SAIC Cognitive Sciences Laboratory: Preliminary Research Results Memo (1994)
This three-page SAIC internal memorandum (document ID SAICMP94.004), authored by Dr. Edwin May and marked SECRET/NO FORN, reports preliminary findings from three anomalous cognition (AC) experiments conducted in 1994. The first, an 'entropy experiment,' found that AC quality correlated (r=0.502, 31 df) with the gradient of Shannon entropy within a target — described as the first time a physical variable correlated with AC activity, with three of four receivers producing independently significant results (best hitting rate 50% vs. 20% chance). The memo suggests this could guide operational target selection toward sites with dynamic entropy changes (nuclear blasts, radioactive decay, radar, accelerators). The second experiment sought an alpha event-related desynchronization (ERD) in the brain in response to AC stimuli, improving on prior Los Alamos protocols; preliminary EEG results were suggestive but not yet significant (p≈0.2), with potential applications including an AC 'polygraph-type' instrument or biofeedback training. The third, a confirmation experiment on whether an isolated person's skin conductance could be influenced by a remote individual, is referenced as also showing significant effects. The document was approved for release by the CIA in 2000 and is part of the Star Gate remote-viewing program records.
Description
A SECRET/NOFORN memorandum from Dr. Edwin May of Science Applications International Corporation's Cognitive Sciences Laboratory, dated 16 February 1994, summarizing preliminary results from three anomalous cognition (remote viewing) experiments conducted under U.S. government-sponsored parapsychology research.
Claims
AC quality correlated (r=0.502, 31 df) with the gradient of Shannon entropy within the target — claimed as the first time a physical variable correlated with any AC activity.
40%Three of four receivers produced independently significant evidence for anomalous cognition, with the best hitting rate at 50% versus 20% chance.
40%Effect sizes for the four subjects were 0.778, 0.742, 0.601, and −0.035, exceeding the largest effect size seen in Ganzfeld testing (0.354).
40%Preliminary EEG data suggests a possible AC event-related desynchronization (ERD), though currently only at p≈0.2.
35%AC operations could be improved by choosing intelligence targets with dynamic entropy changes such as nuclear blasts, radioactive decay, radar, or accelerators.
35%AC quality correlates (r=0.502, 31 df) with the gradient of the Shannon entropy within the target — described as the first time a physical variable correlated with AC activity.
30%Three of four receivers produced independently significant evidence for AC, with a best hitting rate of 50% (chance 20%) and effect sizes up to 0.778.
30%Significant effects were observed in all three experiments.
30%Preliminary EEG analysis suggests a possible AC event-related desynchronization, though the probability against chance is only 0.2.
30%An isolated person's skin conductance can be influenced by a remote individual (confirmation experiment showed significant effects).
30%AC operations could be improved by choosing intelligence target sites with dynamic entropy changes (e.g., nuclear blasts, radioactive decay, radar, accelerators).
25%
Events
Entropy confirmation experiment
Test of whether AC quality correlates with the gradient of Shannon entropy in the target; reported correlation of 0.502.
Alpha desynchronization experiment
Search for an EEG event-related desynchronization in response to an AC stimulus.
Skin conductance experiment
Confirmation test of whether an isolated person's skin conductance can be influenced by a remote individual.
Feb 15, 1994
Memo authored
Dr. Edwin May documents preliminary research results.
Feb 15, 1994
Authoring of preliminary research results memo
Dr. Edwin May issues SAIC memorandum summarizing three anomalous cognition experiments.
Aug 10, 2000
CIA approval for release
Document approved for release by the CIA per declassification stamp.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Extracted text (OCR)
Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000500600025-0
SECRET
SAICMP94.004
Preliminary Research Results Memo
SECRET/NO FORN
Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : Cla-RDP96-007S2Ro00500609025-0 |
SAICMP94. 004
Approved For Release 2000/08/17 a G{AFRDP96-00792R000390690025+0 2
Science Applications International Corporation
Cognitive Sciences Laboratory
Memorandum
Date: 16 February 1994
To:
From: Dr. Edwin May
Subject: Preliminary Research Results
SG1J
(U) This year we conducted three experiments:
(1) Aconfirmation experiment to determine if the quality of anomalous cognition (AC) results corre-
lates with the gradient of the Shannon entropy within the target.
(2) Asearch for an event-related desynchronization in the brain in response to an AC stimulus.
(3) Aconfirmation experiment to determine if an isolated person’s skin conductance can be influenced
by a remote individual.
(S/NF) We have observed significant effects in all three experiments. I will briefly outline the result for
each experiment and describe how it may impact operational anomalous cognition.
(1) Entropy Experiment. Three of our four receivers produced independently significant evidence for
AC. The best of these had a hitting rate of 50% (chance being 20%). The effect size for the four
subjects was 0.778, 0.742, 0.601, and —0.035, respectively. For comparison, the largest effect size
ever seen in Ganzfeld testing is 0.354. The major result, however, is a correlation of 0.502 with 31
degrees of freedom for the gradient of the Shannon entropy with AC quality. A correlation of this
magnitude is rare in psychological or behavioral studies. We are currently working through a list of
potential artifacts that might have contributed to this correlation, but so far the correlation stands.
This is the first time in the history of the field that a physical variable has correlated with any AC
activity. It’s major contribution will be to guide future researchers in choosing targets that will opti-
mize the AC output. It is only a modest extension to move this laboratory result into the operation-
al domain. To the degree Shannon entropy is roughly equivalent to classical thermodynamic entro-
py, AC-operations can be improved by choosing intelligence target sites that are likely to possess
dynamic changes of entropy (e.g., nuclear blasts, radioactive decay, radar, accelerators, etc.).
(2) Alpha Desynchronization. A brain in “idle mode” oscillates at approximately 10 Hz. It is well
known that a brain cannot remain idle and do anything else. For example, responding to a sensory
stimulus (e.g., light flash, click sound, smell, touch, taste), thinking about something (e.g., counting
backward from 100 or imagining your grandmother’s kitchen), or moving a body part all interrupt
alpha production. Therefore, it would be odd, indeed, if AC failed to interrupt alpha. Our current
experiment improved upon the previous protocols from Los Alamos by including behavioral evi-
dence of AC as measured in brain waves. We have observed significant evidence for AC, and the
preliminary EEG analysis indicates that we may see an AC event-related desynchronization
(ERD). We currently have a probability against chance of only 0.2, but we have not yet sorted the
EEG data with regard to AC performance. The effect must be there. If we fail to see it after analy-
sis, we will be able to quote a lower limit for the percent desynchronization.
If we see an ERD, it will be the first time such an effect has been seen in ACresearch. The implica-
tions for R&D and operations are unbounded. An immediate potential is an AC polygraph-type
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instrument. More likely, however, is the potential use of biofeedback techniques to improve AC
functioning for operations and R&D.
SG1B
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