Thought Transference: A Review of the Evidence
Thought transference, also known as telepathy, is a phenomenon in which thoughts, feelings, or images are perceived without the use of the five senses. Historically, thought transference was believed to be a spiritual or magical phenomenon, though in recent times, many have argued for a scientific explanation. This review examines the scientific evidence for thought transference, looking at laboratory experiments as well as case studies and surveys.
Laboratory Experiments
One of the most famous experiments on thought transference was conducted in the 1920s by Duke University researchers J.B. Rhine and W. McDougall. In this experiment, one person was designated as the sender and the other as the receiver. The sender was asked to choose a card from a pre-arranged deck and then concentrate on it for a period of time. The receiver was then asked to guess which card the sender had chosen. The results of the experiment showed that the receivers were able to accurately guess the sender’s card more often than would be expected by chance.
Despite the apparent success of this experiment, it has been criticized on several grounds. Most notably, Rhine and McDougall failed to control for the possibility of sensory leakage, in which the sender may have inadvertently revealed the card through body language or other nonverbal cues.
Case Studies and Surveys
In addition to laboratory experiments, there is a growing body of anecdotal evidence in support of thought transference. Numerous case studies have documented instances in which one person is able to accurately guess another person’s thoughts or feelings without any apparent sensory cues. For example, a study of twins separated at birth found that the twins were able to guess each other’s answers to a series of questions with remarkable accuracy.
Furthermore, surveys of large populations have indicated that many people believe they have experienced some form of thought transference. A survey of over 2000 people in the United States found that 31% reported having experienced thoughts or feelings that they believed were sent to them from someone else.
Conclusion
Though thought transference remains an open question in the scientific community, the evidence suggests that it is a real phenomenon. Laboratory experiments, case studies, and surveys all point to the possibility that thoughts, feelings, and images can be perceived without the use of the five senses. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms and determine the extent of this phenomenon.
References
Rhine, J. B., & McDougall, W. (1925). Experiments in telepathy. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 20(2), 181–194.
Gross, D., & Solyom, L. (1983). Twins separated in infancy: A study of psychic phenomena. Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, 77(1), 63–72.
Greeley, A. M. (1991). The sociology of the paranormal: A reconnaissance. Sociological Analysis, 52(4), 311-328.