LETTER TO (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00787R000400080004-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 27, 2000
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: June 11, 1973
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R0000400080004-8
ydt-1j7
June 11, 1973
SG1I
SG1I Dear
A belated, but nonetheless sincere, note to thank you for the time which
you made available to me at my last visit. I am most appreciative for the
courtesies extended to me.
As you know from my recent telephone conversations with you since my return,
I have had several visits with Ross Adey and have had a series of extremely
good discussions with both him and R. Michelson on the subject of interest.
Attached, as you requested, is a summary by Ross (to me) of the general area
in which he is working and an outline of the direction he thinks the research
should be continued.
S G11 I have initiated these on-going dialogues because,'from my discussions with
you and I have been encouraged to believe that there is an increased
interest in your shop in the Life Sciences. While I recognize that "increased"
is relative, I still consider this a step in the right direction and I have
given considerable thought as to what might constitute an intelligent and
salable program in these disciplines. I have formed some opinions.
What I would propose would be a well designed program to advance our under-
standing of human biology in those areas relating to how audio, visual and
other sensory inputs are acquired, transduced.and processed. Specifically,
to try to determine how these inputs are (or can be) influenced by external
or physiological stimuli and whether or not decision processes and attitude
of individuals can be deduced by means of direct or indirect measurements.
In suggesting this as an approach, I am reflecting my belief that, to a degree,
we (collectively) are already fairly solidly committed to some aspects of it.
Further (and assuming Ross could be persuaded to become involved), I believe
SG1I that ,in Drs. Adey, Michelson.and~their respective staffs and Develco,
we have the makings of an extraordinarily well qualified, competent and en-
thusiastic team nucleus. Not a: great deal of effort would be required to fit
the present work within the framework of a larger program, identify and go
after solutions to existing problems and in a measured and practical fashion,
start to enlarge and expand the overall effort.
From the viewpoint of the agency, this would not be a program intended to
promote medical research in an esoteric field, but rather would be one designed
and implemented to provide a continuing stream of achievements which would en-
hance the establishment's ability to meet its short-term goals and long-term
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SG1I
June 11, 1973
Page 2
objectives. As envisioned, work in this area of this discipline within the
agency would be on-going over many, many years and would, eventually, become
one of the fundamentals, if not the fundamental baseline in intelligence
gathering.
The vector of the proposed scientific investigation would be along the lines
of the present work and, as suggested in the letter from Ross. It would be
planned such that it would produce in an orderly fashion, mathematical, tech-
nical and psychological advances pertinent to and with significance for the
attainment of agency objectives. Without trying to provide a "shopping list",
these advances might include the following:
? New and improved computer modeling capability with application
in advanced signal processing, computer design and crypto analysis.
? Improved signal processing and display systems.
? Improved sensors..- magnetic, electric and optic; improved in per-
formance, configuration and utility.
? Step function improvement in shielded and secure facilities; magne-
tic and electrical shielding from dc to the GHz range.
? Materially improved and far more reliable noncontact polygraphs.
There are at least two prime candidates, in this regard; the cryo-
magnetic and a combination of infrared and microwave.
In this latter system, there appears to be very good evidence that
temperature gradients in certain areas of the face and neck are
extremely accurate indicators of pyschological attitudes and there
are indications that specific microwave frequencies are selectively
absorbed and reflected from the human physiology in some relationship
to the same attitudes. In essence, the attitude determines the physi-
ology which-can then be measured on the skin - possibly over con-
siderable distances and in nonselected environments.
? An enhanced capability to provide the optimum physical and physio-
logical environment in which to monitor (in a security sense) and
train intelligence operatives.
? The capability to provide accurate projections of the probable res-
ponse of individuals and/or segmented populace to external and/or
physiological stimuli.
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SG1I
June ,. ,
Page 3
? The real possibility that, at some point in the future, external
measurements can be correlated with some degree of accuracy with
simple thought processes in humans.
(Within the past few weeks, on the joint Michelson/Develco program,
we were able to identify, on a scalp probe, the electrical analog
of an audio signal applied in a test subject's ear. The results
appear to be unambiguous and free from artifact. This represents
a potentially significant step forward which, while it is a very
long way from thought reading, could eventually lead to a greatly
improved understanding of the overall processing mechanisms in-
volved.)
The initial structuring of a major program plan, as suggested in this letter,
will require the involvement of the scientists presently working with us.
They are the key to the opportunities, they know the direction of their res-
pective endeavors and theirs are the accomplishments we hope to utilize. It
is my belief that they will cooperate to the degree that interest is shown
by the agency; they are much too busy to waste time developing detailed pro-
posals as an exercise and I think we all recognize that fact.
What I feel might make sense, in this regard, is that in conjunction with
your people, we would work out some preliminary draft outlines and budgeting
estimates from which a modest study contract could be let. The study con-
tract to result in the overall program plan recommendation. I am sure the
resultant document would have considerable value to your department for it
would be meaningful for planning purposes and, almost certainly, timely.
In putting forward this particular program for consideration, I am quite
convinced that, increasingly, the agency will depend on its understanding
of man as a performing biological organism,:tb meet its "intelligence" charter.
There is absolutely no question in my mind that the work being done by Adey
and others in highlighting this fact and, indeed, is ushering in a new and
infinitely more sophisticated era of endeavor than anything the agency has
done heretofore. We know this and the Soviets and the Red Chinese know it
and, in this vitally significant field, we must get the lead and maintain it.
Robert P. Gow
RPG/ br
Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000400080004-8