Human biofield and intention detection: individual differences.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a battery of biofield awareness tasks that address bioelectromagnetic and consciousness related mechanisms of action, and examine individual differences in integrative biofield awareness (IBA).


METHODS
Six (6) biofield awareness tasks were designed: 2 involved the experimenter placing his or her hands near the subject, 2 involved intense staring with associated eye movements approximately 3' from the subject, and 2 involved gentle intention with virtually no movement. Each task required a binary response from the subject. There were 10 trials per task for a total of 60 trials; blocks of 6 trials contained one of each task. Subjects were 165 undergraduate psychology students at the University of Arizona Tucson, AZ. Subjects were also assessed on their awareness of their own biofields, and they filled out various questionnaires, including estimates of how well they thought they would do and their openness to spiritual beliefs and experiences.


RESULTS
Percent IBA accuracy for the entire sample (n = 165) was 57.7 +/- 10.3% and was significantly above chance (50%) performance (t = 9.58, p < 0.0000001). Each of the 6 tasks was individually significant. Subjects significantly (t = -2.72; p < 0.007) underestimated their IBA performance below chance (mean, 46.1 +/- 18.4%). However, higher estimates predicted higher IBA (r = 0.26, n = 164, p < 0.0008). Measures of subjects' self-awareness of their own biofields, as well as belief in, and experience of, extrasensory perception (ESP) also predicted higher IBA.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings support claims of energy healers that biofield awareness can be modulated both bioelectromagnetically (locally) and via conscious intent (distally), and that individual differences in biofield awareness are related to self-awareness and sensitivity to others.
Nelson
Lonnie A
LA
Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0068, USA.
Schwartz
Gary E
GE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001130:Arizona; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D003243:Consciousness; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008602:Mental Healing; D008875:Middle Aged; D012881:Skin Temperature; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology