REMOTE PERTURBATION TECHNIQUES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00788R002000230005-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 29, 1998
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 29, 1980
• Content Type: SUMMARY

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REMOTE PERTURBATION TECHNIQUES (U)
MANAGERIAL SUMMARY
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I. (U) BACKGROUND
(S) There have been many reported accounts of phenomena variously known as
telekinesis, psychokinesis, teleportation, etc. Most of these accounts are
clearly derived from carefully staged tricks which are revealed whenever they
are studied under controlled and well recorded conditions. There are a few,
however, which describe serious research by reputable investigators. Included
among these are experiments in which the subject attempts to perturb, by mental
processes alone, the outcome of an otherwise random event. This kind of remote
perturbation experiment is appealing in that it involves no subjective
interpretation - the results may be expressed entirely in probabilistic terms.
Appendix A of Reference 1 contains a summary description of these experiments.
As an overall evaluation of this data base, it is unlikely that the apparent
RP effect is simply an artifact of selected reporting by the laboratories
involved. Even if one were to assume that there were ten unreported nonsignifi-
cant experiments for each reported significant one, the entire expanded data
base would still show significant effects with odds against chance of better
than 2000:1.
(S) There are, however, two characteristics of this data base which pose
problems. First, the effects are rarely stable with one individual's RP
effort - the quoted results being averages over a number of individuals.
Secondly, the physical environment of the random event sources and associated
electronics was not discussed in any detail for any of the experiments, so it
is possible that some of the effects may be the result of normal and possibly
subtle electronic interference. This experiment is designed to replicate the
type of experiments described in the data base under more rigorously controlled
conditions in order to evaluate the claims of having demonstrated the RP
phenomenon.
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(S) While this experiment can not prove or disprove the existence of RP
phenomena, the findings discussed in the referenced appendix do strongly
indicate that further research is appropriate. In view of the obvious
military value of being able to disturb sensitive enemy equipment, it is to the
advantage of the Army to assess the validity of RP claims.
(S) Two separate but technically identical RP experiments on random number
generators were undertaken at SRI International and at the US Army Missile
Command (MICOM). The director of this program is under the oversight of a
committee of three senior scientists/managers at MICOM.
II. (U) PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
(U) Work began on this program in the first quarter of FY 79. The contract
for the experiment at SRI International became effective on 2 June 1979 and
continued for 14 months (including a two-month extension). The in-house
experiment is in the final stages of data acquisition and is expected to be
complete by 31 October 1980.
III.
(U) PERSONNEL INVOLVED
a.
(U) Project Director
1 man year
b.
(U) Electronic Engineer
1/2 man year
c.
(U) Oversight Committee
(three persons)
d.
(U) Experimental Subjects
(fifteen persons)
IV. (U) FUNDING
RDT&E Funds (P/VI) $400,000
GDIP Funds (P/III) 0
TOTAL $400,000
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V. (U) TESTS UNDERTAKEN AND METHODS USED
(U) Expressed in simplest terms, the contractor/in-house experiments may
each be described as follows (Appendix B of Reference 1 gives a detailed
technical description):
a. (S) A truly random sequence of 0's and l's (binary sequence) is
generated by processing and sampling the behavior of a noise source or random
event generator (REG).
b. (S) The RP participant is instructed to bias the composition of
the sequence in favor of l's or 0's by exercising mental processes.
c. (S) Feedback is provided the participant so that he can instanta-
neously be aware of the degree to which he is succeeding.
d. (S) The associated computer equipment simultaneously carries out
a statistical analysis of the sequence of digits until it can be deemed
perturbed (biased as instructed) or not, whereupon the trial is ended.
e. (S) Subsequent to a familiarization and screening period, seven
participants were selected to contribute 100 such trials each (termed a run).
f. (S) Two tests are thus undertaken, one at the US Army MICOM and
one at SRI International.
VI. (U) OBJECTIVES
(U) The overall objectives were discussed in Section I, Background. The
pre-established criteria for judging runs and tests are as follow:
-- Runs: 16 or more perturbed (.9 confidence)/100 trials - P