AUTONOMIC DETECTION OF REMOTE OBSERVATION: TWO CONCEPTUAL REPLICATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00789R003200140001-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 22, 2000
• Sequence Number: 1
• Content Type: RP

Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003200140001-1
AUTONOMIC DETECTION OF REMOTE OBSERVATION:
Two Conceptual Replications)
Marilyn J. Schlitz
Cognitive Sciences Laboratory,
Science Applications International Corporation
and
Stephen LaBerge
The Lucidity Institute
ABSTRACT: Two experiments were conducted to measure the extent to which
people are able to unconsciously detect another person staring at them from a
distance. A closed-circuit television set-up was employed in which a video
camera was focused on the experimental volunteer (Observee) while a person
in another room (Observer) concentrated on the image of the distant person as
displayed on a color monitor; this procedure was used to preclude any
conventional sensory contact -between the two people. During the
experimental session, the Observee's galvanic skin responses were monitored.
An automated and computerized system was programmed to record and
average the physiological responses of the Observee during 32 30-second
monitoring periods. A random sequence was used to schedule 16 periods of
remote observation and 16 control periods when no observation efforts were
attempted. A within-subjects evaluation was made for each experimental
session with a comparison between the mean amount of autonomic nervous
system activity during the experimental and control conditions. Twenty four
sessions were conducted in each of two experiments. As predicted, both
experiments yielded significantly more autonomic activity during the remote
observation periods as compared to control periods (Experiment 1: t=1.878,
p