(ESTIMATED PUB DATE) STUDIES IN THE MILITARY APPLICATION OF HYPNOSIS

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00190871
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 21, 2025
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: January 1, 1955

111
F
STUDIES IN THE MILITARY APPLICATION OF HYPNOTISM: I. The Hypnotic Messenger
Introduction
Hypnotism is now a recognized branch of the science of psychology
operating under known laws producing known phenomena. The proposals we
are about tb.make can be verified by means of the scientific method.
In deep hypnotism or somnambulism, the subject has complete amnesia; .
he remembers nothing of what has happened. One out of every five persons
can reach this depth in the hypnotic trance. With this subject, we can,
remove from him all knowledge of ever having been hypnotized and make it
impossible for anyone else to hypnotise him except a person who has been
designated by the hypnotist.
It is our contention that a long and involved message given to a
subject could be recovered from the unconscious mind only by one specific
operator, who alone
would be able to hypnotize the subject and recover the
secret" message. In the waking state, the subject would have no knowledge
of this'Jnessage. He would deny his ever having been hypnotized, and the
second hypnotist would be the only person able to re-hypnotize him. He
would go to this second operator as a result of the post-hypnotic suggestion
of an ordinary military transfer. He would not "talk" becaus:e he has
nothing.to talk about. Furthermore, it is our contention that alcohol,
drugs; and/or physical duress would not be successful in recovering this
message.
METTIODMOGY
Subjects:
Twenty somnambulits who mighL hr obtained in a military establishment
will be used. College students cannot be used in this experiment for quite
obvious reasons. The criteria for somnambulism arc definitive and clear-cut.
The so-called disguised technique will be used so that the personnel will be
in ignorance of the reason for b&ing contacted.
Equipment:
: We will need facilities for doing hypnotic work under conditions which
give maximal security.
The actual apparatus involved will be: (I) dictaphone, (2) an apparatus
to test hypnotic anesthesia by means of the application of a graduated electric
current, or the use of an electroencephalograph.
Procedure:
The twenty subjects selected for their ability to enter the somnambulistic
state will be carefully trained for the specific task in mind. As mentioned.
previously, we will remove from each subject all knowledge of ever having been
hypnotized and make it impossible for anyone except the person designated by
the hypnotist to re-hypnotize him. He would then be instructed as to the nature
of his assignment, namely, that he would be given material which is "secret"
and which coul-d not be divulged to anyone, either in the waking state or any
type of unconscious state. The exception to this would be a second hypno.ti"st
(specifically named) who would be able to re-hypnotize him and recover the
"secret" information.
The "secret" material would then be presented to the subject.. This
would be given by tape recording for the sake of controlling human voice
variables and would be repeated five times in five separate hypnotic sessions.
the subject out of the trance and send him to his desitna-
tion (in this case, the address of the second hypnotist)
by means of a post-hypnotic suggestion. In the waking state,
.wledge of the second hypnotist. At this point, over-a
which under normal circumstances would give him ample time
)art of the world, we would apply different methods to elicit
lotion, by use of his wife, girl friend, alcohol, amytal or
Yen physical duress.
ae principal investigator at $50 a day.
days a month for three months.
$ 3,000.
ssociate at $40 per day
$2,400.
nses for these two men $12 per day
$ 1,400.
penses indeterminate
. part-time secretary.
$ 500.
psychiatrist should also be available. .This man could be
;tablishment.
: project, approximately $10,000.
1st a thorough investigation of this proposal would require
ng the summer when the principle investigator and his associate
m academic duties.