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From: jrfreckl@w301pcasnd.wr.usgs.gov. (John R. Freckleton)
Subject: Re: Stapp, PK & Physics Today
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Date: Fri, 18 Aug 1995 03:54:52 GMT
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In article <DDHKoI.E5q@world.std.com>, tcapizzi@world.std.com (tom capizzi) writes:
>         The null results of esp experiments have frustrated attempts to
> scientifically document a phenomenon many believe in anyway. Some years
> ago a friend told me about experiments conducted at MIT which may shed
> some light on the negative results. 
>         It was a rather simple set-up. A sender and a receiver were lo-
> cated on opposite sides of a foundation wall made of many feet thick
> granite blocks. In the room with the sender was an electric light. The
> receiver was supposed to record whether the light was on or off. When
> the receiver data was correlated with the sender, no pattern was found.
> However, there was a statistically significant correlation with the eeg
> waves of the receiver. So, perhaps this is the reason it is so hard to
> prove esp, especially, it seems, in the presence of skeptics. If a sub-
> ject is only receiving information unconsciously, the slightest distrac-
> tion may prevent the conscious perception of that data. However, a device
> could monitor the electrical activity and reliably show a paranormal con-
> nection.
>         I was not present at the experiment, so I cannot give any more
> detail, regrettably. On the other hand, it would be rather trivial to
> repeat the experiment. In fact, I urge anyone with the appropriate equip-
> ment to do just that - repeat the experiment. Report your results and
> compare notes. If anyone gets the same results, we can try to duplicate
> their experiments exactly and compare results again. Perhaps we are just
> wasting time looking for conscious esp, if it's an unconscious action.
> 
> Tom Capizzi
> 
> 
  (A few ^Z's deleted)
>
>

    I wonder if the EEG and the lights were on the same circuit. 

-- 
JRF
