Principal Investigators: Wayne B. Jonas, MD; Cindy Crawford,
BA; Roger Nelson, PhD; Mietek
Wirkus; Margaret Wirkus
Affiliation: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Background: Entropy is a measure of disorder in a physical system. One
way to measure the impact of intention and consciousness is to demonstrate
deviation from randomly occurring order (or entropy). Deviations from normal
Random Event Generator measurements have been shown to occur under the
influence of human intention and consciousness.
Hypotheses: Changes to randomness in any system can be considered as
evidence of meaningful interventions. This series of experiments will test
whether experienced healers produce greater deviation from randomness than
control subjects.
Method and Materials: This program uses a Random Event Generator (REG)
deviations in various therapeutic encounters occurring in a bioenergy healer’s
office, a conventional clinical office, and a surgical suite. In addition, the
correlation of REG deviation to symptom improvement in patients will be
examined.
Anticipated results: Statistically significant measurements of a
healer’s impact on entropy can be used as empirical evidence that
consciousness can affect physical systems, even though the mechanism of impact
is not presently understood in physical terms.
Relationship to SIIB mission and healing: Empirical studies like this
are needed to confirm numerous outcome studies and measure healing and placebo
effects in basic research and clinical situations. Measurement of changes in
entropy during placebo and psychological interventions can lead to mechanisms
for measuring the effectiveness of various healing techniques and
practitioners.
