Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 QUANTUM PHYSICS AND PARAPSYCHOLOGY Te 23rd Annual International Conference of the Parapsychology Foundation, Inc. Hotel La Resorve, Geneva, Switzerland August 26-27, 1974 4n interpretative conference report containing some comments about Prospects in parapsychological research, SG1l October 28, 1974 Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 ‘+ INTRODUCTION The 23rd Annual Conference of the Parapsychology Foundation was held at the Hotel La Rosorvo, Genova, Switzerlend on August 26 and 27, 197%, The subject of the conference vas "Quantun Physics and Parapsychology", a topic selected at the instigation of Arthur Koestler, the well-known author, who in recent years has interested himself in the subject of parapsychology. Wis recent book, The Roots of Coincidence, reflects ‘this interest, ‘The putative relation between quantum physics and para- Psychology arises because the apparent non~conmon sense features accepted in quantum physics may be analogous to the non-coumon sense features observed in parapsychologice! phenomena. In any case the conference vas ostensibly devoted to an exploration of the physical bases for parapsychology. Complete texts of all ten of the papers presented at this conference have previously been supplied. A summary and critique of the contents of each of the ten papers appears in the Appendix of this report. At the conference a discussion period followed the presentation of each paper, and at the conclusion of the conference anothor more general discussion took place. The proceedings of this conference, containing both the submitted papers and the verbal discussion, is scheduled for publication in June 1975 by the Parapsychology Foundation, Inc,, 29 West 57th Street, New York. A brief official account of the conference will appear sooner in theiy "Nowsletter of the Parapsychology Foundation", The following discussion of conference content is based upon attendance Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 at al]. tho sessions, subsequent study of written versions of the papers, and private conversations with nearly oll of the personalities present. Ti, ANALYSIS OF THE PURPORT OF THE CONFERENCE The reality of ESP was an accepted fact at this conference. When discussion of the reality of the phenomena occurred, it was concerned only with uothods of securing public acceptance end belief in paranormal cognition, Some doubt was expressed of the usefulness of public demonstrations to “blue-ribbon panels", but all agreed on the necessity of more research support. Tt becane clear that there exists at presont no adequate theory of paranormal perception which can furnish a physical basis for the phenomena, The existing attompts at physical theories are speculative, incomplete, at at dost poorly substantiated; although sone ideas vere presented which might furnish the seeds of fruitful investigation, These ideas are discussed in wore detail below. The conference evidenced a rough division of attitudes tovard perepaychology into two schools: of thought, Researchers share @ general acceptance of the strangeness of it all, but on the working level some believe progress in understanding can be achieved through extension and uso of existing scientific knowledge and ethods, perhaps by somo new synthesis. The others basically favor a more philosophical and wystical approach, and believe that nothing short of a complete revolution of thought, maybe into wore spiritual directions, can cope with tho challenge. The “uysties" characterize the physical approach as Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 naive reductionism, The "reduotionists",, for Inck of a better term, retain their faith in the efficacy of traditional scientific methods. These categorios are a convenient simplification of complex attitudes and sone individuals show traces of both orientations. In view of the conferonce topic it was surprising that the "mystics" were strongly represented. The presentations of Chari, Firsoft, Whitenan, and’ Bastin seem to fall in the mystical category, Verbal coments of Aythur Koestler woula place him also in this group, At the conclusion of the conference he expressed disappointuont thet the ideas vere nob “erazy" enough and voiced scepticism at seeking explanation of ESP in existing physical theories, These contributions to the conference seem to offer no avenues of physical understanding and will not be discussed further. ‘The remaining papers presented at the conference are more physical in content. Of the theoretical papers Costa de Beaurogard gave the most General and perhaps the best formulated analysis of a possible physical basis for ESP. Ilis prosentation consisted of words, and not equations, but the concepts discussed wore readily understandable by a theoretical physicist.’ No specific mechanism was proposed, but information theory was interwoven with some established physical principles to describe a frenework within which ESP might be understood, ‘the ideas of Costa de Beauregard are unifying in character, rather analogous to the unifying character of the energy concept in conventional physics, ana like the concept of energy could establish broad guidlines without supplying a detailed mechanism, For example, the idea discussed by Feinberg, that Precognition is a menory propagated from the future, is subsumed in /A-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 Approved For Release 2003/09/05ue Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 ’ Costa do Beaurogard's thinking. Puthoff presented some spoculations about apparont features of his PK experiments which are also consistent with ‘tho sane overell picture, Indeed’ if any comon thread emerged. from the physical side of the conference, it was that somehow information theoretic | concepts must play an important role in ESP, The connection is established through the equivalence of information theory with physical probability and its role both in quantum theory and in macroscopic entropy. 4 detailed and partially quantitative physical theory of ESP wwe presented ty Walker. This theory way err through its use of overspecific and poorly justified assumptions, It relies heavily on some explicit conjectures about neural activity in the brain, and also postulates ‘an essential function in consedousness and psi communication for the so- called “hidden variables" of quantum theory. simple empirical uethod of quantifying the results of ESP experiments wes proposed by Schmidt. This quantification, if appropriate, vould permit the various experimental manifestations of ESP ( precognition, clairvoyance, PK, etc.) to be interrelated. Experimental papers describing striking PX and renote viewing experiments with gifted paragnosts wero presented by Puthoff and Targ, In terns of normal standards of scientific conferences the gleanings of theoretical understanding from this conferonce are somewhat sparso, particularly 42 a physical basis of ESP is the object, The phenomena of ESP have undergone a great deal of oxporimental verification, but a basic understanding of paranormal perception is ovidentiy still lacking. Tho uaterial presented at this conference only indicatos a bare beginning of a rational, physical, interpretation of parapsychological phenomena, Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R006200180001-2Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 6 IIT, QUNERAL CONCLUSIONS AND GUIDELINUS The picture of ESP research derived fron attendance at this conference and supplenented by a study of publications in.the open literature forms the basis of the following general conments. 1, Knowledge of normal perception and neural data processing in the brain is still Limited, even though the physical basis of normal perception 4s woll-founded, The wide area of ignorance or partial knowledge surrounding even normal mental fmetion is indicative of the possible Aupediments to attaining a coherent understanding of paranormal perception. The physical paradoxes of ESP are sovere, but even wore a physical basis ‘of ESP established, mich would remain unimom. In short, >’ progress in this area may require not only increased understanding of tho physical basta of the phenomena, but also advances in cybernetics and neurophysiology as well, 2. The ideas of Costa de Beauregard form the most auspicious point of departure for development of a physical understanding of ESP. These Adoas' axe favored because of their broad physical base, their use of general. information concepts, and because they contain a minima of ad hoc assumptions, Although some elementary deductions are inmediately possiiile, this thooretical framework is, as yet, insufficientiy articulated. Additional analysis and calculation is noeded to explore detailed consequences of the basic general idea, Experimentally verifiable prodiotions ‘and relations should be sought, and the theory should be eerutinized for guidolines to meaningful oxperimental. efforts. Such Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2Es Ae 7 Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 @ program would represent a firm physically-based attempt to understand sone of the mechanism of ESP, but could not be expected to produce immediate results, For practical. purposes: the investigation and experimental vorification of oupirical regularities governing the occurrence, content, and reliability of paranormal events should not be disdained. Although theory is always valuable, it my not be absolutely essential. Tt is quite possible to know enough about a phenononon to use it effectively, or to evaluate its use, without possessing any deep understanding of its nature. The human race used fire for thousands of years without understanding chemistry, Identification and quantification of physical and paychological conditions for tehibition and eshanconent of pea, effects 1s especially desirable. ‘he apparent spontaneity of these Phenomena and their independence of most referents poses the nost sortous obstacle to thelr application, It te difeieult to porecive the purpose served by xesearch in parapsychology which doce not attempt to relate the phenomena to controling conditions, Parapsychology my have application provided such relationships exist on some level, even tho Level of totel oxpizietom, Regardless of the level of understanding of paranormal perception it is clear that information derived by thio means is inconploto, subject to error and dietortion, and sonetines completely erroncous. In uany eases the accuracy is amzing, but complete errors are also frequent. 4 pereipient may be unable to reliably estimate his own accuracy, Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R006200180001-2Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 ‘These inherent features raise the fundamental problem of how such erratic information can be utilized. How can the output of paranormal Perception be assessed according to its completeness and/or reliability 80 as to optimize its use and minimize the effect of errors? The peculiar features of ESP derived information demand that these problens be addressed 4f such infornation is to sorve a usoful functions S$G1l Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 APPENDIX A Summary and Critique of Hach Paper Presented at the Conference Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 9ROUNDATIONS OF PARAPHYSTOAL AND PARA w Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 PSYCHOLOGTOAL, PHI Evan Harris Walker, BRL, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. SUMMARY: The oral talk consisted only of an outline surmary of ideas and results: Study of a written version (69 pages) of this talk together with previous Papers roforenced therein is required to evaluate the thinking of Dr. Walkers Tho written version of this talk explains a theory of psi phenomena resting upon several foundations: le 2 A theory of consciousness developed ty Dr. Walker (referenced but mt explained) in which triggering of nerve synapses is influenced by single quantum-level processes, and in which there ave computed 3 basic rates of data processing in the brain, a.) Subconscious data rate 2.4(10)'* psts/sec. b.) Gonseions deta rate 7.5(10)" bits/sec. ¢.) Attention set or Mill" dota rate 3(10)* bits/sec. The notion of “hidden variables" in quantum theory, These “hidden verlables" ere not present in standard quontun theory, and aro called “niddon" because they are inaccessible to direct measurement. There is no oxporimental verification of necessity for such variables, but they have been conjectured solely for philosophical 2r logical motives. Tho roll of these variables is to fix the procise outeome of e quan ‘tun event (or measurement), nn outcome which in standard quantum theory is only determined in torms of its probability. The outeone of a quan tum event mist be the same for gl) observers regardless of location ov tino lapse, so “hidden variables" potentially provide a communtea- ‘tion channel. independent of space and time. 1A-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 Approved For Release 2003/09/05a Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 The 9 ssertion that the attention set or "rill" data rate in the brain is the rate at which "hidden variable"-governed quantum processes aro influencing the mind, or at which the mind can influence quantum proc= esses, Such a mind-mind or mind-object Link provides a "hidden var- fable" theory of psi phenomona, suitable for telepathy, clairvoyance, Precognition, and PK. Since according to this theory the "will" or paranormal data rate, ato)" bits/sec, is a very small fraction of the conscious data rate, 75.0% bits/sec, ‘the rarity of paranormal cognition is explained. Assuming a perceptive ene my occur at random from cither data rate pormits a calculation of the incidence of psi ability in an individual or a population. Fair agreenent results, A detailed calculation is presented of tho effect of quantum uncertainties in tho initial position and velocity of a cubical aio which bounces dow an inclined plane. This experimental situation amplifies initial quantum uncer- tainties into macroscopic differences in the final position of the die. The results of PK placenent experiments on rolling dice are consistent with those calculations, lending credence to the bolief thet PK operates by resolving quantan uncertainty. CRITIQUE: 1. The somevhat dublous contention that the triggering of nerve synapses ds a quantum process requires more substantiation. ‘The author's ar- guménts leading to this contention, though published or reported, are not readily accessible. A like statement applies to his calculation and interpretation of the three fundamental data rates in the brain, All the author's ideas form an interlocking system which hes evolved over several years. ‘To’ sceure accoptance, or even objective consid- /A-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 Approved For Release 2003/09/052 Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 eration, these thoughts should be combined into a single, concise, and self-contained presentation, which the present paper is not. 2, Midden variables are controversial and by no moans form a part of ac= cepted physical theory. No compelling physical evidence requires then, unless psi phenomena itself constitutes such evidence. Invocation of physical hidden variables for a theory of consciousness is a radical assumption, justifiable only by successful results. 3. The theory has not yet predictod anything, The calculations of the Aneldence of psi ability, and of the influence of quantum uncertain ties upon dice rolling, show consistency with experiment but do not test the fundamental assumptions of the theory. ‘he former celcula- tion depends only upon a single number (the ratio 10"), and the latter is a physicol calculation. + Regardless of its validity, Dr. Walker's theory is the most explicit, detailed, and quantitetive theory of psi phenonena presented at this conferences though perhaps not the most fundanontal. Unlike sone of the other papers its contents are sufficiently explicit to permit do- tailed criticism and eval ation, and to at least offer some possibil~ ities of experimental assessuont. 1A-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 Approved For Release 2003/09/05B Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 COGNTTTONNA MEMORY OF TyTHES FyTIRE? Gerald Feinberg, Department of Physics, Colunbia University, lew York, suai: Tho sugrestion is adveneed that precogaition my be knovledge of a future steto of the pereipient!s mind rather than prior knowledge of an objective state of the physical world. Tis, Like uenory vhere the past state of the mind is recalled, precognition is perception of a future state of the mind, Professor Feinberg notes that the theory of clectrouametic radiation, and other physical theortes, in principle permits both tine retarded end time ad venced solutions, The tue advanced solutions which propagate information from future to past are customarily exeluded for the reason that thoy hove not been observed experimentally. The possibility exists of sone suall aduixture of tame edvanced solution together with the dominant tine retarded solution. Th the enge of electromagnetic theory experiments are presontly testing this pos sibility to the accuracy of one part in 107, If ono assuses that the mechanion of mewory, vhatever it my be, Likeirlee permits a small admixture of time advanced solutions as well as tho usual tine retarded ones vhich we call uenory, ve have the phenowena of occasional. pre= cognition based uson perception of future state of the mind. Preeognition of events 4s possible only if the poreiptent learns of the event at some tine in the future. Those speculations vould receive experinentel substantiation 4¢ precog= nition 4s influenced by the same factors as influence menory. CRITIQUE: Basically a trivial paper, containing one idea expressed in the title, /A-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 Approved For Release 2003/09/05: u Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 together with some standard physics wiich Js only related to psi phenonena ty virtue of a strainod analogy between electromagnetic rediation and memory processes. Approved For Release 2003/09/05 /A-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 PARAPSYONOLOY, gi G.T.K, Chari, Madras Christien Colloge, Madras, India ( Professor Chari aid not attend the conference. His paper was read ty Harold Puthoff. ) SUMEARY: In addition to three types of conventional biological informtion; 1.) ge~ notie, 2.) environmentally conditioned, and 3.) symbolic and recorded communt— cation; the author postulates a 4th type of information network, the psi-net- work. ‘The logic of this network would be non-Boelean. Understanding the psi network uy require use of recently proposed concepts in the quantum theory of measurement and in informvtion theory. ORTTIQUE: A paper written in the context of philosophy and formal lorie without, hovever, a clear internal organization, I provides no theory eloar enourh for experimental verification or further developuent. The principal value of the paper is its numerous citations of recent work in the philosophy of quan- ‘tum mechanics and in information theory. Indeed this paper reads like an over= abbreviated roview article. Sinco C.K. Chard did not attond the conference he read edvanced drafts of some of the presented pavers and submiticd a written version of his rese- tions to then entitled: 4m Indian Parapsychologist's Reactions to the Gonova Conference on "Quantum Physics and Parapsychology’ /A-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 Approved For Release 2003/09/05Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 QUANTUM PARADOXES AUD ARISTOTLE'S TWOFOLD INFORMATION CONCEPT 0. Costa de Heauregard, Institut Henri Poincaré, Paris, France SUMMARY: ; The problens of relativity, time reversibility, and ontropy increase ‘Lead to consideration of measurement processes in the context of information theory. A measurement process by which information is acquired produces an Anerease in entropy, since nogative entropy mist be supplied equal to or greater than the information acquired. Such a process is a Learning or a perceptual process. An ontropy increasing process is dissipative, and’ dissipation is a requirement of macroscopic causality in the normil sense of past determining the future or, equivalently, retarded waves. The author proposes the reverse process ( an ordering process) vhorety pro-existing information 4s converted into order, a process which occurs whenever any conceptual scheme is actualized to produce macroscopic order. Ordering decroases entropy, An entropy decreasing process is the reverse of dissipative and implies macroscopic acausality (or finality) in the sense of the future situation determining the past, or advanced waves. Both processes, which were foreshadowed in Aristotle's thinking, can be represented by the two chains of equivalences Moasuroment—prInformation Tnfornation-> Ordering Entropy Increase Entropy Decrease Dissipation Anti-Dissipation Causality Finality Rotarded Wave . Advanced Waves Past to Future Future to Past Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2Ww Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 Although de facto the first colwm predominates in natural macroscopic processes, the inverse process of the second colum 4s @ theoretical possibility ond indeed mst also occur, At the microscopic level of elementary quantum processes one might expect a symetzy between the two colums, sintlar to the other symotrics of microscopic physics ( tine reversal, charge conjugation, etc.), Since probability plays a central role in quantum theory, the two types of process depending respectively on Ancreasing and decreasing order, have tight consequences. Some of these are PK by use of corfeious information to control a quantum process, and telepathy by the Linked outcone of quantum measuriig’ processes. Basically these considerations are sumarized in the statement that the ave function of quantum mechanics propagates probabilities. It is not a physical field which propagates, but rather an information field. CRITIQUE: ‘Though scarcely providing an explicit theory, this paper hews closely to established physical.understanding. It provides a theoretical framevork which not only may connect observed ESP effects with quantum mechanics, vat which also places BSP in the very general context of information ‘theory. Whatever olse 4 may be or may involve, ESP does deal. with Anformation, In addition the paper points up how information theory nay underlie some very deep physical principles. This is a provocative paper, perhaps the most profound physical, discussion at the conference. It may porhaps formate a general foundation upon which could be built an Antolligible physical theory’of ESP. Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-21s Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 FE AND QUANT PIYSICS V.A. Firsoff, Royal Astronomical, Society, London, England SUMMARY: Tnis paper uses tho ideas expressed by Monod - (Jacques Honod, Chance an} Necessity, 1972) as a framework fox expounding the theme that mental proc~ esses have a fundanental role in nature which cennot be understood on the besis of classical mechanism, logic of the excluded middle, cyhornetic models, or any other conventional ways of thin'cing. Mamerous iDlustrative examples are cited to support this assertion, Life is too rare and strange a paonomenon to be explicable in terms of statisticel probability. Its characteristics genetic invariance coupled with dynamic cvolntionttdaptabinsty Indicate a dix rective force of montal type. Visual perception my use only a few photons, ond neural processes in the brain sre sufficiently sensitive to respond to quantum effects, In tuin PX experiments have demonstrated mente. influence upon radioactive decay, a quant process. Thus thore is a deep, and not understood, comection between Life, mental processes, end quantum physics. CRITIQUE: - Not precisely an objective paper, but rather expressive of the author's sense of ave and wondernont at the mysterios of nature, citing examples of in~ explicable processes, and weaving sone possible general implications from them Basically a philosophicel esssy, more lucid than mony, but offering no tostable hypotheses nor firm points of doparture for subsequent analysis. /A-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 Approved For Release 2003/09/056. ay Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 PHUSTCS, ENTROPY AND PSYCHOKENRSTS Herold Puthoff and Russoll Terg, SRI, Monlo Park, California REMOTE VIEWING OF NATURAL TARGETS Russell Targ and Harold Puthoff, SRI, Menlo Pork, California SUMARY: Both of these papers desoribe experimental tests with gifted paragnosts, The firet describes PK experiments Anfluencing sophisticated physical instru nents, and the second describes extrasensory perception of remote targets in such detail as to imply high rates of data transmission. Wo detafled sumery is necessary since the papers cre oxperimental and the descriptions are clear. Sone general features of PK and speculations about its nature ere given in the first poper, to wit: 1, PK phenomena are close to noise level and appear to derive their en- ergy from mobilization of random thermal energy. Roaul.ts seem to appear as a result of coincidence rathor than of specific cause, 3. Pi-phenomena ere intrinsically spontoncous ana hard to produce on cue. 4. Close control and observation inhibit the phenomena. 5. Phonowena are knowm to occur on the microscopic quantum Level, which are similar to observed PK phonon ena, CRITIQUE: Belief in experimental results depends upon confidence in the integ- rity and skill of the experimenters, The results described, if valid, estab~ Lish the existence of tho phenomena end are a first stop toward establishing ts patterns. /A-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 Approved For Release 2003/09/05