PARAPSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-00498A000200120046-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 25, 2002
• Sequence Number: 46
• Publication Date: March 23, 1976
• Content Type: MF

- Approved For Release 2003/02/27 : CIA-RDP79-00498A000200120046-6
ry ~
2 3 , Ii i. 1976
DD/SET-1381-76
MEMORANDUM FOR: Associate Deputy Director for Administration
FROM: Associate Deputy Director for Science and
Technology
SUBJECT: Parapsychology Research
REFERENCE: Memorandum from A/DDA to ADD/S&T dated
23 February 1976, Subject: SRI Report
on Perceptual Augmentation
1. Because you have expressed an interest, as a
Directorate, in the subject of parapsychology, I would like
to outline our current research plans in this area.
2. As you may know, we elected not to continue the SRI
research project because of its substantial cost and because
of the generally negative findings in the physiological por-
tion of the research. For example, a promising earlier cor-
relation between brain wave patterns and the on-off status
of a hidden light inside a screen room was not substantiated
by the most recent study. The operationally oriented portion
of the SRI work did yield some very interesting findings.
Unfortunately, these were open to question because of pro-
cedural shortcomings, such as the lack of controls, lack of
predetermined criteria for "hits," failure to follow accepted
double blind methodology, and the involvement of experimental
team members themselves as subjects.
3. We do agree that the field requires close observation,
however, until we can identify promising and potentially use-
ful research alternatives. We have programmed a significant
survey project for FY-77 and a follow-on for FY-78. The
FY-77 work will include an in-depth review of the recent
literature, together with visits to laboratories doing sig-
nificant research in the field. The contractor will be a
reputable scientist who holds neither a position of flat
rejection nor an outright espousal of paranormal phenomena
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SUBJECT: Parapsychology Research
generally. At the same time we will attempt to determine
internal criteria as to what types and levels of paranormal
performance would be considered important to the Agency if
they could be demonstrated.
25X1
Sayre Stevens
. ~: _ p/rn5
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DDA 76-0947
23 FEB 1978
UM FOR Associate Deputy Director for
Science and Technolo y
John N. McMahon, Associate Deputy
Director for Administration
JECT ; SRI Report on Perceptual Augmentation
1. Because Of my early interest stemming from OTS
days of keeping a finger in parapsychology,
dropped me a copy of the SRI r which in turn read
and then forwarded to for his comments.
2. Unfortunately,, this subject brings out the best
of charlatans, however, there is a serious side to it and
one that we, as an intelligence agency, must not let slip
by unnoticed. I call to your attention OMS's continued
interest in parapsychology and the fact that we, as a
Directorate, have a continuing interest and requirement
for research in this area. It does seem appropriate that
the Agency keep a continuing, albeit modest, effort in
this area.
Att
Memo dtd 20 Feb 76 to
AD DA fr DD/MS, same subj (DDA 76-0823)
Distribution:
Orig I - Adse Watt
1 - dd& w/att + background (DDA 76-0702 w/SRI report)
DDA Subject w/cy of att + bkgd w/o report
1 - DDA Chrono
1 - JNM Chrono
DDA 76-0702: MFR dtd 4 Feb 76 fr OTS/CB, subj:
Stanford Research Institute (SR Investigation into Parapsychology
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FF 976
MEMORANDUM FOR: Associate Deputy Director for Administration
SUBJECT SRI Report on Perceptual Augmentation
1. I read SRI's report with great interest and found
some of the narrative and observations to be intriguing.
Unfortunately, they were unable to find any physiological
measurable basis for their observations, a problem which
has plagued research in this area for many years. At least
to this reader I thought the report suffered unnecessarily
from statistical over kill mixed with observational data
which I found difficult to separate. It would have been
helpful to know what the initial protocol was and to have
further clarification of the control group (learner/
control?) and the reasons for grouping some of the subjects
for statistical reasons. Personally, I cannot endorse the
statement that this report "establishes overwhelming
scientific evidence for the existence of human perceptual
capabilities which are as yet unexplained."
2. Putting aside any shortcomings in the report or
my interpretation of it, I believe that the Agency should
continue to monitor this area which I refer to as unusual
sensory perception with particular emphasis on measure-
ments of energy transfer which I believe must exist if
this phenomenon is to be of any practical value to the
Agency. The Office of Medical Services has indicated its
interest in parapsychology to the Office of Research and
Development in a formal requirement and I hope that
senior officials of this Agency will continue to support
modest efforts in this area of great potential even though
the field enjoys little support by scientists in general.
STAT
Deputy Director Ot Medical, ervices
P u ONLY
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Approved For Release 2003/02/27 : CIA-RDP79-00498A000200120046-6