REPORT OF AD HOC MEDICAL STUDY GROUP (DELETED)

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00145890
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 17, 2024
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: January 15, 1953

L 5 1253
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.Lo no. 52_210,1,
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Leport of Ad Hoc ZcEicza Stud:- Group
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NDE 242/1
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� TALL.; C7 C01.":
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1, Existinu Tecilaiqucz and :4,onts
21 Commcnts on Exintin[; Pr�nram's
Poccrnrmdtions
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ane, roveloTnont Projocts of Int2ro.st to LDP.
Ld Hoc ilcdical Stzy Grou2
B. Rostor of Stu d7 GrTap
C. Schdule of licetings
RLB 42/1
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�RDD 242/1
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1. .%Xir.t4 Tcchni cues and '1.r:ont3
1.1 Capacity to
,,oreults
The capacity to endure assaults desia;lcd to break down resistance and
thus reveal secret information varies crIL:atly from individual to in-
t
divT.dual. Wo on can roet every load to which he might conceivably be
exposed; a fact hiLhlizhted by World War II experience. In short,. e.veryons
has his breaking point. Personal conflict in excess of an individual's �
currant integrative capacity -may be a prociidtating facto; in such a.
"break!!.
Uhatever reduces integrative capacity may serve to increase the
possibility of an individual being overwhelmed by frustrations and con-
flicts: hitherto managed successfully. Thus a host of deprivations, danying
of sleep; as well as =hausticn, pain, starvation, malnutrition, infection,
sepsis: and intoxication make conflict relatively excessive. Likewise,
acts that humiliate, destroy self estoe, and create a conviction of
beinL7, isolated, rej�)cted, abandoned or ated may impair this intearative
--capaety. Threats of pur;.slInent by blZti "i1;;S or chemical poisons; thrats
of harm to loved ones, or falsehoods about the state of one's associates;
family or country nay be similarly danainE;.
1.2 Methcds of Perz-...asion or Seduction
But .ccually pertinent are mAhoes of persuasion or seduction: as
contrasted to punitive methods, that can be used to induce an individual
� to reveal secret information wittingly Cr unwittingly, Combinations of
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110 242/1
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these r.1;an3 can al::o be eff:ctive. C.tven sufficient in and the e5-
,
zential interroLativa skills, it is 1:ossible to elicit by persuasive
methods, :rithout the use of chemical accnts or �sovorely punitive
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much of the dosired inf.ormation from almost any person.
1.3 Useuln:ss or Chemical P.,�ents �
Houever, chei:tical ad'ents exist such as:. alcohol, cannabinol,-caffoin:.,
barbiturates, bonaedrinc, diethyl amide of lyscri;ic acid (LSD 25),
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mescaline, and hycscine., and it is altogether lihiy that others will b.
found, that hasten or facilitate the process of persuasion.
It must be eraphasized� however, that the pharmacodynanic actions
of these agents do not in themselves 1-revc-:nt an individual from lying
or withholding informet;on. Such cheraical agents have been found
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helpful in allcwing an individual to tx:arces himelf when, for whatever
mason, he is ready to yield.
� An atmos:dhero of friendliness and sympathy promotes the exchange
of confidences, a feature of human nature which is profitably exploited
in the obta5ning Of searet information. Again, certain chemical a7cnts
can be used to -promote feolins of serenity, well being, comradery�
fr1::edon frem restraint and anxiety. Cn the other hand, chemical =ants
as ancillary moans of interroation in not only fail to yield rich re-
wards, but may acually block pro:ross. For example, amiety or :::anic
induced by the awarenoss of beinf,: ndru_ged" nay cause subjects to baco-.-e
especially sus-picieus, cautious and taciturn, thus defeating the purpose
for which the agent was given and jeopardizin:, future chances of SUCCJ$E.
2
MB 242417
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1.14 Subs.,:unt Un:nrrn:ss of .xt
As recards the giving out of inforrwticn and having thercaftcr'ne
knot:ledge of the deed, several points an fzmil3,ar:
(a) One nay simply by talkin& conversationally (eslxcially
to a skilled interroLatcr) say sothing un?cnowingly which may te of
gro5t use to the enemy. Certain chmical agents by increasing talkativeness
may auErz,Ilt this process.
(b) Secret information nay be told outrieht and forgotten by
tho teller through mental ::rocesses of repression. Here, too, the involv:.d
pental prcces.ses may be furthered by chelacal agents, making it easier
to forget that one has revealed information.
(c) It has 1:04:1 suELested repeatedly that "subtle" and oven
"occult" means such as "Elack 1'sych4atry", hylmo-i.s, "secret dregs"
and brain Cama;...ing iiroc..:dures are being: used by ualfriendly nations to make
an individual "say and do things aw_inst his vin". Some of these menns
are conceivably bein.1 tried but they sem elaberatt:� impractical, and un-
necessary in order to cause a man to reveal secret informaticn. It cannot
be predicted that the methods will act on every an in the manner desired.
'Further, it is extremely likely that equivalent results would be achieved
by experts usinl.. the simpler and tried methods mentioned above.
.(d) The hypnotLc state has been sinc,led out by some as being
specifically pertin-..nt to perfornin& acts against'onels will and having
thereafter no memory o: the act. ThrDugh its Use certain individuals can
rarely be induced under specific conditions, to perform acts concerning
wtich there is much conflict in the rand of the subject; (i.e. sexual
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TDB 42/1
.016.
indiscr,:tion.. or 1,-,:rvursions� :.cto of viol.:ncu az1:-Iast muml s of the
family, rivals, omies� zu:criors, or intinetus). Post-notic ougr.cst:.on
may oporato for 5CMU days under those circumstances, and be followed
by amnesia. But cvca more raroly would 'Ict3 of. treason against the strt:
or sabotagc occur undur thse conditions and only if the individual ca-,)c..1.1e.
of being so hypnotized wore in r�roat conflict a'sout his loyalty. The
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practical importancu of such phenomuna as regards loyal porsoas or these
of undivided loyalty is negliiblc.
. Further, by a combination of methods an individual with conflict
concerning his loyalty may be induced to cor=lit acts of treason and there-
after have no knowledge of the act. But again, such a possi.-il4ty is
.considered to be remota.and practically un;31.1portant among these with =-
divided loyalty.
1.5 DamainPj., tho l'orson
Success in suitably influencin:: persons del=ds on exl-,loiting
familiar facets of an individualls nature. Da...la[;in the .person, as in
delirium resultini, from toxic amounts of chemical azenes makes the in-
dividual of little practical value as a source of inforr.ation or an a7cnt.
for't---,^r% 'Furthermore, damago to the brain by surgical, cl:tnical� or
physical mans electrical, ultrasonics, freezing) while it somes
lowers .restraint, may also ruducc the capacity to remember. Experiunse
with prisoners who have had damaging brain operations is not available,
but experience with civilian patients who havc underr;cno such operations
does not suL:gest that those procedures make an individual any more likely
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to reveal _onfidonccs of an important naturu. It is a fact that such opsra-
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1.D3 242/1*
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tionn and procedures na.kc v:rsonn loos rigid, Lut o.n-ainly leas effect:ve
in planninL and carrying out instrustienn. Furth...I-more, the renults'ar: -
um:we:notable and could not be counted u:-.on for the achievement of an
ex)loitable arc.eratien of .0.rsonality.
1.6 ;1.t.hor!s of SI.ection and Scrcerans, for Security Rink
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With reference to sec=ity risk, a careful survey of the charactar
and past perf:Jrnahoe of the individual in the best thod and would
screen out most susca)tible individuals. In all events, there is no
single test or lerocaduze 17:LiCh is in7nriab)..y reliable in detecting those
who dissociate such as vary su:gestible ?arsons, or those who
constitute poor sec;:rIty risk.
1.7 8.7,feuarding infermaticn
The only sure method of seleguardiv:. secret information is to
the amount possessed by any cne person and to. prevent those who nust
�nuch from coming under the influence Of the enemy.
1.8 Indoctrination'
On the other hand, it is possible to acccni.lish a good deal by prcr
.indoctrination. Th:.s.should engender awareness of the simple technfques sf
persuasion or seductien,.the danger of anv talk, caution about establishin:
rAendihips3 and in "dr4nIcing11. Also, engendered should be an awareness
of the faelini.,s associated with being under the influence of chanical
agents, thus enaLlLeg an individual to enercisc even greater caution as
regards his utterances and acts. Noreover,'it should be reco3n4zed that
agents used therapeutically for medical or surgical enerrencies may also
create op.prtuniti.:s for the enemy to extract military information.
vetr,1),1-1,4ioto 5
ED B 2142/1
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1.9 The Ccr.mittec r:.c,Lnizos but ruit.:rate th7t thu mont :Wortailt
of ill,ctrn-t-i,)n 7:V! rt.cin a;.-*,1zt aru hi�11 an:!
fin; dis i-lino. Thcz7. fe?turcs cf tht
bu by th-
._ .2. ecrmcnts on Exin4dnn Proams,
'Tho arplicable and related military rese_rch and development projects,
as indicated in 1.ppen:lix have been revieuOd as to Content and sus-
wptibUity to aseertainthg whether effective and yractical techniques exist,
or could be dcvelopcd, which could be utilized to r.z.dor an individual sub-
servient to an imposr.1 will or control.
Ci
f.
Although the ;rent state of knowluge indicates little threat, if
any, to National Scoarity, throuch special ainterregation" techniques
.or agents, it is the consieored opinion of the study group that the existing
prograzs offer little hoi::e of establishing the.existonce of, or of devloping�
effective. and practical techniques or aEcnts. liuch :or. is required and
Mny promisin& avenues of apy.roach arc available for research which are
not being folloJod. Proiiising areas of rusearch are indicated in Section
..Reconnr'ntions.
. Specific coinentz on th, content of existin:; projects follow:
2.1 Eassachusotts Cioneral Hor-ital (I-chc.r)
Studies, such az this, on tho,psychl%icalff...cts of chemical
agents, are of minor value -shen accomplished without detailed knowledge
of the personality stru-ture of the individual tusted and his mental state
at the til.r.o of administration.
6 OE 2142/1
AW.74'1":71-?t'IW.;
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2.2 University of :Zoohstr-Ir (Wendt)
� This study of the effects of drags on psychological precesocs�
particularly as aCjuncts i.i interrogation has revealed little now in
nothodology and results aLi thus far presented. .Intensive experimentr.tien
with chemical agents as potential adjuncts to interrogation was carried
out during World War II. A series of ar,....nts and combinations of agents
were tested and little of practical importance was revealed. ;.1thougl.
not roleased.for publication, these data ere available to responsible
persons. Much west: and repetition could have been avoided if this mater,n1
had been thoroughly familiar to those who approved and undertook such
experimentation.
It is understocd that this study is being terMinated.
2.3 =I, 1/:,thesda
Early (19'47) Kai studies of drugs reported to be utilized by the
USSR in interrogation procedures rovealod that these drugs r�layed little
part in such procedlires. Work became inaotivo due to lack of subj.;cts.
Rec,ctivatioa ia 1950 r,sult.:d in University or- Rchestcr (W.7;ndt) pro.fact.
Little, if any, work applicable to interrogation is presently underway
at nmR.I.
2.4 Indiana Uniyerr.ity (Ellson)
On the basiS of present knowledge, it is not considered profital-le to
pursue studies aimed at adding additional biological, etc. indicators- tc
the polygraphic techniques in order to make such techniques more precise.
It is mnderstood that str.dies to date under this project have reached
tlha same conclusion and that the proj-.1ct will not be extended.
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2.5 John E. ro:id P:',socc. (John E.
This is a new projcxt aimed at use of fccdback delay to dcvelop
a strcss situation and althouch promisin; cannot be evaluated at this
2.6 Lrny (Pn7chochemical Warfare)
..11.-2w York

ri.ew .prk 6t-Ite PeT:eni:::=1a Mc (Lan:lis)
� finiverni-r.y of jc.linan (6-=.r.$)
These projccts comprise the Army program on psychochemical warfare
and as such arc not dircctly applicable to interrogation techniques.
Results nay io applicable and should be cicsoly followed by those
responsible for the development of interrogation techniques.
3. Recommendations
3,1 Those having to do with inmediato noeds.
(a) Skilled and exrcrienced interrogators, as well as those who
have been exposed to enerzy interrogation should be encouraged to analyze,
vith appropriate scientific support, thuir own and each other's methee.s
find experiences with the aim of fornulrLting procedure for purposes of
instractien'and protection.
(b) It is roce7nonded that a careful analysis and evaluation be
made of the pertinent factors in these cases where individuals have
proven to be poor security risk after having been ascortained as
one. This would add ureatly to the usefulness of existing nothods and
indicate areas to be emphasized in collecting data. Provision should also
be made for a contiziuing follow-up study and report, alter entrance (in
duty, of those considerd initially to be in the "doubtful" or "borderl:ne"
eTemmot,N4i4+4,e-t-471.*5....41
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(c) For investigations designud to improve methods of interrogation,
study under field conditiens and near depots of recently captured
prisoners.of war is strongly recomm.Lnded. The opportunities now made
available by the situation nKorea should be. immediately utilized .by
assigning appropriate research teams with adequate freed= of movement
Xor this purpose..
(d) It is suggested that research design be incorporated into the
operatiens ofintaligence agencies and advantage be taken of the stressful
aspects of the polygraphic test situation and preliminary and attendant
interviews with the aim of coordinating this informaticn with the
psychiatric and psychological approach.
(d) The Study Group wishes to emphasize the impOrtance of the utmost
c:trc in screening and selecting of pers.ns who must be entrusted with
secret information and exposed to dangerous pressures. It also wishes to
express confidence in adequate life history studies and character appraisal
as the best, though not, infalliblu method of selection..
(e) it is r.)alized that the enemy will continue to contrive new
devices that bewilder, frighten and injure. Indoctrination precedures
should take into consideration the fact that the best protection for the
exposed individual is high motivation and familiarity with persuasive
techniques, drug effects and other assaults plus an awareness of the
limitations of these neasuros in the face of firm personal discipline
and high morale. It may be important to know that even the intensity of
pain has .c. ceiling beyond which further increases in stimulus de not yield
RDB 2)42/1
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any creater intensity of pain.
3.2 Those havinL to do wIth the cralectien of data which may improve basic
understandinL and thus ultimately prove to be of military use.
(a) To increase und-rstandin ef thc mental procesces irriolved in the
retention and revelatin of secrut infonantiNal intensive studies of thc
. .
actioz: of cherical and yhyL;ical a;,ents on neural and psycholoLical prece
should be fostered. Studies on psycholoLical effects of chemical =cents
are of minor value unless much is know:1 of the personality structure of the
individual being tested and his mental state at the time of administration.
It is utronz;ly .2-c:commended that better criteria of behavior be-develeDod.
(b) it is equally fundamontal to promote investir,ations on the nature
of interpersonal relations, with the aim of establishin the underlyinc;
principles of human behavior, their limits 'and apflicatiens.
(c) It would be particularly relevant to study 1:;rsuasian, seduction,
and resistance as they relate to individual values, loyala,.e-,
and opinions. .
� (d) Studies on patients with psychoses aimed at ascortainin:; hew cher,lica:
ants auI-ront specific features of disturbed mantal processes and hohavir.
are aivro-:ed. It is hoped that suitable assayinc and testing procedures
will be elaleratcd by the investiLatcrs, since unless such m;theds arc
evolved, relatively little advance will have. been made.
.3 Rec,77=2,ations Concurninf: nu Future r,f the Stud;?
The Id Hoc Study Grup recommends that hereafter no regular schedule
or mcetinEs be planned, but that the committee cc called together when fresh
information frem the ;.rmcd Forces and the requirinz. interpretation
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eve.ilr.,.1"1.:. Jar...v., it in r,..c th:��.t tr b inolud:Al in r.:1
cr:ir_nizotIon ouc:). r.o zne. Eeert!
centn.ot Eilitery S_:rviecs) wh,,.) will ho
2-ezr:3ib10 for brin:_in:. to Cemmitto:_: frozh dcvi..:lopmto in civl
and military e:c.ri�_neo and scientific activity portin.mt to tl:a CCre-
taittcs int_rests. tlyn bo h.ld prmably
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1on3 intorraz, and mel:o :as�,
at ruch coca:dons could r�Jrriow pr.:s..:ntations of wor!: urr contrct Lnd
consider 1.r:j...cts trld,..:rt'Acon. It 5.s cstimatod tr.t, berrinc: cm-r-
Eoncif�;s, two 7:--sct5n:,s y.:er should su.frioo.
- 11 EDB 242/1
� 04444,00.; .1.neriorK.44.1044t.g.Z4Z1.064.
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Contract No.
ect No.
(-N �
NR 1.43-060
(Joirrt A-t:-/LF
Laboratory or Contractor. Funds ;2/1000
Investigator � , '51 '52 FY 15T- Scone nnd 4tatus
6.06 Bethesda,. Md.
Cdr S. V. Thompson .(KC)
Lt. C. Savage (0)
. 11.0 Baldridga l!qs2,Na
� catv.tant:
Univdivity of Rochoster
r
nivety zslz of. I tr Nsters z
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� 173-CaL Indiana Universi� ty
3.73-181 ...�
. 300 -.Evaluation of tho effects of .0004
bo 1.5o
:certain drugs on tha perforpeita of
,perse.nnel involved in. ly3.ng �
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t� otion sickness. .
� FY '52 Funds: 9-1-51 .-7-31-52 .
153 Funds: 8-1-52 - 1-31,-54
�
. 3$ � Datoction of deception. Joint :
. � A-N-AF contract to d3termine ra- .
liablo indicators for deception
mc3surem4nts through' graphic re-
cordings of ,physiological and motor
Insponses. xtended to 30 August
- will probably.ba removed for
adda.ObT.1 year..- -
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Interrogatie! livices and procedures...
; projact to devAtlAceovol und
used E3 thods' cf caugl'414 lying subjects
to think they havo betrho themselves..
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lat. 2142/1.3
AP.ViZDIX C
SCH,ZULE CP Fa:la-L;(3s
First mactinz; - 15 .f.uLust 1952
Second noting'- 1 octol= 1952
Third mctinz - 11 :lovonber 1952
Fourth meeting - 9 pc:ccmbar 1952