TRIP REPORT 12-14 APRIL 1981, DURHAM, NC

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Body:  Approved For Release 2003/09/16 : CIA-RDP96-00788R002000260601
 15 April 1981
 MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
 SUBJECT:  Trip Report 12-14 April 1981, Durham, NC
 1.  On 13 Apr 81, LTC.Watt and CPT Atwater visited the School of Engineering,
 Duke University, Durham, NC in an attempt to learn more about a computerized
 system of monitoring psychological correlates to PSI performance.  An over-
 view of this system was published in thee April 1980 issue of the Journal of
 the Society for Psychical Research.
 2.  LTC Watt and CPT Atwater were received by Ed Kelly (Experimental  Learning
 Laboratory, Dept of Electrical Engineering, Duke University) and John Palmer
 (JFK University, Orinda, CA).  Dr. Kelly conducted a tour of the research
 facility including the computer room, instrument room, and controlled envir-
 onment room as documented in the inclosure.
 3.  After the tour, Dr. Kelly, Mr. Palmer, LTC Watt and CPT Atwater discussed
 the present status of the "computer project" at Duke and other topics of
 specific interest to LTC Watt and CPT Atwater.  In general terms, there has
 been no substantive progress with the "computer project" in the past year
 since the publication of the attached article.  It has taken approximately
 5-6 years to develop the present hardware/software package now operational
 at Duke.  Dr. Kelly is now awaiting further funding towards a specific pro-
 gram involving the indepth exploration of altered states of consciousness and
 PSI under the-premise that altered states of consciousness can be detected/
 measured physiologically.  Existing capability of Dr. Kelly's "computer
 project" is limited to the monitoring, recording, (6 channel polygraph) and
 correlative analysis (by computer) of brainwave frequencies.  Additional
 capabilities such as nonintrusive blood flow measurement, psychogalvonic skin
 response, myographic measurements, bipolar corporal voltage reversals and
 other subject generated information have not been overlooked by Dr. Kelly
 and can be easily adapted into the present operational system.  Dr. Kelly's
 The
 project has the full support of the School of Engineering at Duke.
 project appears to hold valuable prospects and is in a holding pattern
 awaiting sufficient funding to insure a meaningful robust program insuring
 the best results today's science can offer.  The following areas of the
 general discussion are noteworthy:
 a.  The long awaited funding for Dr. Kelly's proposed program is
 expected (hoped for) from the McDonnell Douglas Foundation.  If funding is
 received the School of Engineering would (it is planned) establish a
 separate institute on the Duke University campus devoted.to the exploration
 of altered states of consciousness and PSI.  Dr. Kelly was of the opinion
 that Duke would also be open to the idea of government funding.
 b.  When asked about the selection of subjects if he received funding
 Dr. Kelly said that he would stay away from "superstar" psychics because
 of their eccentricities and endeavor to screen subjects through simple PSI
 testing (zener cards).  Mr. Palmer was in general agreement concerning
 "superstars" but preferred to select subjects on the basis of their ability
 to achieve altered states of consciousness.  As examples he mentioned indiv-
 iduals who were practiced meditators or individuals who could achieve deep
 hypnotic states.  Both agreed that individuals who related past PSI exper-
 iences may be good subjects.
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 c.  When asked for references on other people that LTC Watt and CPT
 Atwater might want to talk to as to better understand the current state-of-
 the-art in PSI research, the following names were provided:
 (1)  Robert Morris - University of Syracuse
 (2)  Charles Honorton - Princeton
 (3)  Dr. Jahn - Princeton
 (4)  Rex Stanford - St. John's University
 (5)  William Braud   Mind Science Foundation, Texas
 (6)  Helmut Schmidt - Mind Science Foundation, Texas
 (7)  Stanley Krippner (Knowledgeable of Soviet work)
 d.  In addition to the published "computer project", Dr. Kelly has a
 portable unit capable of recording brainwave frequencies in the "field"
 using a telemetry system in conjunction with a conventional cassette recorder.
 The cassette can then be returned to the laboratory for computer analysis.
 With this system a subject does not have to go to the Duke lab to take advan-
 tage of their "computer project".
 4.  Later in the afternoon of 13 Apr LTC Watt and CPT Atwater met with Dr.
 William Roll, Project Director, Psychical Research Foundation, Chapel Hill, NC.
 Discussion with Dr. Roll centered on the areas of PSI, phenomena for which
 Dr. Roll is best known including OBE's, PK and poltergeist effects.  Of
 particular note was the revelation by Dr. Roll that he had been contacted by
 the Chief of Police (not further identified) from Atlanta through the FBI
 concerning the current murder investigations in the Atlanta child killings.
 Roll stated that the police were initially very enthusiastic and sent him
 a computer printout of "crime impressions" provided by both professed psy-
 chics and others.  Roll was to conduct analysis of these impressions.  As
 Roll was progressing it became necessary to get some minor funding (travel
 and computer consultant fees) from Atlanta.  As it turned out no one was
 willing to fund the effort and as the news media picked up the story no
 one wanted to pursue the effort.  At present Dr. Roll is wondering what to
 do with the data he still has and feels that all are passing up a unique
 opportunity for practical application/use of PSI data.
 5.  The trip to NC proved to be very informative and valuable to both LTC Watt
 and CPT Atwater.  Dr. Kelly, Mr. Palmer and Dr.. Roll are all serious minded
 scientists with valuable contributions to be made to the current understand-
 ing of PSI..  Special emphasis should be given to the impression made by
 Dr. Kelly and his proposed program.  Dr. Kelly appears to be a straightfor-
 ward, highly professional investigator of demonstrated expertise who has
 proposed a program of research which must be pursued if the nature of PSI
 is to ever be understood.  Continued contact with Dr. Kelly is highly
 recommended.
 6.  In conclusion, this trip is further evidence of the serious research
 being conducted by credible individuals throughout the U.S..; however, each
 group has its own special interest(s) and as.a result we have a somewhat
 disjointed effort (across the board) as far as centralized-research into
 the field of parapsychology.  Time and adequate funding levels appear to be
 two of the leading deterrents in this field.  If we are to settle the
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 issues surrounding the field.of parapsychology then we must put together
 a program which seriously examines all aspects of the field and puts
 forward, once and for all, a paper on the value or non-value of this
 phenomena.
 1 Incl
 as
 MURRAY B. WATT
 LTC, MI
 INSCOM GRILL FLAME
 Project Manager
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