam tube. A third series of experiments was recently concluded at this lab- oratory with a young Israeli named Mr. Uri Geller. In our five weeks of research with him, he demonstrated a wide range of apparent psychic ability. In particular, he was able to perceive and reproduce drawings in double envelopes with almost error-free performance. Some twenty drawings were reproduced by him under excellent experimental conditions. Double-blind experiments were also performed in which he located small hidden objects in one of ten identical metal.containers. He did this on twelve occasions without error. He was also able to identify which face of a die was uppermost, when the die was shaken inside of a metal file box which was not opened until his call was recorded. All of the above perceptual tasks appeared easier for him than the various psychoenergetic effects we asked him to produce. AmOng these latter, the most consistently achieved and carefully controlled was his increase and decrease in the weight recorded by a laboratory balance under a Bell jar. In this series of experiments, recorded on film and videotape, he caused deflections uf up to 1.5 grams. The deflections were more than fifty times the noise level that could be caused by striking th6 Bell jar, or any other known mechanical or magnetic means. Mr. Geller was also able to cause deflection of a laboratory mag- netometer*without having=, physical contact:with it. The instrument gave 3 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787ROO0100146001-7 DRAFT r .49pR4VFTr Re&We 2000/08/10: CIA-RDP96-00787ROW0140001-7 readings corresponding to an apparent magnetic field change of ±0.3 gauss. This same instrument was first used to examine carefully his hands and his person to make sure that lie did not have any magnets or magnetic material available to him. All of the above experiments with Mr. Geller were continuously re corded on film and video tape, and. no event occurring out of the laboratory was considered to have any scientific relevance apart from suggesting further lines for subsequent investigation. In addition, we have observed under non-laboratory conditions a) the turning of watch hands without his having any physical contact with the watch, b) deflection of a compass and magnetometer, and c) the deforma- tion of. several rings. However, because these effects were not performed under strict laboratory conditions they are not included in the same category as the above-mentioned experiments. Further experiments are currently underway with Swann in which significant results are being obtained in the area of remote perception. Based on encouraging results in our initial observations, it is:. proposed that a mcre comprehensive one-year program be initiated. The purpose is to investigate, under rigorous and carefully controlled con- ditions, psychoenergetic and extraordinary perceptual effects of the type discussed above, with the goal of obtaining repeatable results. Specifically, it is planned that the gifted subjects, IN[r. Swann 4 DRAFT Approved For Release 2000/08/10 CIA-RDP96-00787ROO0100140001-7 . r-QrA4fdf or RekWe 2000/08/10: CIA-RDP96-00787ROOUD0140001-7 and Mr. Geller, will participate in experiments. of special interest is the fact that Mr. Swann's abilitie's apparently were not innate, but rather were developed by a set of training proce- dures. Therefore, during the course of the study, information as to possible training procedures for the development of,such abilities will be compiled. With regard to overall methodology, we shall employ astrong feed- -back reinforcement technique. As is now well know, psychoenergetic experimentation by naive investigators has often followed the paradigm of.a largenumber of trials without feedback as to results until the experiment was over. Suc.h aparadigm. is known by psychologists to cnn- gm well suited to eliminate correct task.,.. stitute an extinction paradig performance. Therefore, real-time feedback as to success or failure of a~,given task,will be made available to the subject whenever possible. Such feedback should then provide the subject with reinforcement appro- priate for enhancing performance rather than extinguishing.ability. The proposal program will have three specific aims: 1. Working ~vith gifted subjects we will examine such potentially psychoenergetic.effects as: 1) Erasure of video tape 2) Electron beam deflection 3) Magnetic effects on compass and magnetometer 4) Generation of effects on N`MR (nuclear magnetic resonance) 5 Approved For Release 2000/08/10: CIA-RDP96-00787ROO0100140001-7 DRAFT ,For ReIQ d -We 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787ROO&VO140001-7 5) Generation of electrical signals in remote shielded environ- ments 6) Generation of infrared signals at remote locations 7) Laser beam deflection detectable by changes in interference patterns 8) Systematic weight change with recording balance 2. In the area of person-to-r-erson communications, an effort will be made to find frequency correlations between the recorded EEG output of an isolated subject, with the EEG output of a subject undergoing photic driving at low audio frequencies. Based on our preliminary investigation using a real-time spectrum analyzer, between the brain wave output of a person considered as a receiver in a shielded room, and the EEG output of a sender in a remote location, while the sender is stimulated with a flashing strobe light at a randomly selected frequency. This research will make use of SRI's facility for real-time spectrum analysis, which gives a plot of power-spectral-density in 0.1 Hz increments from I Hz to 100 Hz. The use of this equipment makes possible retrieval of sigmals that would be definitely lost to conventional polygraph data analysis. The output from the spectrum analyzer cor,responding to the 11 signallf will be fed back to the "receiver" allowing him to gain awareness of his mental state at those times when he is responding to the mental state of the sender. We will attempt to determine whether this perceptual 6 Approved For Releate 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787ROO0100140001-7 DRAFT AppP_ro'rV)-4aVo ReNgape 2000/08/110 CIA-.RDP96-00787RORWO14000 1-7 e au.-mentation will cause increased subject awareness of signal even in the absence of foedbach. .3.' The third area for-consideration pertains to the ability of an individual to perceive an object or situation not known to him or any other person. In our double blind experiments with Geller, and-in many. experiments performed by other researchers, this type of perception has been found to occur. We would investigate this ability both with the gifted participants in the program, and also with other unselected subjects. In working with the unselected subjects, we will make use of feedback and reinforcement techniques to help bring these presumably latent perceptual'abilities. under conscious and volitional control. To ----ach.iove this goal'we.will make use of an automatic stimulus generator---- S that randomlychooses among four preselected target pictures. This machi.ne gives the subject immediate feedback as to the correct target and rewards him with audio and visual reinforcements for correct re- sponses as to the state of the machine. The device can be used in both a perception-of-machine-state mode and also as an adjunct in a mind-to- mind mode. The machine is entirely,.free from any known sensory leakage, and its randomness has been carefully investigated. In preliminary ex- periments with this type of machine we have found definite evidence that learning does take place. We consider it an important part of any re- search program to try to increase the extraordinary perceptual ability of unselected subjects in addition to working with gifted subjects. 7. 01-7 DRAFT Approved For Releas''e 2000/08/10 CIA-RDP96-00787ROO01001400 DRAVFdTFor Re[We 2000/08/10: CIA-RDP96-00787ROQQW0140001-7 The investigators, Mr. Russell Targ and Dr. Harold Puthoff, are senior research physicists and will devote approximately 75 percent of their time to this program, and Dr. Lawrence Pinneo, a staff neurophysi- ologist, will be available on a one day per week basis for consultation. They will be assisted by a half-time technical assistant and a half-time electronics technician. The estimated time required to complete this project and report its results is one year. The Institute could begin work on receipt of a fully executed contract. A cost estimate is attached. It is requested that any contract resulting from this proposal be written on a cost-plus-fixed-fee basis. This proposal will remain in effect until 1 April 1973. If consid-, eration of the proposal requires a longer period, the Institute will be glad to consider a request for an extension of time. If I can supply any further information concerning this proposed program, please telephone me and I will be happy to try to answer your questions. Yours sincerely, Russell- arg Harold Puthoff Senior Research Physicists Electronics and Bioengineering Laboratory 8 Approved For Release 2000/08/10.: CIA-RDP96-00787ROO0100140001-7 DRAFT SGFOIA2 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787ROO0100140001-7 Next 2 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787ROO0100140001-7