SRI TRIP REPORT: 17-18 JUNE 1974

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00787R000200010012-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 22, 2000
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: June 24, 1974
• Content Type: MFR

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24 June 1974
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1. Background and Summary, visited SRI on 17 and
1.8 June 1974, principally for the purposes of: examining the criteria used in the
selection of paranormal subjects and controls; determining precisely what arrange-
ments had been made for examining the subjects in the 'basic research' context;
establishing procedures for the reporting of all relevant data to us; and discussing
such other 'basic' and 'applied' research issues as seemed appropriate. We met for
about eight hours with Mssrs Jones, Puthoff and Targ on 17 June and for one hour
with the latter two on 18 June. Despite what appeared to be conceptual problems
on the part of Puthoff and Targ, relating largely to the kinds of rigorous research
disciplines which we were espousing as essential for the project, the discussions
were business-like and well-focused and seemed to be useful for all concerned.
2. Selection and Categorization of Subjects. After five months of effort SRI
has selected only five of the nine subjects: the three super-stars, one of the three
mid-stars and one of the three controls. We stressed that significant and useful
the basis of
research could commence only after they'd made definitive selections on/specific
and consistent criteria. One of the problems here, seems to be the fact that Puthoff
and Targ have been more interested in the testing and enhancing of psychic powers
than in the establishment of rigorous research procedures--with the consequence that,
as they've perceived ostensible improvements in the psychic powers of their 'controls',
they've tended to slide them up into the psychic categories. Given their basic belief
that everyone has psychic abilities, this could be a never-ending process. We stressed
that we'd like to see all nine subjects designated by the end of July and they undertook
to do so. We then spent several hours defining the three categories and specifying
the pre-selection tests and criteria used in screening the subjects.
a. Screening Tests and Criteria. All subjects will have been testes. on
five 'paranormal' tasks. Those tasks, together with the related protocols and
SRI Trip Report: 17-18 June 1974
criteria, were defined as follows.
(1) The Random Numbers Machine (testing 'clai_rvoyance'):.The basic
screening test will consist of 1000 trials (25 trials per run, 8 runs per day
for 5 days) and, though many subjects have gone well beyond 1000 trials already,
SRI will report to us data and 'p' values on our nine subjects just on the first
1000 trials. In the context of their NASA project over 150 people have been
tested on this machine; the data (copies of which wil.) , be sent to us) are now
being analyzed and the criteria for selection as 'psychic' performance level
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wi_. soon be established on the basis of this analysis. The present guess
is that criteria will be on the order of 10 6.
(2) OOB or Remote Viewing (testing for telepathy and/or clairvoyance):
The basic screening test will consist of 6 trials (lasting about one-half hour
each), one per day; criteria for psychic performance level will soon be estab-
lished but, in any case, it was agreed that results would have to be at least
at the .01 level. It was also agreed that a pool of 20 new sites would be used
.for each subject; we also discussed the desirability of replacing used sites in
subsequent trials for each given subject and, while no definite agreement was
reached, it may be that SRI will do so. We spent considerable time discussing
the judging procedures, the salient points being: the same five judges (all
chosen by Mr Cox and representing a 'hostile' to 'friendly' spread with respect
to paranormal research) will be used on a permanent basis; each judge works
independently, is given a list of the sites which were randomly selected for
the subject and copies of his transcripts; he visits each site and selects the
best matching transcript; at the present time a plurality vote (i.e., 2 or more)
of the judges, accurately matching 4 (or ) of the 6 sites, is considered signif-
icant--but, as noted, precise criteria will be specified by SRI in the near
future.
(3) EEG-Remote Stimulus (Strobe Light)(testing for telepathy via psycho-
physiologic indicators): The basic screening test will consist of 8 runs, 20
trials per run. A 'sending' subject is exposed to randomly selected stimulus
(a 16 herz light for 10 seconds) or non-stimulus, with one minute inter-trial
intervals; the 'test' subject is in a shielded room and, upon hearing a 'blip'
signal on the intercom, has to call stimulus or non-stimulus; both subjects are
being EEG-monitored and (aside from his calls) they are watching for alpha
reduction in the test subject during the stimulus periods. Heretofore SRI
had been averaging only the "S" and "NS" alpha production for comparison
purposes but they will now also average the inter-trial alpha for use as the
subject's base-line. Criteria for psychic level performance is now set at
the .01 level and will be confirmed by SRI.
(4) Cards in Envelopes (testing for clairvoyance): One run of 10 trials,
with the stimulus cards (simple line drawings of ordinary objects) selected
randomly and double-blind from a pool of 50; the subject draws his responses
and. may, if he wishes, supplement the drawing by written commentary; his
responses are scored independently by two judges. The criteria for psychic
level performance will be set by SRI but is now tentatively at the .01 level.
(~) ]Laser-Monitored Torti.on Pendulum (testing for PK): `Ilhe basic
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screening test will consist of a one-hour run, with alternating five-minute
'work' and 'rest' cycles; during the six 'work' periods the subject is instructed,
on a randomly-selected basis, to increase or decrease the amplitude (not the
frequency) of the pendulum's state. Considerable time was spent discussing
the protocol in terms of how one could most accurately measure states and effects--
with the consensus being that it would be best to compare the last 6 cycles of
the 'work' period with the last 6 cycles of the preceding 'rest' period. The
tentative criteria for psychic level performance, to be confirmed by SRI, is
two standard deviations on 4 out of the 6 'work' periods. SRI was quite impressed
by the gradiometer's sensitivity and found it a sufficiently useful adjunct to
the pendulum experiment to investigate the possibility of acquiring one of
their awn; barring that, they might try to use SRI's magnetometer. They had
several anecdotes about two of their subjects' prowess with this device (one of
them allegedly having sent the scale soaring off the paper by telephone) but, not
wanting to be exposed to the subjects, we declined invitations to observe
experiments.
(Note: With respect to all of the above testing, SRI was informed that--as far
as our nine ultimate subjects were concerned--we wanted to see all the raw test
scores and not merely probability statements on the results.)
b. Definition of Subject Categories. All nine subjects will be submitted
to all five of the above tests. Their placement as super-stars, mid-stars or
controls will be determined on the following basis.
(1) Super Stars: Those who "consciously" perform at high 'p' values (e.g.,
10-6);on at least one of the five tasks.
(2) Mid Stars: Those who are only at chance on the "conscious" level but
are at high 'p' value on the "unconscious" physiological dimension--i.e., on the
EEG (and/or GSR, plethysmograph) test described in a(3), above.
(3) Controls: Those who did not exceed chance within the prescribed
number of trials on any of the tasks.
(Note: We stressed, and SRI agreed, that once a subject is placed in a given
category he is to remain in that category for the duration of the project--no
matter what apparent increase or decline of powers they might observe.)
3. Status of Arrangements for Examining Subjects. We discussed the critical need
to finalize all the arrangements and begin processing at least their 'controls' through
the entire battery of tests within the next month. SRI appeared to concur fully and,
as a matter of fact, most of the arrangements do now seem to be well in hand; it is
now a question of how assiduously they follow-up by completing the identification of
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their subjects and by setting up and observing sound procedures for their processing.
It would appear that the will is there (they are, perhaps, even too optimistic about
the significance of the evidence that might accrue from the physical and psychological
examinations) but the organization and discipline might still be lacking. In any case,
the status is as follows.
a. Psychological and Behavioral Examinations. Under the white tab (attached)
is a chart SRI had prepared on the. psychological testing to be performed--showing for
each subject the status with respect to all tests. Color-coded to reflect the entity
responsible for administering each test, the lower circle in each box (when filled in)
signifies that the arrangements have been made--while the upper circle (when filled in)
signifies that the test has already been administered to that subject. On 17 June Dr
Puthoff visited the Palo Alto Medical Clinic and came back with the report that, in
the psych-behavioral field, they will also be able to administer the following: Luscher
Color Test, Rorschach, MMPI, Omnibus (we confirmed that we wanted both MMPI and the
Omnibus), Witkins Field Dependency, In-Depth Interviews--and that all the psych testing
done at PAMC will be administered by one individual and scored blind by another. Further,
SRI will administer: Suggestibility Tests, Flicker-Fusion and, possibly, a Signal
Detection Test, We asked them to prepare a new Psych-Behavioral matrix sheet--showing
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all of the tests definitively agreed upon--and to use that format in reporting progress
with each monthly report. We also confirmed for them (which they seemed not to have
realized) that would not be doing the WAIS in the future--but that we would be
content with the WAIS administered by PAMCO All in all, although there are a few items
on our original list which have not been satisfied, this battery of tests and interviews
should be adequate for our purposes--particularly since, after studying all of the
evidence on all subjects, there's no reason why we couldn't call for a limited number
of specific and more discriminating tests on all of them. Also (see the blue tab) SRI has
adopted Mood Adjective & Semantic Differential Checklists for use on each testing day.
b. Medical-Physical-Sensory Examinations. The PAMC will handle virtually
all of these examinations, including: in-depth medical history interviews; a thorough
EEG and
medical examination (of the periodic check-tip type); a complete/CNS work-up; full blood
and urine analysis; chromosome count and analysis; protein break-down analysis; eye and
ear examinations, testing to each subject's extreme capability; plotting of entire
visual response field, with different colors; and they will farm-out the CNV response
testing to Stanford (SRI undertook to determine for us the details on Stanford's
procedures and conditions). Further, PAMC is able to perform an E.M.I. brain-scan, a
low X-ray dosage examination of 6 plains of the brain, at an additional cost of $200
per subject; we urged and they agreed that the EMI be done only if PAMC's EEG clearly
indicated that it would be warranted. The estimated cost for all of PAMC's work on
each subject (medical, sensory, psychological) is around $700 to $900. We stressed
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that, in the context of our project, we were responsible only for the examinations,
themselves, and that any medical conditions which might be uncovered could be pursued
by the subject only at his own expense. Perhaps the best news was what Dr Puthoff
reported of the PAMC interest in this work. They appear to be eager to do a thorough
job, are rather excited about the prospects of working in this field, have a feel for
the kinds of evidence which might be important to us and are determined to handle it
all on a clean, scientific. basis--i.e., insofar as practicable the interpretations
will be done blind and each department (under the chairmanship and coordination of
Dr Armbruster) will not only provide the raw data but will also prepare a definitive
report on each subject--calling special attention to any significant variations from
the normal population, as well as watching for any variations or correlations within
our group of subjects. The only thing of apparent consequence that PAMC can't handle
is visual testing in IR and UV and, frankly, I do not recall whether we made any other
provision for that. SRI was asked to prepare a medical matrix similar to the attached
psychological one and use it in reporting future progress to us.
c. Mid-Paranormal-Experiment Testing. After obtaining normal baseline
data on each subject, SRI will perform mid-paranormal-experimenting testing on each
of them during the course of the post-selection protocols (see Para 4, below, for
discussion of those tasks); this testing will consist of: EEG readings (both right and
left hemisphere, focusing on Alpha, Beta and Theta waves); GSR; and Plethysmograph.
As indicated above, there is also a possibility that SRI will obtain its own gradio-
meter or magnetometer--in which case, presumably, it will also be used to monitor
the subjects during performance of their psychic tasks. Again, we asked SRI to prepare
a matrix for use in reporting the status of such testing with each subject.
4. Post-Selection Paranormal Testing. Without wanting to encroach upon OTS'
'applied' research domain, there was nevertheless some discussion of the kinds of tasks
which the nine subjects will be expected to do after selection (and during which they
would be examined as stated in para 3.c., above). Recognizing that OTS might redefine
these tasks or specify entirely different ones, it was generally agreed that they would
likely fall into four broad areas.
a. Remote Viewing of Scenes Events. Similar to the OOB experiments being
run for screening purposes, to the extent that security considerations permit the later
tests would hopefully be more operationally oriented--.i.e., focus on specific hard-target
sites. For subjects who are not cleared, the tasks might take the form, for instance,
of 'locating' subjects who are trying to evade detection--and we discussed several
possible scenarios which might inject the proper mood/motivation/urgency for such
purposes.
b. PK. Here the focus should be on perturbation of wane dynamic system
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having at :t # eriphcra.l_ operational ?Q.,,Pl1Cation--.e.g., location of some hidden device
relay and changing the state. SRI also mentioned that it was plan.?;.i?
to construct -asks irvol.ving biological. (s.'~ngle-cell nitella?) and bacteriological
systems/cultul"' +. hose state-changes as a consequence of PK perturbation could be
precisely measured.
co Clairvoyance_ESpa Here the focus might be on safes/locks/attache cases'.-
with, for instance, the subject required to perceive the contents or determine the
unlocking combination.
d. Remote Assessments. In which the subject would be required to ascertain
the emotional and/or physical state, feelings or attitudes, of a subject remotely--
either with or without stimulus objects (photographs, etc).
5. Reporting. It was pointed out that, though we are approaching the end of the
fifth month of effort, we've seen only two 'monthly' reports. SRI stated that the
third was in preparation. We told them that we'd like to see in the next report (i.e.,
the fourth one, by the end of July) at least the following the data:
a. Status on the screening of (hopefully) all nine subjects and the
pre-selection test data on each;
b. definitive statements on the pre-selection protocols and the
psychic level criteria employed;
c. definitive statements on the criteria employed for placing subjects
in the super-star, mid-star and control categories;
d. matrices on the status of (1) psychological-behavioral, (2) medical-
sensory and (3) mid-experiment testing; and
e. somewhat more precise statements on the nature of the psychic tasks
to be used in the post-selection testing phase.
6. Other Matters, Puthoff and Targ will be going to New York for a conference
about mid-August and it was agreed that they would stop for meetings with us on the
way. Their 'internal' Blue Ribbon panel has not really been used on our project; as
they explained.it, the panel is invoked only in the event of major policy decisions or
when there is some significant problem or crisis. They are, however, in the process of
identifying and recruiting an 'external' panel of cross-discipline experts and they
would be used. to pass on research design and procedures used in our project. It was
agreed, once and for all, that URI would not be included in our project--although, if
they do test him on their own (e.g., 'with OTS' S/W cards), they'll provide us with the
data separately. We looked at PP's transcripts on his experiment with it
looked pretty useless M has since confirmed this impression
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