I know ESP is not technically related to the poltergeist phenomenon, but it does constitute evidence of some form of psychic energy. The Ganzfeld and Auto-Ganzfeld techniques are used under laboratory conditions to try and replicate ESP. Both techniques are relatively similar but basically three rooms are set up. In one the receiver sits in a comfortable room. In a second the sender sits down and watches a video clip/card appear and attempts to communicate what they see psychically to the receiver. In a third room an experimenter records what the receiver thinks the clip/card is-without knowing which clip/card is being shown to the sender. This eliminates bias on the part of the experimenter. There is a choice of 5 cards/clips which can be shown to the sender hence statistically the receiver should only have a 20% success rate if no psychic force exists.
Kathy Dalton (1997) used the Ganzfeld technique on 100 actors, musicians, artists etc. Overall there was a 47% success rate on behalf of the receiver. This is almost double what statistics demand should be the results, and, indeed, in the case of the musicians, the success rate was 56%. The chances of this happening by chance are 10 million-to-one.
This would be remarkable in itself, but the Dalton experiment was building on a long history of Ganzfeld and Auto-Ganzfeld experiments. For instance, 28 Ganzfeld experiments were conducted between 1974 and 1981. All together they have a mean success rate of 35%. There have also been 10 Auto-Ganzfeld experiments between 1983 and 1989. These recorded a 32% success rate for the receiver. Although these are less than the Dalton experiment, they are also quite a bit higher than the base line of 25%. That these kind of psychic experiences seem to have to do with the right hemisphere of the brain (Anthony Peak: Michael Persinger) could explain why those who are involved in the arts (who show more right hemisphere activity) record higher readings.
A 2001 study into the validity of the Ganzfeld techniques found them a valid and scientific method.
Added to this scientific method is the statistic that around 50% of the population will, at some point in their life, have an experience which can be described as ESP.
There I think that covers both padriac's and Adrian's comments. Scientific, repeatable studies into psychic phenomenon. I changed from the case study because, obviously, it was a field study hence could not be replicated in the laboratory-like most field studies; they sacrifice scientific validity for ecological validity.
Kathy Dalton (1997) used the Ganzfeld technique on 100 actors, musicians, artists etc. Overall there was a 47% success rate on behalf of the receiver. This is almost double what statistics demand should be the results, and, indeed, in the case of the musicians, the success rate was 56%. The chances of this happening by chance are 10 million-to-one.
This would be remarkable in itself, but the Dalton experiment was building on a long history of Ganzfeld and Auto-Ganzfeld experiments. For instance, 28 Ganzfeld experiments were conducted between 1974 and 1981. All together they have a mean success rate of 35%. There have also been 10 Auto-Ganzfeld experiments between 1983 and 1989. These recorded a 32% success rate for the receiver. Although these are less than the Dalton experiment, they are also quite a bit higher than the base line of 25%. That these kind of psychic experiences seem to have to do with the right hemisphere of the brain (Anthony Peak: Michael Persinger) could explain why those who are involved in the arts (who show more right hemisphere activity) record higher readings.
A 2001 study into the validity of the Ganzfeld techniques found them a valid and scientific method.
Added to this scientific method is the statistic that around 50% of the population will, at some point in their life, have an experience which can be described as ESP.
There I think that covers both padriac's and Adrian's comments. Scientific, repeatable studies into psychic phenomenon. I changed from the case study because, obviously, it was a field study hence could not be replicated in the laboratory-like most field studies; they sacrifice scientific validity for ecological validity.
