PLAYING DARPA…AGAIN: NEUROSCIENCE

A bout two weeks ago I did a little series of video blogs that I called "Playing DARPA," an exercise of the imagination of what it would be like to be a part of an organizational culture dedicated to thinking outside the box, and to brainstorming new technologies and thinking carefully about how they would transform culture, society, economics, and political and other institutional structures. With that in mind, here is one from the Washington Post to ponder carefully:

Is neuroscience the new ‘Freakonomics’?

Rather than focus on business and advertizing applications of the emerging capabilities of neuroscience, imagine its potential for an agency like DARPA, as it could easily lend a solid scientific foundation to some principles and techniques of neuro-linguistic programming, enhance the capabilities of electronic and electromagnetic stimulation of the brain to induce emotional states, influence behavior, modify habits of thought. The potentials in military applications alone would make such advances a subject of worthy of careful study by an agency like DARPA, and indeed, my co-author Dr Scott D. de Hart and I spend some time exploring precisely this aspect of things in our forthcoming book Transhumanism: A Grimoire of Alchemical Agendas for the Transformation of Man.

DARPA is indeed already involved in such research, and it takes little imagination to see why. With precise neuroscience and the development of appropriate technologies and techniques based upon it, one could modify the emotion - the morale - not only of one's own soldiers, but of any potential enemy's. Utilizing the "combinational"  approach, .e., combining it with other technologies - genetic modification of physiology and physiological requirements for sleep, food, and so on, the performance characteristics of soldiers could be enhanced or inhibited.

And of course, as the Washington Post article implies, a vast expansion of propaganda capabilities would result. One can go further. By compiling statistical databases of aggregate behavior under such combinational techniques and technologies, models of aggregate behavior that would be incredibly accurate could be built up, and predictions of aggregate response to particular circumstances could then be made and refined utilizing principles of mathematical modeling being developed by physicists working in social sciences such as econophysics.

The advantages of such an approach are self-evident, for aggregate behavior to carefully defined circumstances - as would obtain in military actions - would be of incalculable value in operational and strategic military planning, and invaluable too in the prediction of the tactical and operational responses of potential enemies.

But, as I said, this research is already under way, and if one accepts the adage that what is known and talked about publicly lags far behind what is being done in covert research projects, one can only imagine that some of these combinational technologies and techniques, and the databases and predictive models, have already been fashioned.

Think I'm kidding? Well, then consider this, courtesy of phys.org:

2011-10-darpa-master-propaganda-narrative-networks.html

See you on the flip side....

Posted in

Joseph P. Farrell

Joseph P. Farrell has a doctorate in patristics from the University of Oxford, and pursues research in physics, alternative history and science, and "strange stuff". His book The Giza DeathStar, for which the Giza Community is named, was published in the spring of 2002, and was his first venture into "alternative history and science".

23 Comments

  1. Johnycomelately on April 22, 2012 at 7:45 pm

    I would love Neurotraveller’s view on NLP in religious texts and ceremonies, if your out there in cyber world enlighten us ‘profane’ with your insights.



    • neurotraveller on April 22, 2012 at 8:45 pm

      There have been several NLP Master Trainers that have modeled spiritual systems and esoteric practices and combined them with NLP. Such as Tad James with Hawaiian Huna shamanism, Ragini Michaels with Buddhism and Tantra, and Jason Newcomb with Hermetics. NLP modeling involves finding a model of excellence then creating a map of the mental processes then installing them in yourself and others. NLP was developed primarily by modeling Milton Erickson the grandfather of medical hypnosis and creating a set of skills whereby you could become a competent therapist within a few weeks rather than several years. All of the NLP sales techniques came about by modeling many of the greatest salesmen on the planet. A lot of what Ericksonian Hypnosis is is a form of covert hypnosis using linguistics where you can hypnotize somebody by having a simple conversation or telling a story and the person wouldn’t even know they were in a trance. The fact that you can hypnotize somebody with a story has always made me think about myths. Myths may be the most powerful form of hypnotic story telling to be able to install suggestions at the deepest unconscious level of a people over a very long period of time. Another aspect of NLP involves anchoring. Anchoring is a simple stimulus response process like Pavlovs dogs but using the same process in humans. An NLP therapeutic technique involves anchoring people to positive resourceful states to a physical touch, saying a word or making a picture inside your head. So you could trigger that positive emotional sate whenever you felt less than resourceful. Like asking for a raise, making a cold call, asking someone out for a date etc.. Religious texts are full linguistic anchors all over the place. The word Jesus is one of the most powerful anchors in the world. It can put a lot of people in very strong emotional states good or bad. All of the religious anchors can be used to manipulate or enlighten. When you combine them with the hypnotic nature of language itself and the literal power of myth I think you get the idea. I have theorized that the egyptian temple hieroglyphs are a very sophisticated form anchoring and suggestion unified in a series of progressive symbols. In ancient Egypt they had what were called “sleep temples” where people would basically go for hypnotic healing. I think they were as far ahead in their psychology as they were in their monument building.



      • Johnycomelately on April 23, 2012 at 4:36 am

        Thanks for your response, very insightful, a very little understood topic but with far reaching ramifications and easily abused. Myths, archetypes and NLP certainly seem like methods being used to manipulate the masses without their knowledge.



        • HAL838 on April 23, 2012 at 6:19 am

          And I suppose you understand technological mind reading.

          [Does thinking give you a headache ? They can do that for you, too]



          • Johnycomelately on April 23, 2012 at 6:41 pm

            Inform away Hal, always open to new ideas and perspectives, any useful links?



      • paul degagne on April 24, 2012 at 3:02 am

        Reactions to Words — try an old fashioned Word Association Test. (It’s not used much because it’s not very good for long term business prospects) You don’t need a big fancy lie-detection machine, just any old fashion STOP-WATCH will do?.

        Why narrow down or bullseye a problem( (complex[) in two a three therapy sessions when you can make it last for a couple of hundred billable hours? Psychologists lie just like Lawyers do. Only their misleading statements are like this —- “It’s our METHOD and it the way we do things — for Your Own Good and of course it’s not considered lying.” Laughable, such moral self-deception!

        Fool around with Self-hypnosis or NLP and learn the hard way. If you want to kill any remaining spontaneuity or Initial Creativity then take up NLP training.

        How can they brainwash a person who has a mind? THEY CANT! (Only people who have lost their critical or dialectical minds long ago?)

        One trick Question: HOW CAN YOU REMEMBER SOMETHING YOU FORGOT LONG AGO? (when you figure out that Koan-like Answer then you will FINALLY NOT KNOW? Have Fun!)



        • paul degagne on April 24, 2012 at 3:05 am

          I will take back or add more. They can brainwash a person with a Mind but they first have to USE TORTURE?



  2. neurotraveller on April 22, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    I trained to the highest level in NLP. Whenever I turn on Fox News I skip the political content altogether and focus specifically on the context, process, and structure of the delivery. It is entirely NLP. The barrage of covert hypnotic Milton Model language structures and visual sub modalities is astounding. It is beyond simple manipulation or base propaganda. It is pure psychological warfare at a level never seen before in history. The CIA could not do better. Whoever is behind it is a dark wizard. Goebbels himself would be amazed. I am left disgusted.



    • Joseph P. Farrell on April 22, 2012 at 2:15 pm

      Interesting and intriguing insight, neurotraveller. I suspect MOST major media is into NLP, not just FOX. I just don’t listen to TV news any more. The glorification of empire, military, the endless debates on the political goons running of office…all of it, like you, leaves me disgusted.



      • neurotraveller on April 22, 2012 at 3:50 pm

        I’m sure that most major media are into it as most fortune 500 companies are using it in sales and advertising. I see it’s use in commercials all of the time. It seems Fox news is the most egregious user of the technology though. i took a seminar a few years ago with Philip Farber who developed a hybrid of NLP and Chaos Magick called MetaMagick. He mentioned that Oral Roberts University uses the book; the Patterns of the Hypnotic Techniques of Milton Erickson M.D. vol. 1 and 2 by Bandler and Grinder as part of their required curriculum. That was very interesting and surprising since there is a lot of info in that book which would be considered heretical to the conservative Christian mind. Conservative leaders have been aware of the power of hypnosis for awhile. NLP is a wonderful technology for healthy personal change. It’s too bad it’s being abused.

        As an interesting note. The movie Brainstorm was based on the work of Dr. Richard Bandler, the primary developer of NLP. He was actually developing the technology to record peoples thoughts for playback but the Department of the Navy came and confiscated it all.



        • Johnycomelately on April 22, 2012 at 7:56 pm

          “Deparment of the Navy,” wow! That just blew my hat off, sits very well with Dr. Farrell’s work on the black ops in the Navy.



          • HAL838 on April 22, 2012 at 8:29 pm

            You didn’t catch that, Johny.

            He said,
            “…..record peoples THOUGHTS……………………..”

            Just like any subserviant, your ‘mind’ automatically RECORDED that as
            IMPOSSIBLE
            and totally, totally overlooked it.

            Oh, these guys are really bad butt !
            After 15 years, I’d know them anywhere.
            🙁



    • SSNaga on April 22, 2012 at 3:43 pm

      A R C H O N S .



    • HAL838 on April 22, 2012 at 7:11 pm

      If the CIA could do better, I asure you that they would,
      since they are.
      They learned from the best AND the “paperclip” crowd.
      Note the reincarnation dates from Nazi to OSS to CIA.

      Ditto Joseph !
      “neurottraveler” is a Phd [CIA] graduate in psychobabel.
      As SSNaga is in general babel.

      Having fun, guys?



      • SSNaga on April 22, 2012 at 8:40 pm

        Lost lass, you’ve no Clue. I read Milton’s experiments in the journals back ‘in the day:’ he & kind are drones (& anything related). Nlp is for the (brain) dead & the massed zombies (Unconscious; study Jung to help with comprehension). … Try Cosmic Consciousness; then we can PLAY. Not Until. … Here’s an old pal of JP’s; not “so bashful” (timid) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnSCup4ljes … Its ‘old hat.’ If you could both “sit still” & “comprehend,” you wouldn’t come off so pretentious. You Exude Palpable Ignorance.



      • neurotraveller on April 22, 2012 at 8:56 pm

        I wont’ tell you to read this book but you might want to read the book Persuasion Engineering. But don’t read it unless you want to. It’s all up to you. I wont’ suggest that you have an open mind because you already do don’t you. Because you might start to ask the question whats the one question you could ask that would allow you to have complete curiosity right now. I’m not suggesting.



        • SSNaga on April 22, 2012 at 9:39 pm

          Lad, Self-Importance ius the Greatest Enemy of man. Let it Go. … You “live” in a (Field-)Realm that you’ve devoted (enslaved) much of your lifetime investigating your current “position” on “the Path.” … Do you know what “Delimitation” means? Can you, then, conceive of what “Materialist” Constructs are? Energy-Matter. Yin-Yang. Why is the “Universe” called “Natural” (Nature)? Why is there this “Thing” called Entropy? What are Its Intrinsic Delimits of Energy (Information Fields)? … You live in a “world” that does Not Directly Comprehend The 4th-State (Mystical). This is for you to some’life’ Discover. Should I turn back into a larval-state, because you occupy such, still? Spiritual (3rd-State) connexions are Not Mystical. You’ve reached the highest nlp level? I’ve been Graced with Spontaneous Cosmic Consciousness (x3)… oft referred to as the 10th-State (dif system), or IO Blending. After 17 years of unremitting effort, I’ve Achieved ehat “quite” surpasss that – not to be discussed. What of The 5th Element, beyond The Mystic States? Please, use yor developed erudition & skills to aid yourself & those like you, trapped in the “matrix” (Maya Field-Realm). Butterflys: First They Die – Then They Fly. You are spinning your cocoon. … The link I provided is in 13 parts; they may help you grasp the Nature of The HyperCube. There Is Much “More.” Life is not a singular journey; it is in multiples for A PreEXistent Intent. … “In this perfective work, therefore, the physical senses and the reasoning mind are of no avail; instead, they present obstacles that must be overcome.” (James Pryse, 1925) Help Will “be waiting” when you’ve truly grasped & attained to This Level.



          • HAL838 on April 23, 2012 at 6:35 am

            You all kind of look alike, too (?)
            Are YOU clones ?

            And the condemned shall NOT partake of a last meal;
            at least not of me.

            I suppose that those of us
            [what few it seems there will be to pick up this unholy mess you have made]
            owe you gratitude, though, because you played your part well.

            Don’t slam the door on your way out,
            but give your male gay god, Yehweh, regards when you
            find them / it somewhere outside the Infinte Universe.



  3. Robert Barricklow on April 22, 2012 at 11:11 am

    If given there exists a breakaway civilization, than these genetic/sociological tools/scaples will be applied, not just to to enhance differences within individuals; but groups themselves, becoming specialized on both sides of the divide.

    Control is their aim,
    And your in their genetic crosshairs,
    or more pricely, your germline.

    Fire changed the crust of the earth.
    Now, with the discovery of manipulating DNA, comes the changing of the biosphere.

    Evoltion not squared, but cubed.



  4. Jon Norris on April 21, 2012 at 10:52 pm

    The only up side to all this is that mainstream science understanding of human biology and physiology is so poor that the “programmed super soldiers” they try to create will likely be damaged mutants with so many weaknesses that their usefulness will be very short-lived.

    As for manipulating the minds of the masses, they already have that well in hand.

    Besides, if they are discussing this in public, they are most likely already far beyond what they discuss.



  5. marcos anthony toledo on April 21, 2012 at 5:55 pm

    Shades of Brave New World and that book goes back to 1932 Alphas,Betas and Gamas anyone.



  6. HAL838 on April 21, 2012 at 6:48 am

    Not at all,
    and it’s a very BIG ship we are all on.

    The good news?
    It has started its turn about.



    • paul degagne on April 23, 2012 at 2:44 am

      HAL,

      Yes — but nobody can say for certain what direction it will take.

      If History has any precedents (Holocaust) than we’re in for some shit down the pike.

      I like the analogy of sic – SOCIETY” as a giant plane with no pilot on board! (let’s hope the automated flight system is working properly but then again we don’t even know if it has one?)

      Yes the CIA would be more than interested in IMPROVEMENTS,

      BUT,

      all the COMPLEXITY OF NLP breaks down to a simple QUESTION —-

      [ HOW MUCH FREEDOM ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP FOR A LITTLE BIT OF SECURITY? ]

      HINT —- read Erich Fromm’s ‘ESCAPE FROM FREEDOM’ (updated 21st Century Version if such a book existed?)



Help the Community Grow

Please understand a donation is a gift and does not confer membership or license to audiobooks. To become a paid member, visit member registration.

Upcoming Events