SI AND H EXPERIMENTATION (26 SEPTEMBER 1951)

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00428887
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 23, 2025
• Document Release Date: August 23, 2000
• Publication Date: September 26, 1951

To: Files �
Subject: '1SI and H Experimentation (26 September 1951)
� On 26 September 19
IMF
an eriments usi
s subjects.
- .
Based on previous work with both
and the writer felt that every effort should be made to
etermine w ether or not these subjects were in fact being induced
into an SI state or were, from time to time, "play acting". 1With
this in mind, it was decide a ri primarily_
to determine whether or not were suc-
cessfully induced into an S s a e or, no , spec ically to what
depth of hypnotic control had been obtained in each of their cases.
The first test consisted of a very slow methodical routine re-
laxing technique in which every effort was made by the writer to
place both subjects in as deep a trance state as possible. This
test was continued for about 15 minutes. Then the subjects, before
ere given the post hypnotic suggestion that if either
or the writer touched the knot of their tie, they would
a e y, after awakening, return into a deep trance state.
Both subjects apparently attained, in this test, a deep sleep state
appearing very relaxed as far as body posture and facial expression
were concerned. They were awakened by the standard 12345 method
and shortly thereafter in a general conversation, the writer tested
the post hypnotic by touching the knot of his tie. Both subjects
responded to this suggestion and �immediately dropped into a deep
sleep state. They were awakened from this and a brief; general
discussion followed.
The next experiment attempted was by -ho' again
placed both subjects in apparently a deepIMITitilinmate. After some
simple conversation while in a sleep state, both subjects were
told to open their eyes and maintain a normal appearance and carry
out certain walking and other type movements in the Operations Room..
followed these instructions perfectly. Thereafter,
eturned them into sl e ta . �At this point and
eoreawakening, the subjects gave them the post
hypnotic that they would be una e o move one of their fe which
would be stuck to the floor where they were then sitting.
then awakened both subjects by the short 123 method and the po
hypnotic was tried. However, the post hypnotic-failed to work for,
APPROVED-FOR RELEASE
DATE: 4. ,_./0
pinion offia
an e writer., Were .in a eep
state when the pos"tThnoic. suggestion was made. This phe-
nomenon cannot be explained at this time.
Since the a..ve tea mine. conclusiVely
whether or not had properly. re.ached
a very deep trance s a e, returned both subjects to a
. sleep state by using the previous post hypnotic of touching the .
knot of his..tie ch c ects complied immediately.. --
Thereaftet� had d her right arm out
on to the cen er so a pub P extend her left arm
out into the same" position., then instructed the sub-
jects that their arms were num and they would be insensible to
feelings in their arms �or hands. then tested this by
pinching both subjects' hands and uy tappingmn both hands with
his fingers. When questioned concerning this, both subjects stated
that they were uriable to feel pain or any touch sensation in th
hands or aim. Since this was still not conclusive proof,
asked the subjects to extend theirhancls out in a typical ri i
catalepsy. Thereafter, he told the subjects that he had .a needle,
which he had, and he was going to prick their hands to dete 'Ile
whether or not they were able to feel anything. then
proceded to prick both subjects' hands on the 'bac n palm a
number of times and with force and neither subject showed any re-
action to the prick of the needle at any given time either by .
arm movement, facial ;movement, eye move ent bodyjoveme�t, or
sound. At the conclusion of this test, restored full
feeling to each subject's arm and awake e short l23'
method.
IlilIn the very considerate opinion et of and the writer
both subjects were without question in a deep p rance state during
this test and it is believed absolutely physically impossible for
the subjects, had they, not been in a trance state, to have maintained
their arms and hands and facial expressions,.etc. when pricked with
a needle, partidularly with their 'eyes closed.
While this test indicated that the subjects could, upon, oc-
casion, reach a deep trance state, further tests were. continued.
The writer placed both subjects again in a:deep sleep state and
attempted again, by using the 1 to 10 counting method, to. pro-
duce a very deep sleep state in both subjects. Thereafter, the
writer attempted to create the hallucination that music was being
played in the room, buth neither, subject was able to "hear" the
music. The writer then took a half glass -of water, and identified
it as perfume: and asked each subject to smell it and state ether
or not they thought the perfume was pleasant. rdenti.-
fied. the water as Chantilly and stated it was verr J.easant
111111
proce e to pour a:lass'
water himself
but light. 'The ri
.placed in the highball.and
The: writer again went to the
glass and 'handed, the :glass.
about this
or reached-a very light sleep e an
elled the water and identified it as perfume, but went no
r er than this. produce further
hallucinations, told hat they could
hear no sounds but the voice � e wri er and 'that
nothing would disturb them. At this point, clapped his
hands loudly a few inches from each subjects nead. s loud hand-
clap produced no reaction whatscvei in either subject and since
their eyes were closed, both nd the writer agreed that both
subjects were in a deep sleep s ate. The writer then restored to
both subjects
writer deci
writer told
state and
by name.
a complete sense of hearing. At this point, the_
ore complex hallucination attempt. The
hat she would remain in a deep sleep
thing unless she were addressed directly
then apparently continued in the deep sleep
s e was at this time. The writer then instructed
o open her, eyes and to act, walk, and appear per-
sleep state. The writer then asked she would care
which she would, alt h Tema" in a very deep
ec y norm
1 and stated that he wouiu caxe 'one at the same time.
stated that she would like a highball and the writer
ter from the carafe, take a glass of
tasted the water and said it was good.
as if s would like more whisky
eplied that she would.
red more water into the
who stated that it tasted
apparently either awakened
egan to laugh oa'
and continuously. ThislaUghtersapparently distracted
and she'tdobegat.:: laUghingisince:it was then obvious a e ex-
periment had been upset; the Writer returned both subjects to a
Sleep *Late and then,' awakened them by the 123145 method...
Thereafter, the writer an
the subjects concernin he abOve ,incident'
it became obvious tha was in a
urin he'entire situa ion, but5J1e sta
laughing in a "faraway manner".
patiaJ.Thiex�ory of the incident-and, in the opinion o
and the writ r was ye ccessfully carrying out her pa o
experiment. however, stated, when pressed as to why
e t aug ng, at she had heard all of the experiment with
pna that it struck her humorously bedause she knew
was not drinking a highball, but was drinking plain
ad a discussion with
From the discussion,
complete trAiliike
ea
ad on
water. She stated. that the whole procedure had struck her humor-
ously_and she' could not help laughing..
. To conclude the evenings work a
solve the question of "play acting"
t fU".?ther to re-
placed'-.both, :
Subjects a
. Stru ed
w ld be at the opposite
carried out these in-
oratory room. When she seated
herself at the desk, she talked in a normal manner for a few mo-
ments to the writer and then to make Ce
sleep state, the writer returned
nd head resting on
o remain in that position a few moments, then he
again ructed her to open her eyes, talk, carry on
conversation, .but continue in a deep sleep state.
did this in an exceptionally good manner and for per aps six oi
seven minutes, she carried on a clear, intelligent conversation
concerning general matters with the writer.
t e conclusion of the, conversation, the writer returned
into a deep sleep state and then awakened her by the
I23Li.5 method.
meantime, then turned his attention to
4III)IIIIIII
and attemIp e o drive her into a very deep sleep
e continued this process for a number- of minutes, then
instructed her to open her e s ac
sleep state. Thereafter,
o continUe.inasleep State le e od
o open er eyes, act nnorMal", and procede into the labor-
a ory room and to seat herself at a desk where. she would receive -
further instructions from the witerw
desk. Immediately thereafter.,
structions and moved into the
�ning deep asleep. When
asked her if was .as eep and
that she was. not. told her.t.
iht 'deep sleep s lc apparentl
thereafter immedia ly aFakened
me Od:an and the wri
ations room.
es
hat she. was in a
into. a sleep state,
. The writer allowed
a � appear normal while
ep led
eyes and'j
did and
by the short
er returned to the oper-
. After some ganeral duss'iOn, both subjects were placed in:
a sleep state by who then removed all Post hypnotic
'words, signs, etcT'a�d continuedthen in the routine protective
manner: BOth:sUbjects.were immediately awakened thereafter and
- . .
the evenings experiments were concluded: .
-
Comment:
W� hi
sive,
conclusions:
ts above are hot-considered conclu-
and the writer have come to the following
(A) In the-case of , she attains.a
deep SI very slow, but having once reached that
state is a very good subject and maintains the
deep trance state continually:
(B) In the case of ilier ability
to reach a deep SI tem�In cycles or
waves. At one time (as in the anesthetized
hand incident and hand clapping incident) she
reached, obviously, a'very deep SI state while
as in the incident of the laughter mentioned
above, she either came naturally out of the SI
condition or reached such alight state that
the activity around her broke her out of the
SI condition.
In addition, the writer believe that in
,
both subjects there Is some tendency toward "play acting" whi
was articularly noticeable in the early steps with
t gradually disappear as the work progresses
the tendency follows her pattern and comes and goes in
waves.
Further work is essential with these subjects an
ticularly necessary to work.experiments in which both
r& separated., �