Consciousness and Psi Can Consciousness be Real?

Roger NelsonUtrecht IIOct 15 2008

A Presentation for A Presentation for

Utrecht ll: Charting the Future of Parapsychology Utrecht ll: Charting the Future of Parapsychology

October 2008, Utrecht, The NetherlandsOctober 2008, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Roger NelsonRoger NelsonDirector, Global Consciousness ProjectDirector, Global Consciousness Project

http://noosphere.princeton.eduhttp://noosphere.princeton.edu

Consciousness and PsiConsciousness and PsiCan Consciousness be Real?Can Consciousness be Real?


An Early Understanding

F. W. H. Myers believed that a theory of consciousness must derive from, and be able to accommodate … the full range of human experience, including not only normal psychological phenomena but also … what Myers called "supernormal" phenomena.

-- E. Kelly and C. Alvarado, 2005


Experimental Science

Joseph Banks Rhine and his colleagues summarized the developing scientific research field in the book Extra-Sensory Perception After Sixty Years


Technology, Psychology, AestheticsTechnology, Psychology, Aesthetics

Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR) Director Robert Jahn, Lab Manager Brenda Dunne

Nearly three decades of supported research Tapping the resources of a great university

Consciousness and Psi from a personal perspective


Enjoy yourself or try to learn,You will annoy someone.And if you don’t,You will annoy someone.

Enjoy yourself or try to learn,You will annoy someone.And if you don’t,You will annoy someone.

-- Idries Shah, The Mullah Nasrudin-- Idries Shah, The Mullah Nasrudin


At PEAR we asked ordinary peopleTo change the behaviour of machines

Chaotic Fountain

Random Drumbeat

BenchmarkElectronic REG/RNG

Linear Pendulum

Dual Thermistor

We foundSignificant

Effects


Random Event Generator (REG)Intention to change machine behaviour

High and Low both depart from expectation

Random Event Generator (REG)Intention to change machine behaviour

High and Low both depart from expectation

HI

LO

BL


Looking at PK in experiments withMany different physical random sources,

We confirmed that conscious intent is effective

Linear Pendulum


How about PK in a macroscopic system? 2m wide 3m tall “Pinball” machine, 19mm ballsBut Left vs Right is just a decision = information

Random Mechanical Cascade


Psi in a natural experiment – Princeton reunionsGroup consciousness is unconscious or subconscious, but it is evidently real

10,000 people really want good weather

Control: no focus, no coherent group

It may be …


Second major experimental focusRemote Perception (RV) performance

Suggests consciousness is not localized

Distance Time

Highly significant composite score overall, e.g. p = 10-8


We identified many pieces of the puzzleAttitude, acceptance, expectation, choice

Mental, not physical parametersAn example: Time invested in the psi task

Is arguably the “right” metric for comparisons

Time normalized yield is comparable For all PEAR PK experiments

Time-based ES is similar across labsRV and Ganzfeld 2-3 times larger than PK


FieldREG Experiments: Deep engagement Coherent group consciousness and emotion

Group chanting: Sacred spaceGreat Pyramid, inner chambers

Numinous event: Shamanic Healing ritual for Devils Tower

Expectation for the data is a level random walk

Moving out of the lab


Expansion to global dimensionColleagues in Europe and the US

Collected 12 independent data streamsExpectation is level trend


http://noosphere.princeton.edu/egghosts/

A world-spanning network of REGs (EGGs)

Google Map of nodes


The World Trade Center September 11

2001

Tamara Beckwith

Continuous random

Data since 1998

What do we see

In the data?

An example


September 11 2001 Destruction of the World Trade Towers

Increased network variance for 50 hours

Two days


More positive: Synchronized meditation Half a million people around the world

Significant reduction of network variance


New Years Eve 1999-2008 (10 years, 37 time zones)

Signal averaged device variance decreases


Concatenate 10 years of formal replications 264 rigorously defined global eventsOdds: 20 million to 1 against chance

Concatenate 10 years of formal replications 264 rigorously defined global eventsOdds: 20 million to 1 against chance

But it is a small effect: The average Z-score is about 0.35


The GCP is now in a second phaseDeeper analysis finds structure

Six independent measures and correlations

The GCP is now in a second phaseDeeper analysis finds structure

Six independent measures and correlations

Structure Sigma P-value S1 3.67 0.0001 S2 2.45 0.007 Distance[S1] 1.49 0.07 Distance[S2] 2.48 0.006 Correlation[S1 S2] 1.95 0.02 Combined Results Phase 2 3.90 0.00005 Combined Results Phases 1&2 5.35 5x10-8

Calculations by Peter Bancel; Reduced dataset amenable to all analyses

Distance: Closer pairs = Stronger correlations

S1: zizj

S2: zi2zj2

Deeper analysis – Parametric elements – Modeling is next


Looking at categories: Emotions

Explorations: What matters, what doesn’t


~650 Major earthquakes, Richter 6 or moreOnly those on land show a pattern in GCP data

553 ControlsOcean Quakes +/- 30 hours

92 Quakes on Land +/- 30 hours

Reciprocal linkage to human consciousness

The realty of consciousnessIs clearly implied


1. Physical and statistical theories are incomplete1. Physical and statistical theories are incomplete2. Individual, group, global consciousness are real2. Individual, group, global consciousness are real3. Consciousness is information, not energy 3. Consciousness is information, not energy 4. Models of the world must include consciousness4. Models of the world must include consciousness5. Mind matters – it can directly change the world5. Mind matters – it can directly change the world

Decades of Psi ResearchDecades of Psi Research Contributions largely unrecognized Contributions largely unrecognized

(Until now … But that will change)(Until now … But that will change)


What's Next? What's Next? The Future of Parapsychology The Future of Parapsychology

1. Replicate experiments with strong implications1. Replicate experiments with strong implications2. Dig deeper with clear, sophisticated analysis2. Dig deeper with clear, sophisticated analysis3. Develop richer predictive theoretical models3. Develop richer predictive theoretical models4. Create applications for science education4. Create applications for science education5. Write articles that focus on Myers’ point5. Write articles that focus on Myers’ point6. Engage our mainstream colleagues6. Engage our mainstream colleagues7. Foster young researchers7. Foster young researchers

GCP 2008


Is this the future of Parapsychology?Is this the future of Parapsychology?

I think not ...I think not ...

Mainstream guys Psi research


GCP/EGG ProjectGCP/EGG ProjectThe people who make it goThe people who make it go

GCP/EGG ProjectGCP/EGG ProjectThe people who make it goThe people who make it go

International collaboration of 100 Scientists, Artists, Friends, …

Peter Bancel, Paris, professional analysis, collaborationWilliam Treurniet, Canada, egganalysis programmingJohn Walker, Switzerland, programming, general supportRichard & Connie Adams, USA, general supportPaul Bethke, USA, windows programming, networkDick Bierman, Netherlands, design and realtime displayDean Radin, USA, design and independent analysisBrad Anderson, USA, widget programmingTaylor Jackson, Canada, realtime display maintenanceGreg & Lefty Nelson, USA, program architecture, general supportFernando Rodríguez, Spain, egghosts google mapYork Dobyns and PEAR, general support, server hostingLeane Roffey, USA, music, outreach, general supportJaroen Ruuward, Netherlands, realtime programmingDick Shoup, USA, independent analysisNishith Singh, India, realtime programmingMahadeva Srinivasan, India, general support… And all the EGG hosts around the world

Consciousness and Psi Can Consciousness be Real?

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