Abstract

PK efforts by 1 S on 2 kinds of prerecorded time intervals were compared. One kind was provided by the durations of successive breathing cycles of a human S. The other kind was computer generated, with the help of a true random number generator, such as to match the breathing cycles with regard to average length and variance. After the prerecording of the interval lengths, each interval received a random target assignment, long or short, specifying the direction of the PK effort. An audio feedback had a built-in inversion provision, however, so that the S listened to tones of varying durations with the goal of always extending the durations of the tones. The S succeeded in this task by purposeful PK missing by means of getting mentally and physically tense and then desperately attempting to shorten the tone intervals. With both kinds of intervals 20 sessions were held, each session containing 40 time intervals. The S could not consciously distinguish between the 2 kinds!. The PK-effect on the actual breathing intervals was significant. The scoring on the other intervals was lower, but the difference was not statistically significant.