Experiments exploring causal versus retrocausal models of mind-matter interaction

Principal Investigator: Dean Radin PhD

Affiliations: Senior Scientist, Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma CA

Background: Despite the growing body of experimental and clinical evidence for the efficacy of distant healing and associated mind-matter interactions, the mechanisms underlying such effects have defied conventional explanations. This suggests that unconventional explanations may be required. One such proposal is that mind-matter phenomena are due to retrocausal effects or processes that run backwards in time. Data from both laboratory and clinical experiments exist that support this idea. The focus of this research application is to advance the understanding of this phenomenon by investigating retrocausal versus causal models and their boundaries.

Hypotheses: Mind-matter interaction effects on random number generator outputs are better accounted for by retrocausal (backward-in-time) rather than causal (forward-in-time) processes.

Methods and materials: The participant presses a button with the intention of producing a sound. After the button is pushed, three random decisions are made by a random event generator. If the last transition results in a 1, a sound is played. This task will be performed a total of 50-150 times per subject. To differentiate forward-in-time versus backwards-in-time events, the author has created models using a Markov chain experimental design with statistical tests to evaluate various theoretical and actual graphic representations of cumulative hit rates, odds again chance and bias for specific loci of probability.