Abstract

Two sets of experiments investigated the relationship between ESP and memory. In the exploratory series, involving 6 high school classes and 1 college class (150 Ss), Ss memorized a list of paired associates. A pair was composed of a nonsense trigram and 1 of 10 meaningful words. Ss were then presented with the trigrams and tried to recall the associated words. Randomly mixed with these 25 familiar trigrams were 25 nonsense syllables whose correct associates could be known only through ESP. The possible ESP responses were the same 10 words used in the memory task. In the 3rd portion of the session, S ranked each of the 10 meaningful words against the other 9 in terms of how closely associated they were felt to be. Two null hypotheses were stated in advance: (a) that there would be no significant relationship between Ss' memory scores and ESP scores, and (b) that there would be no significant relationship between the mean association rank scores of psi-hitters and psi-missers on their unsuccessful ESP trials. Data provide no basis for rejecting the 1st hypothesis. Results bearing on the 2nd hypothesis show that in 2 of the 7 classes tested, the difference between mean association rank scores of hitters and missers was significant, with the hitters tending to respond on their incorrect trials with words closer in their association to the correct target. Pooled results of the 7 classes also showed a significant difference. The 2nd set of experiments, similar to the 1st, was carried out with 7 high school classes (118 Ss). Results are in the predicted direction but are not significant. (23 ref)