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QUANTUM PHYSICS AND PAR&PSYCHOLOGY
The 23rd Annual Internationai Conference of the Parapsychology Foundation, Inc.
Hotel La Reserve,, Geneva, Switzerland August 26-27v 1974
An iliterpretative conference report containing some coments about
prospects in parapsychological research.
SG1 I
October 28.. 1974
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1, INTRODUCTION
The 23rd Annual Conference of the Parapsychology Foundation was
held at the Hotel La Reserve., Geneva.. Switzerland on August 26 and 27.,
1974. Th6 subject of the conference was "Quantum Physics and Parapsychology".
a topic selected at the instigation of Arthur Koest'ier, the well-known
author... who in recent years has interested himself in the subject of
parapsychology. His recent book, The Roo+
,-s og Coincidence., reflects
this i ,hterest. The putative relation botween quantum physics and para-
psychology arises because the apparent non-,common sense features accepted
in quantum physics may be analogous to the non-common sense features
observed in parapsychological phenomena. In any case the conference
was ostensibly devoted to an exploration of the physical bases for
parapsycholog7.
Complate texts of all ten of the papers presented at this conference
havo previously teen supplied. A'summax7 and critique of the contents
of each of the ten papers appears in the Appendix of this report. At
the conference a discussion period followed the presentation of each paper,,
eL'hd at the cone lusion of the conference another more general discussion
took place. The proceedings of this conference, containing both the
submitted papers and the verbal discussion, is scheduled for publication
in June 1975 by the Parapsychology Foundation,, Inc., 29 West 57th Street,
Now York. A brief official account of the conference will appear sooner
in their ONewsletter of the Parapsychology Foundation",
The following discussion of conference content is based upon attendance
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at all the sessions,, subsequent study of written versions of the papers.,
and private conversations with nearly all of the personalities present.
II. ANALYSIS OF THE PURPORT OF TBE CONFERENCE
The reality of ESP was an accepted fact at this conference. When
discussion of the reality of the phenomena occurred, it was concerned only
with methods of securing public acceptance and belief in paranormal
cognition. Some doubt was expressed of the 'usefulness of public
demonstrations to "blue-ribbon panels". but all agreed on the necessity
of more research support.
It became clear that there exists at present M adequate theory of
paranormal perception which can furnish a physical basis@for the phenomena.
The existing attempts at physical theories are speculative, incomplete,
at at best poorly substantiated); although some ideas were presented
which might furnish the seeds of fruitful investigation, These ideas
are discussed in more detail below.
The conference evidenced a rough division of attitudes toward
parapsychology into two schools@of thought. Researchers share a,general
acceptance of the strangeness@of it all., but on the working level some
believe,progress,in understanding can be achieved through extension
and use of existing scientific knowledge and'methods., perhaps by some
new synthesis. The others basically favor a more philosophical and
rystical approach.. and believe that nothing short of a complete revolution
of thought., maybe into more spiritual directions,, can cope with the
challenge. The "n7stics" characterize the,pbysical approach as
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naive rediactionism. The "reductionists", for lack of a better term,
retain their faith in the efficacy of traditional scientific methods.
These categories are a convenient simplification of complex attitudes
and some individuals show traces of both orientations.
In view,of the conference topic it was surprising that the ffuysties"
were strongly represented. The presentations of Charl., Firsoff,, Whiteman..
an&Bastin seem to fall in the mystical category. Verbal comments of
Arthur.Koestler would place him also in this group. At the conclusion
of the conference-he expressed disappointment that the ideas were not
"Crazy" enough and voiced scepticism at seeking explanation of E3P,in
existing physical theories. These contributions to the conference seem
to offer no avenues of physical understanding and will not be discussed
further.
The remaining papers presented at the conference are more physical:
in content. Of the theoretical papers Costa de Beauregard gave the most
general and perhaps the best formulated analysis of a possible physical
basis for ESP. His presentation consisted of words, and not equations.,
but the concepts discussed were readily understandable by a theoretical
physicist.@ No specific mechanism was proposed., but information theory
was intermven with some established physical principles to describe a
framework within which ISP might be understood, The ideas of Costa de
Bea-aregard are unifying in character.,, rather analogous to the unifying
character of the energy concept in conventional physics, and like the
concept of energy could establish broad guidlines without supplying a
detailed mechanism, For example., the idea discussed by Peinbergq that
precognition is a memory propagated from the future,, is subsumed in
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Costa do-Beauregard's thinking. Puthoff presented some speculations about
apparent features of his PK experiments which are also consistent with
the same overall picture, Indeed"if any common thread emerged-from the
thysical side of the conference, it was that somehow information theoretic
concepts must play an important role in ESP. The connection is established
through the equivalence of information theory with physical probability
and Its role both in quantum theory and in macroscopic entropy.
A,-Aetailed and partially quantitative physical theory of ESP was
presented by WhIker. This theory may err through its use of overspecific
and poorly justified assumptions. It relies heavily on some explicit
conjectures about neural activity in the brain., and also postuUMs-an
essentialfunction in consciousness and psi communication for the so-
called t4hidden variables" of quantum theory.
I A simple empirical method of qiiantifying the results of ESP experiments
wasproposed by Schmidt. This quantification.. if appropriate, would
permit the various experimental manifestations of ESP ( precognition,
clairvoyance, PK, etc.) to be interrelated.
Experimental papers describing striking PK and remote viewing
experiments with gifted paragnosts were presented by Puthoff and Targ.
In terms of normal standards of scientific conferences the gleanings
of theoretical -understanding from this conference are somewhat sparse,
particularly if a physical basis of ESP'is the object. The phenomena
of ESP have -undergone a great deal of experimental verification,, but a
basic understanding of paranormal perception is evidently still la eking.
The material presented at this conference only ihdicates a bare beginning
of a rational.. physical,, interpretation of parapsychological phenomena,
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I:rI. dk-NERAI CONCLUSIONS ANI) GUIWLnW
The picture of ESP -research derived from attendance@:at this conference
-and supplemented by a study of publications in the open literature forms
ther basis of the following general coTments.
1. Knowledge of normal perception and neural data processing in the brain
is still limited, even though the physical basis of normal perception
.is well-founded. The wide area of ignorance or partial knowledge
.8urXounding even normal mental function is indicative of the possible
impediments to attaining a coherent understanding of paranormal perception.
The physical paradoxes of FSP are severe,, but even were a physical
basis'6f ESP established,, much would remain unknown. In short..
progress,in this area may require not only increased understanding
of the@physical basis of the phenomena., but also advances in cybernetics
and neurophysiology as well.
2. The ideas of Costa de Beauregard form the most auspicious point of
departure for development of a physical -understanding of ESP. These
ideware favored because of their broad physical base., their use of
general information concepts, anct because they contain a minim= of
ad hoe assumptions. Although some elementary deductions are immediately
possiblet this theoretical framework is) as yet, insufficiently articulat6d.
Additional analysis and calculation is needed to explore detailed
consequences of the.basic general idea. Experimentally verifiable
I
predibtions and relations should be sought., and the theor@, should be
scrutinized for guicl6lines-to meailingful expe:@imetjtaj efforts. Such
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a programuould represent a firm physically-based attempt to understand'
some of the mechanism of ESP., but could not be expected to produce
immediate results-.
For practical purposes-the investigation and experimental verification
of empirical regularities governing the occurrencei content,, and
reliability of paranormal events should not be disdained. Although
theory is always valuable, it may not be absolutely essential. It is
quite possible to know enough about a phenomenon to use it effectively..
or to evaluate its 'use, without possessing any deep -understanding of
its nature. The human race used fire for thousands of years without
understanding chemistry. Identification and quantification of physical
and psychological conditions for inhibition and enhancement of psi
effects is especially desirable. The apparent spontaneity of these
phenomena and their independence of most referents poses the most
serio,us.obstacle to their application. It is difficult to perceive
the purpose served by research in parapsychology which does not attempt
to relate the phenomena to controling conditions, Parapsychologymay
have application provided such relationships exist on some level, even
the@level of total empiricism.
Regardless of-the level of understanding of paranormal perception it
is clear that information derived by this means is incomplete.. subject
to error and distortion9 and sometimes completely erroneous. In many
cases the accuracy is amazing, but complete errors are also frequent.
A percipient may be 'unable to reliably estimate his own accuracy,
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7hese inherent features raise the fundamental problem of how such
erratic information can. be utilized. How can the output of paranormal
perception be assessed according to its completeness and/or reliability
so as to optimize its use and minimize the effect of errors? The
pecj@tar features of ESP derived information demand that these problems
be addressed if such information is to serve a useful function.
SG1 I
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APPENDIX
A Sumary and Critique of Each Paper Presented at the Conference
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1. FOUNDATIONS OF PARAPHYSICAL AND PARAPSYCHOLOGICAL PHENOMENA..
Evan Harris Walker., BRL, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland.
SMt4ARY*.
The oral talk consisted only of an outline sumary of ideas and results.
Study of a written version (69 pages) of this talk together with previous
papers referenced therein is required to evaluate the thinking of Dr. Walker.
The written version of this talk explains a theory of psi phenomena resting
-upon several foundations:
1. A theory of consciousness developed by Dr. Walker (referenced but not
explained) in which triggering of nerve synupses is influenced by
single quantum-level processes., and in which there are computed 3
basic rates of data processing in the brain.,
a.) Subcon.9cio-us data rate 2.4(10)841 bits/sec.
b.) Conscious data rate 7.5(10 bits/see.
c.) Attention set or "will" dnta rate 3(10) bits/see.
2. The notion of "hidden variables" in quantum theory, These nhidden
variables" 5re not present in standard quantum theory, and are called
fthidden" because they are inaccessible to direct measurement. There
is no experimental verification of necessity for such variables, but
they have been conjectured solely for philosophical jr logical motives.
The roll of these variables is to fix the precise outcome of a quan-
tum event (or measurement),, an outcome which in standard quantum theory
is only determined in terms of its probability. The outcome of a quan-
tum event must be the same for all observers regardless of location
or time lapse,, so "hidden variables" potentially provide a communica-
tion channel independent of space and time.
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3. The assertion that the attention set or "will" data rate in the brain
is the rate at which "hidden variable'"-governed quantum processes are
influencing the mind, or at which the mind can influence quantum proc-
esses. Such a mind-mind or mind-object link provides a "hidden var-
iable" theory of psi phenomena, suitable for telepathy, clairvoyance.,
precognition, and PK.
Since according to this theory the "will" or paranormal data rate, 3(10) 4
bits/sec, is a very small fraction of the conscious data rate, 7.5(10 bits/see,,
the rarity of paranormal cognition is explained. Assuming a perceptive cue may
occur at random from either data rate permits a calculation of the incidence
of psi ability in an individual or a population. Fair agreement results.
A detailed calculation is presented of the effect of quantum-ancertainties
in the initial position and velocity of a cubical die which bounces down an
inclined plane. This experimental situation amplifies initial quantum uncer-
tainties into macrosco pie differences in the final position of the die. The
results of PK placement experiments on rolling dice are consistent with these
calculations, lending credence to the belief that PK operates by resolving
quantum uncertainty.
CRITIQUE:
1. The somewhat dubious contention that the triggering of nerve syn4pses
is a quantum process requires more substantiation. The author's ar-
guments leading to this contention, though published or reported., are
not readily accessible. A like statement, applies to his calculation
and interpretation of the three fundamental data rates in the brain.
All the authorts ideas form an interlocking system which has evolved
over several years. To secure acceptance, or even objective consid-
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eration., these thoughts should be combined into a single, concise.,
and self-oQntained presentation., which the present paper is not.
2. Hidden variables are controversial and by no means form a part of ac-
cepted physical theory. No compelling physical evidence requires them.,
unless psi phenomena itself constitutes such evidence. Invocation of
physical hidden variables for a theory of consciousness is a radical
assumption, justifiable only by successful results.
3. The theory has not yet predicted anything. The calculations of the
incidence of psi ability, and of the influence of quantum uncertain-
ties upon dice rolling, show consistency with experiment but do not
test the fundamental assumptions of the theory. The former calcula-
4. ,
tion depends only 'upon a single number (the ratio 1:10 ). and the
latter is a physical calculation.
'Regardless of its validity, Dr. Walker's theory is the most explicit.,
detailed, and quantitative theory of psi phenomena presented at this
conference; though perhaps not the most fundamental. Unlike some of
the other papers its contents are sufficiently explicit to permit de-
tailed criticism and evaluation, and to at least offer some possibil-
ities of experimental assessment.
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2. PIVCOGNITION-A ME24ORY OF THINGS FLTTUM,
Gerald Feinberg, Department of Physics, Col=bia University, New York.
SUMMI;
The suggestion is advanced that precognition may be knowledge of a future
state of the percipientfs mind rather than prior knowledge of an objective
state of the physical world. Thus, like memory where the past state of the
mind is recalled, precognition is perception of a futQre state of the mind.
Professor Feinberg notes that the theory of electromagnetic radiation, and
other physical theories., in principle permits both time retarded and time ad-
vanced solutions. The time advanced,solutions which propagate information from
future to past are customarily excluded for the reason that they have not,been
observed experimentally. The possibility exists of some small admixture of
time advanced solution together with the dominant time retarded solution. In
the case of electromagnetic theory experiments are presently testing this pos-
sibility to the accuracy of one part in 0
If one assumes that the mechanism of memory, whatever it-may be., likewise
permits a small admixture of time advanced solutions as well as the usual time
retarded ones which we call memory, we have the phenomena of occasional pre-
cognition based upon perception of a future state of the mind. Precognition
of events is possible only if the percipient learns of the event at some time
in the future.
These speculations would receive experimental substantiation if precog-
nition is influenced by the same factors as influence memory.
CRITIQUE:
Basically a trivial paper, containing one idea expressed in -the title.,
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together with some standard physics which is only related to psi phenomena bY
virtue of a strained analogy between electromagnetic radiation and memory
processes,
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PARAPSYCHOLOGY, QUANTUM LOGIC AND INFOFO,,TATION THEORY.
C.T.K. Chari, Madras Christian College'. Madras., India
Professor Chari did not attend the conference. His paper was read by
Harold Puthoff.
SUNMARY:
In addition to three types of conventional biological information; 1.) ge-
neticY 2.) environmentally conditioned., and 3.) symbolic and recorded communi-
cation; the author postulates a 4th type of information network,, the psi-net-
work. The logic of this network would be non-Boolean. Understanding the psi
network may require use of recently proposed concepts in the quantum theory of
measurement and in information theory.
CRTTIQUE:
A paper written in the context of philosophy and formal logic without,
however, a clear internal organization. It provides no theory clear enough
for experimental verification or further development. The principal value of
the paper is its numerous citations of recent work in the philosophy of quan-
tum mechanics and In information theory. Indeed this paper reads like an over-
abbreviated review nrticle.
Since C.T.K. Chari did not attend the conference he read advanced drafts
of some of the presented papers and submitted a Trritten version of his reac-
tions to them entitled:
An Indian Parapsychologist's Reactions to the Geneva Conference on
"Quantum Physics and ParapsycholoMr"
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QUANTUM PARILDOXES AND'ARISTOTLEIS TWOFOLD INFORMTION CONCEPT
0. Costa de Beauregstd., Institut Henri Poincare".' Paris@ France
SUMM
The problems of relativity., time reversibility., and entropy increase
lead to consideration of measurement processes in the context of information
theory. A measurement process by which information is acquired produces
an increase it entropy, since negative entropy must be supplied equal to
or greater than the information acquired. Such a process is a learning
or a perceptual process,. An entropy increasing process-is dissipative,,
and'diesipation is a requirement of macroscopic causality in the normal
sense of past determining the future or.. equivalently, retarded wavese
The author proposes the reverse process ( an ordering process)
whereby pre-existing information is converted Into order., a process
which occurs whenever any conceptual scheme is actualized to produce
macroscopic order. Ordering decreases entropy. An entropy decreasing
process-is the reverse of dissipative and implies macroscopic acausality
(or finality) in the sense of the future situation determining the past.,
or advanced waves,
Both processes, which were foreshadowed in Aristotlets thinIcing.,
can Wrepresented by the two chains of equivalence:
Measurement-&A, Information
Entropy Increase
Dissipation
Causality
Retarded Wave
Past to Future
Information--,V- Ordering
Entropy Decrease
Anti-Dissipation
Finality
Advanced Waves-
Future to Past
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Although de factothe first column predominates in natural macroscopic
processes,, the inverse process-of the second column is[& theoretical
possibility and indeed must also occur. kt the microscopic level of
elementary quantum processes one might expect a symmetry between the two
columns, similar to the other symmetries of microscopic physics ( time
reversal, charge conjugation, etc.). Since probability plays a central
role in quantum theory., the two types of process depending respectively
on increasing and decreasing order., have tight consequences. Some of
these are FX by-use of colcious information to control@a quantum process@
and telepathy by the linked outcome of quantum measurin-g-processese
Basically these considerations are summarized in the statement that the
vave function of quantum mechanics propagates probabilities. It is not
a physical field which propagates., but rather an information field.
CRITIQUEs
,.Though scarcely providing an explicit theory., this paper hews closely
to established physical.understanding., It provides a theoretical framework
which not only may connect observed'ESP effects with quantum mechanics.,
but which also places ESP in the very general context of information
theory. Whatever else it may be or may involve, ESP does deal with
information. In addition the paper points up how information theory may
underlie some very deep physical principles. This is a provocative paper,,
perhaps the most profound -physica discussion at the conference. It may
perhaps formulate a general foundation -upon which could be built an
intelligible physical theory of ESP.
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5. LIFE AND QUANTUIVI PHYSICS
,land
V.A. Firsoff, Royal Astronomical Society., London, Enc
SUMARY:
This paper uses the ideas expressed by Monod ;,,(Jacques 11onod, Chance and
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Necessity, 1972 ) as a framework for expounding the theme that mental proc-
esses have a fundamental role in nature which cannot be understood on the basis
of classical mechanism., logic of the excluded middle., cybernetic models, or
any other conventional ways of thinking. Numerous illustrative examples are
cited to support this assertion. Life is too rare and strange a phenomenon to
be explicable in terms of statistical probability. Its characteristics of
genetic invariance coupled with dynamic evolutionAadaptability indicate a di;..
rective force of mental type. Visual perception may use only a few photons,
and neural processes in the brain are sufficiently sensitive to respond to
quantum effects. In turn FK experiments have demonstrated mental influence
upon radioactive decay', a quantum process. Thus there is a deep, and not
understood, connection between life., mental processes, and quantum physics.
CRITIQUE:
Not precisely an objective paper, but rather expressive of the author's
sense of awe and wonderment at the mysteries of nature, citing examples of in-
explicable processes, and weaving some possible general implications from them.
Basically a philosophical essay, more lucid than many., but offering no testable
hypotheses nor firm points of departure for subsequent analysis.
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6. PHYSICS, ENTROPY AND PSYCHOKENESIS
Harold Puthoff and Russell Targ., SRI, Menlo Park, California
7. REMOTE VIEWING OF NATURAL TARGETS
Russell Targ and Harold Puthoff, SRI, Menlo Park., California
SUMMARY:
Both of these papers describe experimental tests with gifted paragnosts.
The first describes PK experiments influencing sophisticated physical instru-
ments, and the secotd,des-atibes extrasensory perception of remote targets in
such detail as to imply high rates of data transmission. No detailed summary
is necessary since the papers are experimental and the descriptions are clear.
Some general features of PK and speculations about its nature are given
in the first paper, to wit:
1. PK phenomena are close to noise level and appear to derive their en--
ergy from mobilization of random thermal energy.
2. Results seem to appear as a result of coincidence rather than of
specific cause.
3. PK phenomena, are intrinsically spontaneous and hard to produce on cue.
4. Close control and observation inhibit the phenomena.
5. Phenomena are known to occur on the microscopic quantum level which
are similar to observed PK phenomena.
CRITIQUE:
Belief in the experimental results depends -upon confidence in the integ-
rity and skill of the experimenters. The results described, if valid,, estab-
lish the existence of "he phenomena and are a first step to-jard establishing
its patterns.
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Some of th-e features observed are compatible with the general ideas ex-
pressed in the paper of Professor Beauregord.
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PARAPSYCHOLOGY AS AN ATTALYTICAL-DEDUCTIVE SCIENCE
J.H.M. Whiteman, University of Cape Town,, Cape Town, South Africa
MMRY:
I am utterly unable to understand this paper. It appears to outline a
complete logical-mathamatical systeml which is also expressive of an entire
philosophy or world view siafficiently rich in structure to permit parapsychol-
ogy and much else besides.
CRITIQUE:
,I am neither a philosopher nor a logician., but as a physicist I doubt
whether such artificial constructs., however beautifully articulated, Rre fruit-
ful unless narrowly constrained by experimental fact. Such is apparently not
the case here.
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9. A LOGICALLY CONSISTENT 140DEL OF A WORLD WITH PSI INTERACTION
Helmut Schmidt., The Institute for Parapsychology., Durham., North Carolina
SUMMARY:
An empirical description of psi phenomena is proposed wherein a psi source
strength is defined as a multiplicative factor applied to the ratio of apriori
probabilities for random events. Thus psi can change relative probabilities
of events. Different experiments can be conceived as chains of random events,
and whether an event occurs in the chain or not can depend upon previous
events in the chain.
Various experimental structures are proposed which could serve to test
the consistency of this model. Psi sources could be superimposed to test the
lineat addition of weak psi effects,, multiple stimulation of the psi source
an animate object ) could be tested, and various logical connectivities can
be constructed to test equivalence of PK, precognition, etc.
CRITIQUE:
This empirical approach to the quantification of psi effects is moti-
vated by Dr. Schmidt's successful experiments in the psi control of random
quantum events. The approach furnishes no deep mechanism or understanding,
but can be very valuable for sorting the logical consistency of models.
Whether these specific ideas prove consistent by surviving further experimen-
tal checks or not, the general approach of empirical quantification in the
context of a simple logical structure seems quite appropriate and reasonable
at the present stage of understanding of psi phenomena.
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10. CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EVENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE C014BINATIOI-TAL MODEL FOR A
QUANTUM PROCESS
Ted Bckstin, Cambrid7e Language Research Unit., Cambridge, England
SMMRY:
This paper refers to, but does not describe in detail,, a matliematical
structure Vaich is under development by the author. The mathematical model
has as its object, nothing less than attainment of a fundamental theory under-
lying all objects and phenomena. It hopes to derive such things as elementary
particles and their characteristics, as well as the very structure of space
and time. Despite the occasional mention in the paper of more conventional
physical ideas, the chain of speculative logic remains obscure. Little ex-
plicit mention is made of parapsychology.
CRITIQUE:
This paper is so confusing to the reader as to prevent any et"fective
evaluation.. other than to record the impression that such speculations are not
only disorganized but very remote from conventional physical theory. Their
t
relation to parapsychology is at present extremely Uenuous., although the au-
thor's interest in pnrapsycholopy may provide part of the ultimate -motivation
for his thinking.
NOTE:
At the conference Dr. Bastin circulated a paper., without permitting copies
of it to be made. This paper, @9@@ithored by Hasted., Bohm, Bastin., and O'Regan
and dated June 22, 1V74, wns n narrntive description of experiments with Uri
Geller. Geller's ability to modify counts of a Geiger counter (perhaps by
control of electrical currents in the counter shell), to bend spoons, and to
bend molybdenum disks is reported.
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