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'Radio Enginering, Vol. 23, No. 3. 1968
Information Theory Analysis of Telepathic Communication
Experiments
I. M. KOGAN
Telepathic communication experiments carried out in 1966-67 by the bio-
Information section of the Moscow Board of the Popov Society are described and
analyzed. Some general conclusions are put forward.
In the two years of the existence of the bioinformation section, the large number of observations
attributable to telepathie effects reported in the world literature has been augmented by a series of
original experiments organized by E. K. Naumov, Yu. I. Kamenskiy and the author. Interest in the
analysis of our results derives both from the specific methodology of the experiments and the fairly
wide choice of experimental conditions.
On the assumption that the effects observed were due to the transmission of Information via
sofar uncharted telepathic channels, it is appropriate that the results obtained should be analyzed in
the framework of information theory. Such an analysis of various experiments carried out under markedly
different conditions would be useful with a view to establishing regular features, common to them all,
lending further confirmation of the physical reality of the effects observed, and providing a basis for
further investigations.
According to their characteristics, procedure, and conditions, the experiment's may be subdivided
into the following groups (excluding experiments under hypnosis, some of which were described in [1]):
1. short-distance telepathic suggestion of an action with objects: 2) short-distance telepathic
suggestion of the mental picture of an object with selection of the object specified: 3) long-distance
telepathic suggestion of mental pictures of objects; 1) long-distance telepathic transmission of mental
pictures of objects. .
Typical experiments in each group and the results obtained are described below: results and their
characteristics are assessed from the point of view of information theory (on the assumption of equi-
probability of the specified selections and actions).
1. Short-distance telepathic suggestion ofanaction with objects [1]. The experiment (official
record of February 7, 1900 signed by Kogan and Naumov) consisted in transmitting a mental order to .
take one among ton (X = 10) numbered cards, lying along the perimeter of a room. The distance
between the "inductor" (suggestor) E. K. Naumov and the."percipient" (receptor) K.N. Nikolayev, who
were in different rooms, was 3-5 m. Half of the 26 orders were correctly executed (the probabil:ty of
obtaining such a result at random is of the order of 10-5-10""). The time taken to execute an order
was T & 1 min (measured from the tape recording of the experiment). The quantity of Information
required to accomplish the task was I'm log, N = 3. 3 bit. The mean information-transmission and
reception rate was R = I/T = 0. 05 bit/sec. According to subjective impressions of sbservers the
receptor perceived mental orders of the direction In which the object specified was to be found.
2. Short-distance telepathie suggestion of the mental picture of objects with selection of the
object specified. The experiment consisted in selecting ene of five arbitrary objects initially unknown to
the receptor. Only one of the objects was shown to the inductor, whose image he mentally suggested
to the receptor. In most experiments of this type the inductor was Yu. I. Kamenskly and the receptor
K. N. Nikolayev. The inductor sat behind the receptor at a distance of 4-5 m. The percent of positive
outcomes was approximately 80. The duration of the suggestion was Tes 3 min (according to the official .
records of a public experiment carried out. on March 21,; 1967). .
It will be assumed that the entropy associated with defining the object specified is determined by
the a priori assortment of objects; and that it is selected according to a set of typical attributes.
Experience of numerous experiments (using the official records of two experiments at short distances
of December 20, 1966 and March 21, 1967 and of experiments at large distances) showed that in practice
the assortment of possible objects will contain approximately ten designations (N = 10) and that their
description reduces to approximately twenty main attributes (color ;. shape, surface nature, hardness.
etc. ) (en = 20); the object selected was after determining a set of approximately four attributes
(n = d) (for example, in the experiment of March 21, 1967 the selection of the object specified -
Mishka candies - was preceded by the following sequences of impressions recorded by Nikolayev:
"Rather long, smooth surface, brown color, cusped on two sides"). On this basis, the selection of the
objec: specified requires obtaining a quantity of information I = n log, m = 17 bit. The a priori entropy
In defining the object is Il = log, N = 3 bit. Thuy, there is redundancy of the information processed, by
approximately AI ~ 14 bit, due to the receptor pot perceiving a logical concept - the name of the object -
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but merely ils attributes, and selecting the object specified from the information contained in its
attribu:es. The information-processing rate R = 0, 1 bit/sec, and the relative redundancy d =
.
9
- .. Using the expression given in [2] for the noise immunity in terms of redundancy. based on Shannon's
well-known formula for the channel capacity C, assuming the channel transmission bandwidth to be W ~
~ 1/T and assuming (for a rough estimate) R & C, we can estimate from the above data the value of the
signal-to-noise ratio Ps/Pty for which it is still possible to transmit the minimum required quantity of
information Imin = H under the conditions of the given experiment:
C
-21+1
RT
-1=2"-1.
whence Ps/P+N & 5-10, which is also in agreement with estimates of [3].
3. Long-distance telepathic suggestion of mental images of objects. The experiment was similar
to that of para. 2 but with inductor and receptor in different towns. Successful experiments of this
type were carried out between Moscow and Novosibirsk (the proceedings and official records were
signed in Novosibirsk and Moscow by K. B. Kann, G. Beznosov, A.G. Ignatenko, Yu. I. Kamenskiy,
E. K. Naumov and A. R. Arlashin) and between Leningrad and Moscow (the proceedings and official
records were signed in Leningrad and Moscow by K. N. Nikolayev, K. B. Krayevskiy, O. V. Dergacheva,
M. L. Gittel', I. V. Vorontsov and E. K. Naumov). Since it is not possible under such conditions to
perform experiments in which the perceptor takes a specified object, and in most cases he is unable to
name the object, the quantitative analysis of the results is rather approximate. Nevertheless, proceed-
ing from the above assumptions concerning the a priori assortment of objects and their attributes, it
Is possible to arrive at some quantitative conclusions.
In the experiments of April 21, 1967 the inductor Yu. I. Kamenskiy transmitted to the receptor
K.N. Nikolayev mental images.of objects randomly selected by a commission. Of the six objects trans-
mitted a correct description of the main typical attributes was given
In three cases (e. g., when Kamenskiy transmitted a metal screw-driver
with a black plastic handle, Nikolayev's reception log read "A handle
or chess man. Long, black, probably plastic). [Of nino people inter-
rogated that had no connection with the experiments, 70% of the
answers correctly interpreted the reception records for 50% of the
:
bit
objects. ] The duration of transmission was 10 minutes for each object.
By similar assessments as for short-distance experiments we obtain
a mean information-transmission rate of 0. 005 bit/sec.
In the experinients of April 27, 1966 the inductor (A. R.
Arlashin) transmitted to the receptor (K. N. Nikolayev) mental images
of objects arbitrarily selected by the inductor .: Of the six objects ..
transmitted the receptor correctly described the main typical attri-
1
butes of four. [The interrogation of nine people in the same way as
above gave 80% correct answers for 70% of the objects. ] However,
some of the descriptions did not correspond to the object transmitted at
the given Instant but to previous ones. If it is assumed that this was the result of the inductor's sub-
conscious attention to objects previously seen by him, one of which was selected for transmission at
the given instant, the assessment yields a similar value for the information-transmission rate as that
above.
10
10 ,19€ 10. 10" 10 10 7, m
In the experiments of January 27, 1967 between Moscow and Leningrad (600 km) two inductors
(Yu. I. Kamenskiy and A. I. Monin) in turn transmitted to the receptor (K. N. Nikolayev) mental images
of five objects randomly selected by a commission. A correct description of the main typical attributes
was given for three objects. [A similar interpretation of the records by independent people gave 30%
correet answers for 40-60% of the objects. 1 For example, when Monin transmitted a pair of dividers,
with which he pricked his finger tips, Nikolayev's reception record read: "Metallic lustre, thin.
Chromium-plated rod .. Smooth surface .. Rod bifurcated. Like thin scissors or compasses." A dis-
Linet feature of the experiments was the fact that, in contrast to all previous onos, the times of the
transmissions were not prearranged, and were selected at will within a prescribed 30-minute interval.
During this interval; fivo 4-5 min transmissions were made; the beginnings and ends of these transmis-
sions were recorded by the receptor to within less than 1 minute .: Note also that on "interceptor" (a :
second receptor, V.A. Milodan), who was In Leningrad during the experiments in a room on a different
floor, also correctly recorded the initial and final instants of all transmissions and correctly described
the attributes of two of the five objects transmitted. In the above example Milodan recorded in particular:
"Cone-type object, almost equilateral triangle. It pricks the forefinger. .. . Two sides 15-18 cm in :
length. " The mean information-processing rate in these experiments was of the order of 0. 06 bit/sec.
..
4. Long-distance telepathic transmission of mental images of objects. The experiment was
·carried out In February 1907 between Moscow and Tomsk (4000 km). The official records are signed by
the inductor Yu. I. Kamonskiy and by V. Kuvshinnikov, one of the three receptors. At a proarranged
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time, mental images were transmitted of one among two stipulated objeets - a comb or a glass. The
transmissions lasted one hour cach week. In each case, seven images randomly selected by crin tossing
wore transmitted each for three minutes. If the predominance of either image In each series of seven
selected and transmitted images is characterized by a character of the Morse code, namely a dish for
the predominance of combs and a dot for the predominance of glasses, the four series transmitted during
- the whole month corresponded to the message -..-. The same message is obtained from Kuvshinnikov's
records. Tests by several statistical criteria (the over-all frequency of coincidences, correlation
coefficient, frequency of coincident Morse characters, deviation of the time plot of variations of the
number of transmitted and received pictures of one and the same type, etc. ) showed that by all criteria
used the results exceeded the mean-statistical result of four selections, one in accord with the receptor
records and three others from random numbers (Table 1).
Tablo 1.
Rundos samples
Over-
Criteria
Experi-
cant
.
Kan
Total coincidences, %
Coinsidances of Morse
characters, $
57
6
43
48
51
32
100
75
0
100
50
69
Correlation coeffic-
Ient
+0.15
+0.22
-0.15
-0.07
+0.05
+0.04
Error in total number
0
21
O
7.2
5
RMS inviatios of the
tims plot (arbi-
trary units)
29
72
-
: 34
30
...
.
In such an interpretation of the results the total transmission time of one of the two possible
. Morse characters was 21 min, which corresponds to an information transmission rate of 0. 001 bit/sec.
Let us compare this value of the Information-transmission rate with the energy relationships thal
would ensure information transmission under the conditions of the above experiments. We shall assume
the electromagnetic hypothesis to be correct [3].
The short-distance experiments, like the earlier experiments [3], do not contradict the hypothesis
of the electromagnetic nature of telepathy. .. To analyze long-distance experiments; earlier assessments
will require some refining to allow for the waveguide nature of the propagation of extra-long waves.
In this case the powers required to transmit information to a distance r will bo 2h/r times the value
assumed in [3], where h is the height of the "waveguide" determined by the height of the lower boundary
of the fonosphere. If we take h= 100 km, the power improvement will be of one order at a distance of :
600 km, and of two orders at a distance of 3000-4000 km. Allowing for this correction, the transmis ...
sion of telepathic information observed in the Leningrad-Moscow experiments could be possible by
electromagnetic means to a distance of the order of 2 km by the induction field and to a distance of the .
order of 500 km by the radiation field; in the latter case this is possible if it can be assumed that the
intrinsic loss resistance in the inductor's "antenna" is smaller than the radiation resistance. Similar'
estimates for the Moscow-Novosibirsk and Moscow-Tomsk experiments give possible ranges of 10
and 500 km, respectively. ".
Thus, these experiments are also not incompatible with the electromagnetic hypothesis of telepathy.
An analysis of the experimental results summarized in. Tablo 2. together with experiments con-
sidered carlier [3] enables us to put forward somo quantitative and qualitativo (mainly from subjectivo
impressions) general features; apparent in experiments of various types.'
1. In the experiments carried out the actual transmission rato of telepathic information was
within 0. 005 and 0. 1 bit/sec.
.
2. The actually Implemented Information-transmission rate decreased with increasing distance,
from approximately 0. 1 bit/sec at a distance of a few meters to 0. 0G bit/sec at 600 km, to 0. 02-0. 005
bit/sec at 3000 km, and to 0. 001 bit/sec at 4000 km (see the figure). Thus, despite statements to the
contrary, the transmission of telepathic information in our experiments was not independent of distance.
;
3. In the transmission of telepathic information the receptor does not apprehend logical concepts
.
such as the names of objects (in most cases they are not formulated): as a rule the characteristics
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2
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Tablo 2
No. of exporta. |
Typo of
experiment.
Total
Ratio of
successes
o total
Distance,
Quantity
of infor-
Ention, bit
Duration
of trans-
cissica T,
Informa- -
Ition-trans
prato , bit/
Ecc
1
Short-distance'
action with objects
26.
0.5
4
3.3
1
2
Short-distanco
Fugaastion of ..
0.8
5
17 .
3
D.TE.
3
Long-distance.
suggestion of images
5
6.6
0.5
600-109
3000- 10?
17
60
0.05.
0.005.
Long-distance
transa. of images
28-
4.
0.57
1
4000- 103
4000-102
28
80
0.001
apprehended are qualitative attributes associated with sensations (shape, color, hardness, etc.),
Indications as to types of actions (direction of search, etc. ), and emotions. These are the most
plausible code elements of transmitted telepathic information. .
4. The clearest perception of telepathic information occurs during comparatively short (up to
1 min) time intervals (short message elements). Therefore, the time encoding of telepathic information
must apparently proceed not by modulation of the duration of the elements transmitted but by transmis-
sion of elementary comparatively short code combinations of elements (pictures, emotions, etc.).
.5. The results of the experiments-carried out are not incompatible with the electromagnetic
hypothesis of telepathy. This deserves further attention in connection with the recognized features of
extra-long waves favoring their distant propagation [4].
Results of data processing have been confined to successful experiments. Of all the experiments
organized the successful ones were approximately one half. Their analysis has been entirely and
exclusively based on data of the official records'signed by the participants in the experiments. [It is
unfortunate that accounts of such experiments in the popular press are often based on first subjective
impressions prior to the drafting of official records, not to speak of their analysis and reliability
assessment. ] Although the results presented are insufficient for final conclusions to be drawn, they
. are evidence of the advisability of further study of the problem. ..
REFERENCES
1. I. M. Kogan, Radiotekhnika, 1967, 22,: 1.
2. I. M. Kogan, Radiotekhnika, 1967, 22, 3:
3. I. M. Kogan, Radiotekhnika, 1966, 21; 1;
'4. J.A. Pierce, Trans. IEEE, 1965; AES-1, 3.
Submitted: May 31, 1967
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Fission.
No.
.
5
6
...
0.046