MIND/BEHAVIOR CONTROL

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00173876
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 21, 2025
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: March 5, 1973

� 1=011,111rit I FOR
SUBJECT : Mind/Behavior Control
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�
5 March 1973
L The purpose of this memorandum is to succinctly outline the various
techniques that fall under the rubric of �mind" or "behavior control" (para-
graph 2) and to indicate which projects_ ?has supported, is currently
supporting, or is considering for support-rhat may be misconstrued as having
the control of others as the primary goal (paragraph 3). The terms "mind
control" or Lbehavior control" can be interpreted in content of controllinz
others or controlling self; the question of ethics is likely to arise it
the former interpretation is used. Whatever interpretation is used, the
techniques are not as efficacious or finely tuned as the popular media leads
one to believe. Lastly, one should bear in mind that most of the techniques
are still experimental in nature and have as a primary goal the understanding
of brain-behavior relations which in turn may lead to "control" in the sense
of therapeutic intervention or patient management.
2. The following techniques are generally considered under rcontrol"
technology:
a. Psychosurgery - direct intervention into the neurological
pathways that mediate or control behavior. The procedure may be non-
revereible (surgical extirpation) or reversible (electrical stimula-
tion). This approach has received a great deal of publicity recently
in context of surgery being performed to control aggressive behavior.
b. Psychopharmacology - behavioral control is achieved by
altering the brain chemistry. Tranquilizers and energizers are the
two most common classes. This technique is widely used in clinical
medicine. The technique is for the most part safe and effective but
does not really afford fine control. The notion of a "peace" pill,
:"truth' pill or "smart" pill is still in the wish stage.
�
SUBJECT: Hind/Behavior Control
c. Behavior modification - this term refers to alterations in
behavior that are achieved by using coaditioning techniques, usually
variation:, on operant or performance conditioning. The behavior
being altered or controlled can be either eaternal (behavior) or
internal (autonomic or central nervous system) responses. The con-
-ditioning or control of internal response (biofeedback), particularly
those of the central nervous system, e.g., alpha waves, has received
much publicity as mind central with fantastic claims for its utility.
Trail� there is no doubt that 'the physiological responses are indeed
controllable (within limits), there is no good evidence that the
desired behavioral concomitants are automatically chanscd, i.e.,
creativity increased. On the other hand, there is some evidence that
control of autonolaie nervous system functions may have 30= there-
peutie utility, e.g., control of cardiac arhythmias or hypertension,
again within limits.
d. Education - the moct innocuous, most,effective and
acceptable means of effecting behavioral control or change is
education. The edacative process which includes propaganda techniques,
does not merely transmit information but a belief or value system as
well. It is the latter which often provides the impetus to dramatic
and difficult to understand behaviors, e.g., suicidal terrorist
activities.
e. Specialtechniques:
�
(1) Hypuosia and self-hypnosis (autosensis) - this is a
real. but very poorly understood phenomena. Contrary to popular
belief, hypnosis is effective only with very cooperative and
.suagestible subjects. Met is dependent upon the belief system
o the subject, particularly in self-hypnocis. Except with
rare subjects, the technique does not appear uniformly reliable.
Of late, hypnosis and biofeedback are being tied together ap-
parently on the simple premise that two is better than one.
There is no good evidence for or against this linkage.
(2) ESP - interest in this area is on the upswing again,
in large part due to current popularity in lay literature of
."biofeedback" technology. The basic premise appears to be that
all individuals (or most) have 'ESP" as a latent capability
-2-
SUBJECT: Mind/Behavior Control
and that biofeedback programs will allow it to become manifest.
This then becomes the route to "mind control" in the sense that
the individual will have at his beck and call telepathic, clair-
voyant, psychokinetic or other unusual capabilities. The claims
are made by companies offering training programs, marketing bio-
feedback equipment or both. Thus far, no evidence (other than
testimonials) has surfaced. which,aubstantiates these claims.
3. Past, present, or plammed4 Iprojects by category as in para-
graph 2, which may be misconstrued as a CIA program in mind or behavior
control:
a. Psychosuraery � lhas supported a basic research project
on the Localization of Memory Processes. The experimental animal is
the rhesus monkey; selected areas of the animals prefrontal lobes are
surgically removed and the animal is tested to determine its ability
to "remember- old tasks and/or to learn new ones. This class of
research has been going on in academia for over 35 years and is
deemed 'respectable' in that setting. There are Ile renewal plan
upon the expiration of ahe current contract with!
This research has been UNCLASSIFIED.
b. Psychopharmacology theiT)FTEAprogram fell into this
category. The objective of the liATIMIUS A1ALYSISIVJ74MN:program was
to develop the capability of detecting and nullifying the use of
psychoactive drugs on U.S. personnel abroad. The central project in
the program was the maintenance of a facility to determine the
biological and behavioral activity of certain compounds in mice, rats,
and'monkeys. Per direction, all'Pr=Fi projects have been cancelled
and are in various phaseout stages. Assoeiatioa with the Agency has
been classified; .major contractor was the,
-
c. Behavior modification:
(1) Operant conditioning, biofeedback - no work in this
area has been supported in_abe past. Biofeedback will be
Association with the Agencill be classified; prqbable cm:-
examined in content of the! Ierogram.
tractor is the,
411,3 .01,
SUZJZCT: ilind/Dehavior Control
(2) 'Studies - this is an on-going
project whose goal is to determine whether the
potential can be used as an indicator that an individual way
have undergone some conditioninf: process impinging on his
value zystem. The
is the contractor,
work and association arc urmAss/rIED.
_d, Education - not_ !activitien;.some past work in support
of, \e.g., program aaMiled instruction studies.
�:?.�
e. Special techniques:
(1) Hypnosis - past involvement was to use enpertise of
a contractor (who had been tasked to examine other things) to
stay abreast of developments in the field. Current nlans call
for preliminary_work on hypnosis in context of thet_
Iprogram. Probable contractor is tgEi__,
::3 association with the Agency will
be classified but the work will be UNCLASSIFIED.
(2) ESP - the basic position( !has taken has been to
stry abreast of the developments thr6Egh the use of a personal
services_s_cnract. Apart .from the momitortpg effort, Idid
support, la project with
la Clincident =Vs in twins. PArilts were negative.
Planz-ror future active research are_Fncertaia but are 1it2ly
to be a cooperative .endeavor with in contrast of'
current program ati
-4..
Project Summary
19 December 1966
�
4. � 1 Sleep , land sleep learning;
studies are eontinuing: with no problems. Data is suggestive but not
partiamlaayelmiting. I
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