PSYCHO-PHYSICS? CONSCIOUSNESS, THE DOUBLE-SLIT EXPERIMENT, AND ...
Mr. S.D. shared this news item, and it's one of those stories I cannot resist for reasons we'll get to shortly. As you might have gathered from the title, however, it appears that consciousness and the famous double-slit experiment of quantum mechanics are related. In this case, the famous double-slit experiment was performed under the direction of well-known consciousness researcher Dean Radin, who asked the participants to visualize which slot in the experiment a photon would take. In effect, Radin was seeking to verify whether consciousness was directly involved in what quantum mechanics calls the collapse of the wave function:
Quantum Mind: Can Experienced Meditators Influence the Movement of Atomic Particles?
In a recent talk at the 'Science of Consciousness' conference in Tucson, Arizona, parapsychologist Dean Radin noted that when it comes to the (quantum physics) 'measurement problem', "everyone offers theories about consciousness, but nobody does anything about it." So Radin and his team decided to see if they could find experimental evidence of consciousness influencing quantum effects.
Radin's project was a fairly simple, though left-field, extension of the well-known double-slit experiment:
The only new element in this experiment, is that we asked people - in this case, a meditator - to keep the double-slit in mind, and to imagine in their minds eye, that they could see which of the two slits the photon went through. This is, as far as we could tell, the only way of directly testing whether consciousness is collapsing the wave function.
In the experiment, 137 test subjects - consisting of both experienced meditators and non-meditators - took part in sessions lasting 20 minutes each, made up of alternating sets of 30 seconds of observation with roughly 30 seconds of rest (the 'roughly' was intentional, to avoid any artifacts on strict 30 second cycles of repetition). And, after analysing the data from this pilot study of 250 sessions with 137 people - Radin and his team found a significant effect size...and especially so with the meditators in the group.
Encouraged by these results, the researchers ran a number of further experiments, including an internet-based version which ran for 3 years, with over 5000 sessions completed by human subjects, and over 7000 done by a 'Linux' robot as a control. Again, they found a substantial effect.
As the article notes, there was the usual skeptical response, and I would have to put myself in this category. And with that in mind, my reaction here is nonetheless positive, for it has been decades since quantum mechanics, with its emphasis on observation, burst upon the scene of physics, and with it, its potential implications for a "physics of consciousness" or, perhaps better, a consciousness metaphysics of physics, a "psycho-physics" if you will. Other physicists are alive to the possibility, but few real attempts at experiments have actually been performed, and Radin is to be credited with attempting to do so, and do so in a manner that deals directly with the effect of consciousness on the collapse of wave function and that deals directly with superposition.
He is not alone. In the members' area of my website I did a webinar on the research of Dr. William TIller, a materials engineering science professor in California, who devised an ingenious set of experiments designed to determine if conscious intention could alter or affect both inorganic and organic materials, and the results were no less stunning. Given the high stakes implications of such experiments, scepticism is certainly warranted. But this scepticism should not prevent the attempts from being made.
And this, for a very simple reason, which brings us to my high octane speculation of the day. If consciousness is directly involved with the collapse of the wave-function, then one is a step away from what in other contexts was simply referred to as magic. And Tiller's experiments seem to indicate that group intention seems to have a kind of "multiplier" effect on the results. Would the same hold true if a direct relationship between consciousness and the wave=function collapse were to be indicated and eventually proven? TIme will tell. But it is perhaps worth mentioning, in this respect, that there are indications from China that precisely such high level and very secret experiments of one form or another, bearing upon such problems, are underway. And lest we forget, the US government carried on its own long study of the paranormal phenomenon of remote viewing. The next step, I predict, will be the attempt to demonstrate such relationships with the phenomenon of entanglement.
See you on the flip side...
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Great discussion. The missing unifying aspect of physics may well be Mind itself. In the light of Barrow & Tipplers research showing man as the median between micro and macro multiverse scales and Joseph’s discussions of Mekanthropos.
This really makes me believe TPTB use the Fear driven media into the receptive minds of sleepers. Throughout the ages they have been manipulating and guiding societies and cultures with ancient occult rituals and symbology. It seems we’re in a race lately, the www is lifting the veil of secrecy changing our collective consciousness with knowledge that wasn’t available before. 9/11, climate change, economies, Brexit, terrorist, war, Zika, Trump, Space, common core, health, TTP, etc. Their reality is all built on fear and hierichary that eats each other up and falls apart.
Open your hearts and minds, remember when Bush said that? How prophetic that so many people are waking up now.
Joseph on Dreamland this weekend, on new book.
This is so awesome!
Has anyone ever read Jane Robert’s books written by her, but dictated by “Seth” a non-physical entity? Her premise, in a nutshell, is that our universe has its origins from a non-physical environment and that the physical universe we are focused in, arises from it. In other words, our minds, being non-local, creates the physical universe and continues to do so.
I must find that Tiler VidChat.
It’s probably both-an internal and external feedback.
Within all this smoke and mirrors of observer/collapsing waves are the fires of creation. The problem is within the frame that they place this picture of science; and for that we need to step back to Francis Bacon.
The Newtonian-Cartesian idea of nature as a fragmented world denies the interconnectedness of nature and has subsequently been proved false by new sciences such as quantum mechanics.
It could be both a fragmented and a whole consciousness
According to Bacon, the discipline of scientific knowledge and the mechanical inventions it leads to do not merely exert a gentle guidance over nature’s course; they have the power to conquer and subdue her, to shake her to her foundations.
A patriarchal scientific paradigm that privileges violence, fragmentation[due to under moderation], and mechanistic thought.
Rooted in ideologies of war, this paradigm promotes Monocultures of the Mind.
All of the above rings true. Well said!
“Your comment is awaiting moderation.” Two comments now; too truthful? goshawks – July 13, 2016 at 6:39 pm.
Feel for you on that score Goshawks.
Can’t wait to read your posts at a later date and try to discern… method to madness.
You’re not the only one, goshawks. I wrote three paragraphs of comments this morning and it hasn’t made it out of moderation yet. Don’t know what the problems could be. It was respectful, on topic, pertinent and no swear words.
“Your comment is awaiting moderation.” goshawks – July 13, 2016 at 6:37 pm.
Let’s try it without urls:
I know there are consciousness effects on ‘reality’, because I have done them. In the mid-80s, I had just attended a week-long class at The Monroe Institute. Afterwards, there was a spoon-bending ‘party’ at a TMI employee’s house (not a part of the TMI program). There were over a dozen people, from young teens to seniors.
Being an aerospace engineer, I decided to test it ‘scientifically’. I picked out the heftiest spoon that I could find. Then, I stress-tested it, almost-bending it to where it would go into what is called plastic deformation – i.e., not returning to its previous shape. This was to gauge the spoon-handle’s innate strength. A good, solid spoon…
Then, I went into a meditation state, lightly holding the cup-part of the spoon under gentle pressure with one hand, with the other hand holding the spoon at its base. No response for a time. And then, the upper-handle ‘changed’ into almost a taffee-like strength. The cup rotated almost-freely around the upper-handle, quickly forming a couple of very-tight curls in the upper-handle. Then, I lost the state, and the spoon reverted to its normal strength – now with the curls in it. And, the curl-area was hot.
Again, I went into mediation. After some while, the upper-handle ‘softened’ again, and the cup did another rotation or two. Then, I lost the state, and the spoon hardened again. More very-tight curls in the upper-handle. Hot.
By that time, we were out of time. There was curled-up silverware everywhere. A thirteen-year-old girl was particularly good at it, with a literal small pile of distorted silverware around her…
So, through personal experience, I can tell you that consciousness can ‘relax’ certain physical parameters. I believe it also demonstrated a ‘group effect’, because I have not been able to replicate this effect on my own with, say, an engine poppet-valve stem…
I know there are consciousness effects on ‘reality’, because I have done them. In the mid-80s, I had just attended a week-long class at The Monroe Institute. Afterwards, there was a spoon-bending ‘party’ at a TMI employee’s house (not a part of the TMI program). There were over a dozen people, from young teens to seniors.
Being an aerospace engineer, I decided to test it ‘scientifically’. I picked out the heftiest spoon that I could find. Then, I stress-tested it, almost-bending it to where it would go into what is called plastic deformation – i.e., not returning to its previous shape. This was to gauge the spoon-handle’s innate strength. A good, solid spoon…
Then, I went into a meditation state, lightly holding the cup-part of the spoon under gentle pressure with one hand, with the other hand holding the spoon at its base. No response for a time. And then, the upper-handle ‘changed’ into almost a taffee-like strength. The cup rotated almost-freely around the upper-handle, quickly forming a couple of very-tight curls in the upper-handle. Then, I lost the state, and the spoon reverted to its normal strength – now with the curls in it. And, the curl-area was hot.
Again, I went into mediation. After some while, the upper-handle ‘softened’ again, and the cup did another rotation or two. Then, I lost the state, and the spoon hardened again. More very-tight curls in the upper-handle. Hot.
By that time, we were out of time. There was curled-up silverware everywhere. A thirteen-year-old girl was particularly good at it, with a literal small pile of distorted silverware around her…
So, through personal experience, I can tell you that consciousness can ‘relax’ certain physical parameters. I believe it also demonstrated a ‘group effect’, because I have not been able to replicate this effect on my own with, say, an engine poppet-valve stem…
‘The Matrix’ Spoon-Bending-Boy:
“Do not try and bend the spoon. That’s impossible. Instead only try to realize the truth. … There is no spoon. … Then, you’ll see that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.”
Maybe, this is why you’re feeling the world is ‘unreal’:
Wheeler’s delayed-choice gedanken experiment with a single atom:
www dot nature dot com/nphys/journal/v11/n7/full/nphys3343.html
Australian National University: Experiment suggests that reality doesn’t exist until it is measured:
americankabuki dot blogspot dot com/2016/07/australian-national-university.html
ghawk,
before the apparent sellout by michael crichton (his last book state of fear) i had and read every one of his. in “journals” he related a similar experience. now that i’m onto a few ideas in electric universe theory, it seems we’re slowly coming around to the limits imposed by einstein et al by not copping to the obvious and clear perspectives brought forth by tesla et al. it’s clear that the universe is electric. some of that electricity (plasma energy) apparently becomes matter. for awhile? either way, whatever matter we are and perceive, we are and have electricity through and through. how does one measure a body to determine life or death? as well, all is wave form energy. varied through spectrums but simple enough spanning light, sound, electrical,…. so a decent engineer’s gotta have a way to splain directly how it works. and then make it easier for any and all of us to do it (not so much on the bent spoon think as making reality think). meanwhile i’ll flip on to an old favorite from ben davidson even though i don’t entirely trust him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3_Rg7yoMsE
Gosh, it also goes for influencing. It’s like putting youself in the other’s consciousness and like doing the action yourself.
Fulfillment of this level of awareness will be the true singularity.
I just don’t even know what to think of this
We could be here all day on the subject of consciousness. I am of the belief that your mind and memory is not inside your head, ie non local. So whats going on here?
Well in one of Manly P. Hall’ presentations he kept saying that “the creator is beyond the mind”, and I think he had come to the conclusion that what’s going on here is way beyond us to understand. Consider the Egyptians, they are depicted with human bodies, two arms and two legs, BUT they are definitely NOT human, in mean just look at the them, what a magnificently looking race. Also sometimes they were depicted with the standard body of a human, but with heads of birds and other gods, and what I believe these are saying is that from the neck up, they were different.
You may think I’m nuts, but I believe these depictions are evidence that they could “talk to the universe”, knew how it worked, and believed in the afterlife. Getting back to consciousness, remember what Enki said, when we created man, “he shall have spirit”, and there you have it.
Finally, I don’t believe science will ever unlock the mind and cosmos connection, as I said, it’s beyond our comprehension.
I’m familiar with Dr. Dean Radin and he’s impeccable in his application of strict experimental standards. He and his colleagues are on to something real, as similar experiments have been carried out in the past with positive results. For example, the PEAR experiments, as mentioned below by Basta. Dr. Radin is the chief scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences(IONS), founded by astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell.
I’m surprised that Joseph says he’s among the skeptics of the finding of this experiment. He doesn’t go into why, unfortunately. It should be pointed out that Dr. Amit Goswami, one of his favorite physicists, was on the Board of Directors of IONS for many years.
Naturally, the publicly known diehard materials will never admit to the findings of this or other similar experiments and research. For to do so would undermine their whole reality paradigm or jeopardize their careers or both.
As for the Hameroff/Penrose Orch/Or theory/model of consciousness, it appears to fall short, even for non-materialists scientists. The critique I’ve read states that it misses the fact that the brain and the microtubules in the neurons are themselves the result of a collapsed wave function facilitated by a non-material consciousness.
And, yes, I agree with the others that consciousness research has been and is now being carried out in secret by the government and corporations contracted by the government, most especially DARPA and the CIA. Plus, some retired high level military personnel tell us that remote viewing was never abandoned, only moved into top secret projects.
MxFusion, a most excellent comment! Thanks, and I agree with all…
I have talked with many materialists over the decades, and a common denominator is fear. Often times, it is knowledge of what they have done – and are continuing to do – and the consequences of those actions coming home to roost (rightly or wrongly envisaged). Internal knowledge – and resulting self-judgment – is hard to flee. Like Buckaroo Banzai said, “Wherever you go, there you are…”
On a more-specific topic, there is the fear of ‘exposure’ – of being Known – due to telepathy. I had a teacher who would make clear, unambiguous statements (or do actions) that demonstrated he was a master of telepathy (or at least applied-oneness). He would say/do something, and the recipient’s eyes would open wide when he/she realized that he/she was being ‘read’. If the fear of exposure was not too great, they would stay and learn more. Contrariwise, a high percentage never came back. A distinct divide…
(BTW, the level of blow-back from ‘skeptics’ is a measure of their fear…)
Thanks, goshawks, for your kind words. Looks like we both got our comments out of “moderation.”
I really enjoyed your telling of your experience at The Monroe Institute(TMI). I’ve read quite a bit about that organization, all positive. I believe every word you said, as I’ve read other reports from individuals attending TMI that further verify your experience.
Was your teacher there Joe Gallenberger? He teaches there and has a book out “Inner Vegas,” about using PK(Psycho-kenesis) to effect the roll of the dice. He also teaches spoon bending classes, so I’ve heard.
And you’re correct about the skeptics, or should I say, “pseudo-skeptics.” For they are not engaging in open minded inquiry, but are really trying to advance their own materialist agenda without applying the same degree of skepticism to it.
Very good point, the fear of responsibility for past/present actions seems to be too much for people. I have a friend, uses psychedelics all the time, definitely a non materialist, but at the same time bucks at the thought of responsibility for actions, and doesn’t believe in non locality. Fear of something larger than oneself, something unknowable is the problem.
I agree with Guygrr, I’m also surprised no one has attempted this experiment before, at least not in the open literature.
It seems pretty obvious that it is the next step; if the observer creates the photon (cohering the wave into matter), then it’s pretty obvious that conscious intention is then going to skew it further.
It really is very much like the PEAR studies (just Google Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research), a research program which has a fascinating backstory and has shown that conscious intention does slightly and consistently alter the odds of random events in the subject’s favor, and that there is a multiplier effect with groups.
So this is just confirmation that this also works on the quantum level — which is pretty obvious once you acknowledge the reality of the foregoing.
I did all sorts of experiments on manipulating reality years ago and was also surprised at the results. The implications are disturbing. A wise man who contemplates long and deep enough may realize not being the sole creator of reality, immortal, all powerful, and standing alone may be the greater treasure and the more difficult experience to craft and hold on to. Enjoy your illusion of mortality and the gift of random shared and created chaos and order while you can for the hard won experience can be fleeting. Or it can be experience in less time than a blink in an eye after the conclusion of each experience, over and over again in all its infinite potential manifestations. May depend upon the knowledge, power, and will of each individual perhaps or perhaps other uncontrollable factors. Choose wisely or foolishly, its all good in infinite eventually perhaps.
Yes, “normal” consciousness is a rather narrow bandwith and you can tap into a LOT.
This is the old question of does the observer changes the results of the observation by observing the phenomenon. And what in the end are they observing and can they really understanding what they are observing and explain it.
Radin was involved with Russel Targ and Hal Puthoff’s CIA psychological research right? I find it hard to believe that such a simple experiment wasn’t performed many years before in the black world, I wonder why it’s being let out of the bag now, I’m still sticking to my guns on the Orch/Or + Spin mediated consciousness model. Penrose and Hameroff have attested for years that collapse of the wave function occurs in the brain at the quantum level facilitated by microtubule structures. There’s also an ormus connection in there somewhere.
Apologies, Guygrr. Whilst typing, the train jogged and I hit Report comment instead of Reply. Sincere apologies because your comment is so valuable, and your last note regarding ormus especially intrigues me because I share such an intuition.
Haha it’s all good. No worries.