TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM - A PROGRESS REPORT ON CONTRACT NUMBER 1471(S)73

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• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00787R000100180001-3
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• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 29
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 11, 1998
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 22, 1973
• Content Type: REPORT

22 February 1973
A Progress Report on Contract Number 1471(S)73
Dr. H.E. Puthoff
Mr. Russell Targ
Senior Research Physicist
Electronics and Bioengineering Laboratory
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I FIELD MEASUREMENTS PROGRAM, TASKS 1, 2, AND 3
Following is a summary of work carried out under Field
Measurements Contract No. 1471(S)73, Tasks 1, 2, and 3. Tasks 1 and
2 cover a two-week field measurement program (14-28 August 1972) with
consultant Ingo Swann; Task 3 covers a nine-day field measurement
program within the time period 1 December 1972 to 15 January 1973
with consultant Uri Geller.
Background
A program in biofield measurements was initiated in July 1972
with a preliminary experiment with Mr. Swann. In this work using
a shielded magnetometer, Mr. Swann apparently demonstrated an ability
to increase and decrease at will the magnetic field within a super-
conducting magnetic shield. This experiment made use of an existing
facility and we have confidence that Mr. Swann had no prior knowledge
of either the apparatus or of our intended experiment. The experimental
results were carefully scrutinized and were unlike any data previously
produced with this apparatus. That observation is summarized in
Proposal for Research SRI No. ISU 72-134 (Biofield Measurements Program)
in your possession. Based on that observation, Tasks 1 and 2 were
initiated to carry out further experimentation with Mr. Swann in the
field measurements area, and, later, Task 3 was added to carry out
similar experimentation with Mr. Geller.
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C. Protocol
A rigid protocol for experimentation in the area of psycho-
energetic research has been instituted in order to carry out the
assigned tasks.
1. Because of the history of charlatanism in this area, one
of our basic operating assumptions has to be that we cannot exclude
the possibility that a subject will hoax if given-an opportunity. To
handle this, we consider it important to design experiments a) which
are totally under the design and control of the experimenter rather
than the subject, and b) which are considered in their basic design
to be cheatproof. Specifically, if in the performance of an experiment
or in the evaluation afterwards it is found that the results could
in principle be duplicated by cheating or stage magic, then that
experiment is to be considered void, even when there is no evidence
of cheating.
2. Given the nature of the phenomena, any prejudgment or bias
on the part of the experimenter, whether I? pro" or "con", is more likely
to affect the experimentation, results, and their evaluation in this
area than in any other area of behavioral research. Therefore, we
consider it important to design experiments which a) can be carried
out using double blind procedures and b) can be evaluated by objective
measures independent of experimenter belief structures.
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II TASKS 1 AND 2; EXPERIMENTATION WITH INGO SWANN
The magnetometer observation of July 1972 indicated at least two
forms of biofield functioning: 1) the passive perception of information
through some as yet unidentified communication channel, and 2) the
active perturbation of the functioning of a laboratory device. The
initial experiments were designed to test each of these functions
separately.
Probability 1/3 Target Location
The first experiment to be carried out under Tasks 1 and 2
had as its goal the testing of the hypothesis that information can be
obtained from locations inaccessible to ordinary viewing.
In order to place the experiment on a quantitative basis,
a procedure was followed in which a target object was placed in one of
three identical containers, the task of Swann being to enter the
experimental area after placement and indicate the target container.
Targets consisted of a range of organic and inorganic materials (e.g.,
quartz prism, tomato, flower, etc.). In this short term study
insufficient data exists for discrimination among materials as to
their efficiency as target material. The target containers were
9-1/8}' x 4-5/8" x 4-9/16" x 1/4" thick wooden boxes, and the choice
of target container for each trial was determined by a random number
generator.
The experiment was not carried out in a double blind fashion
in this particular case (i.e., the experimenter in the room knew of
the target location). However, in order to minimize subliminal
cueing, the experimenter was seated behind the subject in such a
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position that he could not observe the choosing process on the part
of the subject until after the choice was made. In a follow-on
program subsequent successful double blind experiments with this subject
further indicate that the experimenter is not part of the choice
process.
The results are shown in Figures 1 and 2. The experiment
was repeated ten times per day over a five-day period yielding a
total run of fifty trials. With an a priori probability of p = 1/3
per trial, the expected number of hits in a 50-trial run is given by
y = 16.6. The observed number of hits was 26, exceeding chance
expectation by ~-_ 3c*; the a priori probability of such a result
due to chance alone is p = 0.005.
As indicated in Figure 2, an additional item of
significance is the general increase in the number of hits/10-trial
run over the 50-trial period. A least-squares fit linear regression
curve (learning curve) indicates a learning rate of 0.5/10-trial
run. The a priori probability of obtaining the above learning curve
by chance for the given data is p 0.1 (obtained from an analysis
of the slope using small sample Student's t distribution statistics).
Therefore, the indication for learning is weaker than the indication
of ability, but nevertheless positive.
Standard deviation 6 = npq , where n is the number of trials,
p is the a priori probability of a correct choice, and q is the
a priori probability per trial of an incorrect choice.
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The conclusion to be drawn from this experiment is that
there is a strong indication that information was being transferred
from one location to another through some as yet unidentified communication
channel.
B. Remote Temperature Control Experiment
A second experiment was initiated to examine the active
perturbation of the functioning of a laboratory device. The target
chosen was a copper-constantin 30 pV/?F thermocouple sealed in a
50 milliliter flask of helium gas at atmospheric pressure. (Helium
was chosen at the request of Mr. Swann who described an affinity for
helium following the original magnetometer experiment which involved
cooling by liquid helium.)
Mr. Swann's task was to learn to control the temperature
registered at the thermocouple junction as it was being monitored
by a Hewlett-Packard Model 425A DC microvoltmeter and displayed on
a strip chart recorder. The use of feedback in an experiment of this
nature is considered important both by Mr. Swann and by the experimenters.
Following a learning period of several days' effort, an
hour or so a day, Mr. Swann expressed confidence in his ability to
perform the task.. A rigid protocol was then followed in which the
experimenter and Mr. Swann sat in fixed positions in the laboratory,
Mr. Swann two feet from the target, experimenter four feet behind
Mr. Swann.
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The data, shown in Figure 3, were obtained in the following
procedure. After a 20-minute control period in which the temperature
was stabilized, a predetermined random series of ten "heat" and "rest"
commands were read out by the experimenter at 3-minute intervals. The
recorded data indicates that nine of the ten commands resulted in
changes in agreement with the commands. Control runs with other
laboratory personnel under identical conditions yielded null results.
Therefore it can be concluded that the control of temperature variations
in a remote object is indicated. Further work in this area is necessary
to determine from temperature distributions, shielding effects, etc.,
whether such control is due to an exquisite ability to control known
physical effects or due to the activation of some paranormal mechanism.
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C. 4-State Random Generator Experiment
A third experiment with Mr. Swann involved the use of an
electronic random number generator which randomly chooses one of
four possible targets (p.= 1/4).without indicating its choice until
Mr. Swann had indicated to the machine his choice by pressing a
button.
The apparatus used in this work was designed with the goal
of enhancing extraordinary human functioning which may be a more or
less latent capacity to some extent in all people. Our hypothesis is
that enhancement can be accomplished by allowing the user of the
machine to become consciously aware of his own mental state at those
times when he is most successfully employing his extra sensory faculties.
With increased conscious awareness of this mental state, we hypothesize
that he is then able to bring his otherwise intermittent faculties
under his volitional control.
An important feature of the machine is that the choice per se
of a target is not forced. That is, the subject may press a PASS
button on the machine when he wishes'not to guess. Thus, with practice,
the subject can learn to recognize those states of mind in which he can
correctly choose the target. He does not have to guess at targets
when he does not feel that he "knows" which to choose.
When the PASS button is pushed, the machine indicates what
its choice was, and neither a hit nor a trial is scored by the machine
which then goes on to make its next selection. We consider this
elimination of forced choice to be a significant condition for learning
to enhance extraordinary perception abilities.
When the user of the machine indicates his choice to the
machine, he is immediately and automatically informed of the correct
answer. Until that time both experimenter and the subject remain
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ignorant of the machine's state until the subject has made his choice;
thus, the experiment is of the double-blind type.
Because the user obtains immediate information feedback as
to the correct answer, he may be able to recognize his mental state
at those times when he has made a correct response. If the information
feedback to the user were not immediate, we hypothesize as much learning
would not take place and less or no enhancement would be achieved.
The machine operated in a mode in which a run of trials
continued until 20 misses were accumulated. At that point the run
was terminated and the number of hits/run (excess trials over 20)
were recorded. Data with this machine were obtained on seven separate
occasions, resulting in the plot of Figure 4. Total scoring was at
the p = 0.35 level and therefore did not differ from chance significantly
(due perhaps to Mr. Swann's expressed distaste for working with machines).
However, the general increase in the number of hits/run over the seven-
run period indicated a learning trend as in the target location experiment
of Section A. A least-squares fit linear regression curve (learning
curve) indicates a learning rate of 0.7/run (p 0.07 significance
level).
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D. Additional Areas Indicating Further Investigation
Of further significance, but difficult to evaluate quantitatively
at this point, was a number of subjective observations reported by Mr.
Swann during the course of experimentation. Mr. Swann is extremely
articulate about subjective impressions, visualizations, etc., which
leads. to the possibility of building up a coherent picture over a long
period of experimentation which can then be tested objectively. Examples
include his inner perception of helium gas as yellow (perhaps related
to the known resonance in the yellow portion of the spectrum), his
use of visualizations of scanning beams in perception experiments,
his reported subjective impression of scanning beam diffraction into
a rainbow when a quartz prism was the target, observations that extra-
normal vision is weakest in the visible portion of the spectrum where
dependence on ordinary human vision predominates, etc. If such observa-
tions can be brought into a pattern and correlated with objective measure-
ments, significant insight into extraordinary human functioning could
be expected.
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III TASK 3; EXPERIMENTATION WITH URI GELLER
The experiments conducted with Geller in November-December, 1972,
fell into two broad categories:
1. Perception experiments in which he was asked to identify and
draw the contents of opaque sealed envelopes, to identify a die face
concealed in a metal box, and to find objects hidden in one of ten
identical film cans.
2. Experiments involving physical effects in which he was asked
to interact with laboratory equipment by perturbing the experimental
apparatus without physical contact.
All experiments were monitored by simultaneous filming, video-
taping, sound recording, and, where appropriate, laboratory instrumenta-
tion. The experiments performed with Mr. Geller are summarized below
in writing and a film covering the experimentation is in progress.
A.' Probability 1/6 Double-Blind Dice Box Experiment
A double-blind experiment was performed in which a single
die was placed in a closed metal box. The box was vigorously shaken
by one of the experimenters and placed on a table. The orientation
of the die inside the box was unknown to the experimenters at that
time. Mr. Geller would then look at the box without touching it and
call out which die face he believed was uppermost. He gave the correct
answer each of 8 times the experiment was performed. The probability
that this could have occurred by chance alone is approximately one
in a million. The experiment was actually performed ten times, but on
two occasions the subject said his perception was not clear and he
was allowed to pass.
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Afte w,
B. Probability 1/10 Hidden Object Experiment
For this experiment ten identical aluminum film cans with
stainless steel tops were placed in a row. An outside assistant not
associated with the research would place the cans in a random position
and put the target object into one of them. He would then put caps on
all the cans and leave the experimental area, notifying the experimenters
that the experiment was ready. The experimenters, who were not aware
which can contained the object, would then enter the room with Geller
(i.e., the experiment was carried out in a double-blind fashion).
The subject would either pass his hand over the row of cans or simply
look at them. He would then call out the cans he felt confident were
empty, and the experimenter would remove them from the row. When
only two or three cans remained, Geller would announce which one he
thought contained the target object. He had no difficulty identifying
the location of water, steel ball bearings and small magnets. This
task was performed twelve times,without error. The probability that
this could have occurred by chance alone is about one in a trillion.
On two occasions he declined to answer. One of the targets that
apparently if stumped" him was a paper-wrapped metal ball bearing. The
other was a sugar cube.
C. Picture Drawing Experiment
In this experiment simple pictures were drawn on 3x5 file
cards. The field of possibilities of target materials was at no
time revealed to Mr. Geller. The pictures were put into double-sealed
envelopes by an outside assistant not associated with the experiment
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and placed in a safe for which the experimenters did not have the
combination. To conduct the experiment, the experimenters, two of
which had to be present, were permitted to select an envelope at
random from the safe, open it to identify the picture, seal it again
and enter the experimental room. Geller made seven almost exact
reproductions of the seven chosen target pictures, with no errors
(see Fig. 5). Video and audio monitoring did not reveal any cueing
possibilities. Figure 6 shows the results obtained when a drawing
was brought in as a test by an outside consultant to a potential
sponsor. The inspiration of the drawing was a magazine cartoon
shown in the upper right. The drawing itself is shown in the upper
left, and Geller's version is shown in the lower right. A double
blind version of the drawing experiment is shown in Fig. 7 where
an envelope chosen at random and unknown both to experimenter and
Geller resulted in the reproduction shown.
Two experiments to measure physical perturbation of
laboratory apparatus were also carried out. One of these involved
apparently exerting a force on a laboratory balance, and the other
was the generation of an apparent magnetic field recorded by a
magnetometer. Both of these experiments were performed several
times with results improving with repetition, showing apparent
evidence of learning taking place.
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D. Laboratory Balance
A precision laboratory balance measuring weights from one
milligram to fifty grams
made by Scientech Corp.,
output voltage
had a one-gram
bell jar. A chart
applied to the pan
then continuously monitored the force
Colorado, generated an electrical
caused the balance to respond
pan. This was evidenced by a
On several occasions the subject
as though a force were applied to the
corresponding displacement
shown by the
chart recorder. These displacements increased from 50 - 1500 milligrams
and were significantly different in signature from those that could
be produced by striking the bell jar or the table or jumping on the
floor, as indicated in Fig. 8. Efforts on our part to debunk the
experiment by the use of magnets or discharge of static electricity
against parts of the apparatus were unsuccessful. Also, day-long
control runs with no effort on Geller's part failed to reveal noise
or artifacts resembling the signals produced by Geller's efforts.
Therefore, the experiment indicated an apparent ability of Geller to
affect the apparatus by an as yet unidentified means.
was placed under a bell jar. This balance,
Boulder,
in proportion to the force applied to it. The balance
mass placed on its pan before it was covered with a
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E. Magnetometer Experiment
A Bell gaussmeter was used to determine if Mr. Geller could
perturb an instrument sensitive to magnetic fields. The instrument
was set to a full scale sensitivity of 0.3 gauss. The subject would
move his empty hands near the instrument in an effort to cause a
deflection of the chart recorder monitoring the magnetometer output.
In carefully filmed experiments, Geller was able t9 perturb the
magnetometer causing full scale deflection without touching the
measuring head of the instrument. Geller was examined before, during,
and after experimentation with the same magnetometer probe to insure
against the presence of artifact-producing materials.
F.. Further Observations
A number of other observations were made which for one
reason or another did not meet our rigorous protocol prerequisites
for a controlled experiment and therefore are not to be included
in the category of experiments A through E which we consider well
controlled.
Perhaps the most notable of these were a class of observations
associated with one of Geller's alleged attributes that had been
reported to us, which was that he was able to bend or break metal
from a distance without touching it. In the laboratory we did not
find him able to do so. It was always necessary for him in the
experimental situation to have physical contact with any metal he
bent. In a more relaxed protocol where he was permitted to touch
the metal, metals were bent. This included SRI-manufactured and
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serialized rings of brass and copper which were measured to require 150
lbs. force to bend them. However, it was not clear whether such
bending took place because Mr. Geller has extraordinarily strong
fingers and good control of micro-manipulatory movements, or whether
the metal "turns to plastic" in his hand as he claims. Our final
conclusion in watching our films was that simple photo interpretation
is insufficient to determine whether metals are being bent by normal or
paranormal means.
In summary, the three perception experiments (hidden drawings
in envelopes, double-blind hidden object experiment, double-blind
die-in-the-box experiment) and the two psychokinetic experiments
(depression or raising of a weight on an electrical scale and the
magnetometer indication) do not admit of any ready counterhypothesis
to the concept of extraordinary human functioning.
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IV SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The data gathered to date with the aid of consultants Swann and
Geller point to the existence of an as yet unidentified mode of
extraordinary human functioning. Efforts to explain the phenomena
either within the framework of conventional concepts or by exposure
of outright fraud have both met with failure at this point. With
regard to the latter possibility, it might be mentioned that our
efforts to detect fraud were quite sophisticated (including the use
of consultant magicians on our part) under the hypothesis that
subjects skilled in trickery might be sent to us to test the
adequacy of our program to detect fraud.
The observations to date are sufficiently detailed and well
controlled to indicate without doubt that extraordinary human
functioning has been observed. Further work is required, however,
to obtain sufficient data to permit the emergence of patterns of
cause-effect relationships and the elucidation of the mechanisms and
agencies involved.
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~- = 26 (p = 0.005)
cn
20
p+3a-~
p-CU RV E
L I
20 30
TRIALS
(p = 1/3 Per Trial)
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2 3
RUN NUMBER
(10 TRIALS/RUN; p = 1/3 PER TRIAL)
SA-2259-7
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z ?
cn + 6
H a
~ 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
RUN NUMBER
[(20 + N) TRIALS/RUN; p = 1/4 PER TRIAL]
SA-2259-6
FIGURE 4
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11
FIGURE 5
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