PARAPSYCHOLOGY ABSTRACTS INTERNATIONAL

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Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R00040014049,j that the strict application of the double-blind method of- fers the researcher the guarantee of absolute objectivity in estimating results. - DA/R.A.W. 03616. Rigato, Mario. The possibility of suggestive in- fluences in certain analgesic effects of mag- netotherapy: A boundary problem between para- psychology and unquestioned sciences. Quaderni di Parapsicologia, 1986, 17(1), 46-48. The clinical effects of pulsed magnetic fields are easily controllable by means of radiography and other ob- jective data. On the other hand, the purely analgesic ef- fects declared by the patient are not controllable. Some authors suggest that a placebo effect is present. On this problem an experimental research program is presented to he carried out in collaboration with the Parapsychology Laboratory of The University of Utrecht. The aim is to point out some aspects which could involve academic or- thodoxy as well as parapsychology. - DA/R.A.W. 03617. Bersani, Ferdittando, and Travisan, Bruno. Ex- periences with psycholinguistic PK. Quaderni di Para- psicologia, 1986, 17(1), 49-53. 1 ref Last year we presented a new method that could detect some possible PK effects catalyzed by the interpreta- tion of semirandom acoustic signals recorded on a tape re- corder. In a previous study we investigated the possibility of perceiving linguistic patterns in suitable nonlinguistic acoustic events. The two essential conditions in order to obtain such effects were: (a) the availability of sounds that could be listened to over and over again on a tape recorder, and (b) the propensity of the subject to under- stand that what they are listening to is a linguistic mes- sage. As we showed last year, the hypothesis can be formu- lated which says that a condition can be produced during the linguistic interpretation that is particularly conducive in order to produce some PK effects by which a "nonintentional" modification of acoustic patterns could result in better equating the acoustic event to a linguistic model produced by the subject's mind. This hypothesis also fits with Stanford's "conformance behavior" model. In our set-up, the physical target of the PK is the electronic device by which the acoustic events are processed. In other words, our present investigation involves the possibility of detecting some modifications in the electronic "processing" of the acoustic signals previously recorded. In our pilot attempts the subject was requested to listen (using headphones) to suitable signals, and his emotional involvement was monitored via an electronic device called the "oracle," wherein the subject asks the "oracle" to speak about some personal questions. In other words, the acoustic signals can be used as targets for a short projective test in which the subject is particularly involved. In order to im- prove the psychological connection between the electronic device and the subjects, we introduced some modifications into the circuits with respect to the previous instrumenta- tion, and we also introduced feedback by means of a small light that flashes when the "oracle" speaks. With these modifications we have conducted an extensive investigation with quite a large number of subjects. No PK effect was detected. Nevertheless, experimentation is still going on in order to obtain a very large amount of data. - DA/R.A.W. 03618. Dettore, Ugo. A hypothesis of clairvoyance. Quad- erni di Parapsicologia, 1986, 17(1), 54-60. We hypothesize a sensoriality in time (past and fu- ture) on the pattern of which the sensoriality in space (present), peculiar to the five known senses, would have formed. The sensoriality in time would be peculiar to all, living and nonliving beings; the one in space would belong only to living beings, even if potentially present in the nonliving ones. Clairvoyance would consist in the sen- soriality in time (retrocognition and 'precognition); clair- voyance in the present, or cryptesthesia, would in reality be a perception of the immediate past, displaced only by a few moments as to the present. On the basis of time sen- toriality, it would have formed intuitive thought which is always creative and leads to the evolution of all beings; on the basis of space sensoriality, it would have developed ra- tional thought, which in itself isn't creative but only aims at settling fixed relations, or laws, among beings. The in- teraction between the two sensorialities and the two forms of thought offers us the whole of reality. - DA/R.A.W. 03619. Martelli, Aldo. Experiences of collaboration with certain prestidigitators in the investigation of some presumably paranormal cases. Quaderni di Para- psicologia, 1986, 17(1), 61-68. On several occasions, during our investigations and experimental researches on some supposed paranormal phenomena, we availed ourselves of the collaboration of two conjurors: Vanni Bossi and Alexander. In our opinion, such collaboration is useful and advisable. Ob- viously, one should consider certain difficulties, deriving, for instance, from the conjurors' engagements. We agree with Vanni Bossi that it is not enough to have at our disposal a "tout-court" good conjuror. It is also necessary that the conjurer is practiced, not only in conjuring tricks in general, but also with those tricks that "paranormal" subjects could perform. Thanks to Alexander's collaboration, we investigated a supposed phenomenon of water creation. The subject was a 15-year-old girl. This case proved to be a trick as the girl, thanks to her extraordinary skill, was able to put out the salivary secretion through her imperceptibly half-open lips. We also investigated a case of an 11-year-old boy who had been described as the protagonist of many extraor- dinary ESP and PK phenomena. In our presence, the boy was able only to make a thermometer mercury rise, by means of a "trick," unconscious perhaps, but soon revealed. Moreover, in 1978, in Milan, Alexander caught Geller bend- ing a key by hand, simulating PK. He was able to reproduce the success in the same way. We made use of the two conjurors' opinions also in order to examine (as deeply as possible) about 30 experi- ments. They involved metal bending and of other kinds, selected among over 200 experiments performed during some years with half a dozen "mini-geliers," and with Professor Bersani's collaboration. We chose that experi- ments because we considered them valid as far as their paranormal "genuineness" was concerned. In this case, we should be satisfied with the con- jurors' posterior judgment that is given on the basis of our account. In fact, we cannot have them at our disposal all throughout the experiment. The explanations for the phenomena, that the conjurors gave separately, partly coin- cided, partly contrasted, and only two were judged tenable, on the basis of our experimental experience. In some cases, then, the conjurors admitted that, if things had ac- tually gone as we had described, the only explanation they could give was the operator's inattention. - DA/R.A.W. 03620. Cassoli, Piero. A contribution to the study of pranotherapy. Quaderni di Parapsicologia, 1986, 17(1). 69-89. 43 refs; 1 table The author, a physician, discusses problems concerning "healers." For many years he has been investigating only Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400140001-8 Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400140001-8 parapsychology Abstracts International to all, )clong n the sen- clair- cality by a Ben- ch is s; on 3 ra- aims - in- .irms .with )me and Mal of our Ob- ing, to is in lat Ia 'as he 'ut en oy or- .)y -)y d. d- to those healers who act by "laying of hands." He wrote two hooks, one in cooperation with the parapsychologist G. Ian- nuzzo, and numerous papers on the same subject, gathering an extensive collection of historical cases. After having dcalt with some problems connected with the peculiar situa- tion of Italian healers (who maintain their position in spite of important medical and surgical progress and their illegal situation), the author discusses three topics: new historical cases, laboratory results, and the placebo effect. Regarding the first he refers to the results of some cases of Muscular Progressive Distrophia. Some young patients have improved both during and after pranotherapy. After (from two to six months) patients got worse again: they then repeated the treatment and got better. They are like a battery that charges and discharges. If we are able to get confirmation about such a phenomenon, how can it be explained by the placebo effect? The second subject dealt with is Kirlian photography. In Italy a well organized and diffused Center issues a diploma to healers (or presumed healers) certifying that a fluid (bioplasma) emanates from their hands as attested by Kirlian photography. It is certainly proved that Kirlian photography depends on a well-known physical phenomenon, but in Italy four Lower Court judges have acquitted four healers, from the indictment of the illegal practice of medicine. Their sentence was founded on the results of Kirlian photography. It is advisable that major parapsychological organizations (like the P.A.) suggest that their members do not participate in any meeting, or any- thing else that this Center might promote. The third subject concerns the placebo effect (P.E.), perhaps the most disturbing and puzzling problem for the scientifically oriented mind of a physician when he is facing the interpretation of pranotherapy results. Papers on this subject agree that 35% of the benefits of all medical treatments (chemical, physical, or surgical) may be referred to P.E1 P.E. apparently is not a mere suggestion effect, unless we acknowledge that suggestion can give rise to ex- traordinary biological reactions (on enzymes, on chemical blood components, on hormones, and so on). Furthermore, well mastered researches in this field (P.E.) are necessary. After 35 years of clinical observation and controls of a good number of healers' results, the author is at present very cautious on the possibility of the presence of PK in this matter. The same position is maintained on the pos- sibility that something "flows" or emanates from the healer's body. He is waiting for clinically controlled ex- periments (by blind and double-blind methods) to be carried out only in Clinical University Institutes. - DA/R.A.W. 03621. Rosa, Rodolfo. Reflections on the time-bound universe. Quaderni di Parapsicologia, 1986, 17(1), 90-100. 3 graphs; I illus; 8 refs The aim of this lecture is to introduce to the non- specialist the Erhenfest urn model exploited by Cocke to illustrate an oscillating universe model in which there are two boundary conditions: one in the past (big-bang) and one in the future (big-crunch). A simple Monte Carlo com- puter code has been set up in order to simulate the statisti- cal behavior of the system consisting of two urns and 36 balls numbered from 1 to 36. One starts with 27 balls in the left-hand urn and 9 in the right-hand one. A random number selects a ball which is moved from the system and is defined as delta n = n subs (number of balls in the left-hand urn)--n sub e (equilibrium value). Two typical histories and the average of over hundreds of runs is reported. The code saves only those histories which satisfy the final boundary condition. Two such allowed histories and the average of 14 of them are reported. It must be emphasized that in double-ended statistics, even in the ex- panding phase of the universe, the course of events can be conditioned by the future boundary conditions. In this sense we speak of causality violation or "pre-effect": the future can influence the past. In such a context, time- symmetric thermodynamics (i.e., a thermodynamics with boundary conditions on both the past and the future) put forward by J.A. Donald and B. Martin some years ago is referred to. According to these authors, a past directed neg-entropy associated with boundary conditions in the fu- ture is the means through which living organisms can in- fluence the past. In an analogous way they utilize the usual neg-entropy to change the future states of the universe. - DA/R.A.W. 03622. Bernardi, Sergio. The cradle of the paranormal. Quaderni di Parapsicologia, 1986, 17(1), 101-110. 23 refs People have wondered about the psychological origins of paranormal phenomena. There has been some research in what has been defined by Jan Ehrenwald, a famous researcher now in New York, as the cradle of the paranor- mal. More in-depth study has been made in this field. Attention was at first given to the mother/suckling relation- ship and to its paranormal components. This led to the intrauterine mother/fetus relationship and research was con- ducted at this level. This problem was brought up in the 1930's by the famous psychoanalyst Sadger, who said: "The child knows from the uterine stage whether the mother loves him or hates him." The Argentinian psychoanalyst Arnaldo Raskovski discussed many aspects of this topic. Recently, Mauro Mancia, a neuropsychologist and psychoanalyst, shed more light on the subject. A book by Otto Rank, The Trauma of Birth, is an in-depth study of the psychic life of the unborn child. This topic has also been researched by others such as Sandor Ferenzi, Georg Groddek, and Wilhelm Steckel. The existence of an oneiric life and therefore psychic life in the fetal stage during the last months of pregnancy and after the first months of birth has been demonstrated by experiments using REM and EEG. Undoubtedly, these remarks are of great importance in the evolution of research in this area, which is so significant for a better knowledge of the modalities and structures of the deep levels of human per- sonalities. A distinguishing criterion is suggested about the interpretations that various scholars have given to the con- cept of "psychic regression" to primary stages in connection with emerging paranormal phenomena. - DA/R.A.W. 03623. Iannuzzo, Giovanni. Psychiatry and spiritism: Italian psychiatry of the early 20th century and psychic research. Quaderni di Parapsicologia, 1986, 17(1), 111-125. 32 refs The author discusses the relationship between psychiatry and psychical research at the beginning of the 20th century. He deals mainly with two personages: Cesare Lombroso and Enrico Morselli, leaders of Italian psychiatry, both with a great interest in psychical research, but along different lines. In fact, Lombroso became a fol- lower of spiritistie doctrine after some mediumistic ex- periences; Morselli retained a sufficiently severe and anti- spiritistic scientific behavior. They were not the only physicians approaching spiritism: other lesser known scien- tists (Samona, Luciani, Bianchi) attended to this subject, demonstrating that the interest in these phenomena was very deep. The most important scientific journals of that period dealt with this argument. This was the golden age of psychical research in Italy, but it lasted only a few years and soon our country lost its supremacy. The author _-mAp.p,roved For..Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400140001-8 Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400140001-8 Parapsychology Abstracts International analysis revealed no significant sun sign, effects on political conservatism. - DA 03587. Miiller, Arno. Accident-prone persons in the horoscope: Report on Part II of an astrological match- ing test (Vernon Clerk Test) and discussion of the to- tal study. Zeitschrift far Parapsychologie and Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, 1988, 30(1-4), 230-235. 6 refs After critical comments on a publication of Part I presented by others, the results of Part II are reported. In seven independent tests the astrologers had to select out of three persons (one accident prone, two for 'control) the accident-prone one on the basis of official time records on the charts. The person was described, including his most serious accidents with date of occurrence. Whereas Part I yielded a slight positive result, Part II was distinctly nega- tive. The total result vindicates the conclusion that the astrologers were not able to identify persons with serious accidents with statistical significance on the basis of the chart. - DA 03588. Walti, Bernhard. Preliminary report on an un- usual experiment with Silvio. Zeitschrift fir Para- psychologie and Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, 1988, 30(1- 4), 236-242. 1 illus; 5 refs We report an experiment in which a well-known al- leged paranormally talented person intertwined two frames made out of different materials (paper and aluminum) in an as yet unexplained manner. Although the mere exis- tence of the object cannot be regarded as ultimate proof of a paranormal action, the threshold for a conventional explanation is set high. Careful examinations of the object have not revealed any trace of technical manipulation. - DA ITALIAN LANGUAGE (Editors: Paola Giovetti; William Giroldini) LUCE E OMBRA Published quarterly in Italian by dell'Associazione Ar- chivio di Documentazione Storica delta Ricerca Psichica (Silvio Ravaldini, director). Founded in 1900, it is edited by Riccardo Cesanelli, Lina de Boni, Giorgio di Simone, Pierangelo Garzia, and Paola Giovetti. The address is Bozzano-De Boni, Via Or- feo, 15; 40124 Bologna, Italia. Telephone (051) 33 27 05. 03589. Ravaldini, Silvio. From D.D. Home to "A" En- tity: Is mediumistic phenomenology adapting to the times and historical contexts to be better understood? Luce e Ombra, 1988 (Jan/Mar), 88(1), 1-9. 8 refs In the above article, the author makes an excursus in paranormal phenomenology, going from the English medium D.D. Home to the high level messages ("A" Entity) still being received through the excellent medium at the Parapsychological Study Center in Naples. Therefore, the certainty of the existence of an "interiority" in humans is confirmed by the various intelligent messages received during this span of time. At the same time, this "interiority" is also underlined by our modern philosophers (Assagioli, Tagore, Fromm) who cannot accept in humans an intelligence of a solely mechanic type. Life meaning will be found through the discovery and the acceptance of our own "interiority." Being able to read all the mediumis- tic messages--even the simplest ones, such as those that will be due to telepathy--with the detachment of a research focus will make it possible to understand better the intelligent pattern of the spiritual universe. - DT/R.A.W. 03590. Piancastelli, Corrado. The interior in psychotherapy: Introductory statement of a research. Luce e Ombra, 1988 (Jan/Mar), 88(1), 10-18. The author belongs to the new wave of parapsychol- ogy which, in Italy, is centering its research aims inside "the man," where respect for the traditional and phenomenological extra-sensoriality are recognized as very important paranormal aspects. In support of what was said above mystical experiences are valuated and, above all, those obtainable by the superior method of autogenic train- ing developed by Schultz. The author talks about the sub- jective evidence in which a verified clinical death is fol- lowed by a return to life. These facts, verified even in hospital, show a fantastic consistency and provide an impor- tant analogy with mystic raptures, drug hallucinations, and the perceptions obtainable by autogenic training. The author attempts to identify an eventual structure independ- ent of the psychic one, as we know it, and he does not hesitate to call this possible structure the "soul." From within the general theory of personality, it will be possible to obtain the desired identification. - DT/R.A.W. 03591. Biondi, Massimo. Tables and mediums: History of spiritism in Italy. Luce e Ombra, 1988 (Jan/Mar), 88(1), 20-30. In the 1900s, in a wine shop in Turin there occurred a typical poltergeist case. Attracted by the news that started to spread about the case, many scholars carried out some investigations (Prof. Lombroso among them). Within a few days, the phenomena stopped after a boy who was working inside the shop departed. Besides this one, many other poltergeist events have occurred in Italy in all periods. But scholars did not take a big interest in them, even if some of these researchers proposed very interesting theses and considerations. This article is taken from the book Tables and Mediums: History of Spiritism in Italy. It, will be the first history of Italian spiritism from the last half of the last century to the First World War. - DA/R.A.W. 03592. Giovetti, Paola. Findhorn community in Scot- land: Conscience in the Aquarian Age. Luce e Ombra, 1988 (Jan/Mar), 88(1), 31-41. This article describes the community of Findhorn in Scotland, where the author spent a period of time last year. She lived with the members of the community and spoke with the most representative ones. Findhorn is well known for its exceptional garden, which grows in a cold, windy and sandy place: The wonderful and extraordinary big flowers and vegetables that are obtained in Findhorn are the result of a new, respectful, and warm approach to nature and to the "spirits of nature," who are willing to cooperate with men if they change their minds. Today Findhorn is a place where people try to develop a new consciousness and a new way to relate to God, man, and nature: a consciousness for the coming centuries! - 03593. Simone, Giorgio di. The interior area: From subjectivity to metaphysical objectivity. Luce e Ombra, 1988 (Jan/Mar), 88(1), 42-49. 6 refs After a sequence of quotations (Bhagavad-Gita, A. Munthe, C.G. Jung, R. Laing, A. Maslow), the author reaf- firms the importance of analyzing human interior space compared to the current culture that tries to repress its Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400140001-8 Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400140001-8 tical activity is diminished, and points out that several observations of what occurs during Rolls demonstrations indi- cate cortical inhibition derived from hypnosis. She notes that one can be in an altered state without being con- sciously aware that one is in it. Riccardi called for a vote on whether the audience considered that all Rol's phenomena are faked. Al votes were negative. There follows a general discussion among Gabricci, Valerio, and Galateri, of mediumship, hypnosis, and mediumistic trance. Alberti and Mengoli urges that filming the proceedings of seances is highly desirable, and Nengoli cites Schiebeler's laboratory at Ravensburg that is - equipped to study physical phenomena. Occhipinti describes parallels be- tween Rolls demonstrations and what he observed at seances with the medium, Anibale Gnocchi. Riccardi describes personality changes in Rol as his demonstrations develop. At such times, he describes does not take over a situation, even though he may be the center of it. Ric- cardi thinks it is of great importance that Rol seems to address remarks to someone, he knows not who, during his demonstrations. He says the process of each sitting develops "as if there were band of hobgoblins in the room" who receive orders and rush into the opera- tions needed for reaching the final end desired. He says he is convinced that Rol is served with continuity and preci- sion by those entities, as was Aladdin, who also was ignorant. of the identities of his invisible helpers. Occhipinti says Gnocchi was able to transfer his powers to someone else. Riccardi adds that the same is true of Rol, and cites an example. The editor, Ettore Mengoli, con- cludes the debate with this note: "From the preceding pages one can see that Dr. Rol has been approached cordially and praised, but in no way thoroughly ex- amined. In Italy and abroad all state- ments about this case are to be con- sidered "informative" but not "scientific." - DA/R.A.W. 01683. Racanelli, Francesco. I and parapsychology. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia 1970 (Jan- Jun), 25(1-2), 56-62. At the request of the editor, Racanelli describes his work as as a medical doctor and as a healer. Ini- tially he was a convinced healer only, but this displeased the Italian police, so he decided to obtain a medical degree and practice healing lawfully. With him the two professions are complementary. - DA JAPANESE LANGUAGE (Editor: Toshio Kasahara) RESEARCHES OF JAPAN PSYCHIC SCIENCE ASSOCIATION 01684. Tanaka, Chiyomatsu_ Annals of new spiritualism, psychical research, and parapsychology. Researches of Japan Psychic Science Association, 1974 (Oct), 1-69. This is a chronological record of 100 important events in the history of spiritualism, psychical research, and parapsychology beginning with the Hydes- ville rappings in 1848 through 1974. The text is in both Japanese and English. The sources of the information in the chronology is provided in the form of bibliographic notes. A letter code -recedes each ev-- nited States; B for Britain; C for Con- tinental Europe; J for Japan, and G for General history. The sources footnotes are N. Fodor's Encyclopedia of Psychic Science (1934), E. Thompson's History & Science of Spiritualism (1948), Rhine and Pratt's Parapsychology (1957), Doyle's History of Spiritualism (1926), and Nelson's Spiritualism and Society (1969). - R.A.W. III. ARTICLES IN NONPARAPSYCHOLOGICAL JOURNALS This section will henceforth be presented in two parts: Part 1 will con- sist of articles on parapsychological topics published in nonparapsychological journals. Part 2 will consist of ar- ticles in nonparapsychological journals on topics dealing with other disciplines but that also may be applicable or relevant to parapsychological concerns. PART 1. ARTICLES ON PARAPSYCHOLOGY IN NONPARAPSYCHOLOGICAL JOURNALS 01685. Abbott, David P. Mediumistic readings of sealed writings. Open Court, 1906 (Apr), 20(4), 194-211. Several methods are outlined for reading writing secured in sealed en- velopes. The techniques are basically those used by stage clairvoyants during their public displays. Included are descriptions of various ways wood al- cohol can be used to make env-lopes 44 Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400140001-8