The Ganzfeld (uniform sensory field) is the protocol more used in Parapsychologie at the present time to study the Extrasensory perceptions, and more particularly the Télépathie. It was in particular developed by the parapsychologists Charles Honorton and Robert Morris.

Description of the protocol

The protocol proceeds so that: percipient is comfortably installed in an armchair, it has the closed eyes and carries an audio helmet emitting a white vibration. It describes what it perceives while an agent, located in another part, looks at a target (an image or a film in general) selected by chance.

Percipient must then classify four targets (the true target + three lures) according to their similarities with what it could see and feel at the time of the session of Ganzfeld. If it classifies in first position the initial target, it is a " hit" , in the other case, it is a " miss".

The protocol is thus overall the same one as that used for the experiments carrying on the telepathic Rêves except that the subject is not deadened, it is in a state second. Other modifications were made, in particular on the level of the targets which are for the majority dynamic (film extracts for example).

Results of Ganzfeld

With the passing of years, and of criticisms (in particular of skeptics, like Ray Hyman), the protocol was improved and automated in order to avoid any possible sensory escape. The results of Ganzfeld are however still prone to controversy today because:

- Following criticisms of Ray Hyman (a psychologist skeptic member of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry), the protocol was refined in order to avoid potential skews. It was reproduced by several laboratories and the results are considered to be very significant by the parapsychologists (one obtained then, on average, a success of 33,2% instead of the 25% awaited, is 1 million billion chance against 1 that this result is due randomly for the 762 sessions carried out).

- New experiments were then made by modifying the initial protocol. In certain cases, they did not lead to significant statistics. The results of the méta-analyzes (of the statistical analyzes which gather a great number of research) of Ganzfeld thus fell.

- Of Ganzfelds according to the charter of origin were reproduced and gave place again significant results leading consequently to new significant meta-analyzes. However, the problem of the selection of the data to carry out the méta-analyzes remains as underlines it the recent controversies on this subject.

Nearly 130 Ganzfeld were carried out and, each year, approximately five are led in laboratories of Parapsychologie, in particular at the university of Edinburgh, with an aim of varying various parameters like the nature of the targets, the influence of the feedback, the presence of an agent, etc

DEBATEs around Ganzfeld

Many debates took place around the results of Ganzfeld, in particular in reviews of psychology like Psychological Bulletin. The divergent opinion concerning the interpretation of the data obtained at the time of Ganzfeld. The skeptics consider that the results obtained by Ganzfeld methodology are disappointing, and do not prove the existence of Psi. The use of the Méta-analyzes S is highly criticized in this field, as being inadequate.

Selection of publications

• Dalton, K. (1997). Exploring the Links: Creativity and Psi in the Ganzfeld, Proceedings off the 40th Parapsychological Association convention, Brighton, the U.K.

• Morris, R.L., Cunningham, S., McAlpine, S. and Taylor, R. (1993). Towards replication and extension off autoganzfeld results, Proceedings off the 36th Parapsychological Association convention, Toronto, Canada.
• Bem, Daryl J. and Honorton, Charles (1994). Does Psi Exist? Replicable Obviousness for year Anomalous Process off Information Transfer, Psychological Bulletin, 115 (1): 4-18
• Milton, J. and Wiseman, R. (1999). Does Psi Exist? Lack off Replication off year Anomalous Process off Information Transfer, Psychological Bulletin, 125 (4): 387-391
• Milton, J. (1999). Should Ganzfeld Research Continue to Crucial Be in the Search for has Replicable Psi Effect? I. Discussion Paper and Introduction to year Electronic Mail Discussion leaves. Newspaper off Parapsychology, 63,309-335.
• Schmeidler, G.R. & Edge, H. (1999). Should Ganzfeld Research Continue to Crucial Be in the Search for has Replicable Psi Effect? Leaves II. Edited Ganzfeld Debate. Newspaper off Parapsychology, 63,335-388.
• Bem, D.J., Micrometer caliper, J. & Broughton, R.S. (2001). Updating the Ganzfeld database: With victim off its own success? Newspaper off Parapsychology, 65,207-218.
• Storm, L. (2000). Research Notes: Replicable Obviousness off Psi: With Revision off Milton' S (1999) Meta-analysis off the Ganzfeld Databases. Newspaper off Parapsychology, 64,411-416.
• Storm, L. & Ertel, S. (2001). Does Psi Exist? Comments one Milton and Wiseman' S (1999) Meta-Analysis off Ganzfeld Research. Psychological Bulletin, 127,424-433.
• Milton, J. & Wiseman, R. (2001). Does Psi Exist? Reply to Storm and Ertel (2001). Psychological Bulletin, 127,434-438.
• Bem, D.J, Micrometer caliper, J. and Broughton, R.S. (2001). Updating the Ganzfeld database: victim off its own success has? Newspaper off Parapsychology, 65,207-218.

External bonds

• Ganzfeld at laboratory PRL

• the debate on Ganzfeld
• '' Ganzfeld '' in Skeptic' S Dictionary