ANOMALOUS SWITCHING OF THE BISTABLE PERCEPT OF A

ANOMALOUS SWITCHING OF THE BISTABLE PERCEPT OF A NECKER CUBE Dick J. Bierman University of Amsterdam

Psi • Are correlations that seem to transcend space or time or both and have no normal causal explanation. (‘information transfer’ or ‘signals’ is an interpretation) • Correlation of conscious cognitive state with future (random) condition = precognition • Correlations of non conscious (often physiological) states with future (emotional) condition = presentiment

Presentiment research advantages – Uses experimental set up, identical with main stream set ups. Allows for integrated research. – Subjects can be uninformed. Are not asked to do the ‘impossible’ (this is possible ; -) – Presentiment is well explained by a theory (Consciousness Induced Restoration of Time symmetry).

Physics & CIRTS • Physical formalisms (set of differential equations) generate generally time-symmetric solutions (called ‘retarded’ and ‘advanced’ solution) • Solutions are determined by initial conditions • Solutions are also determined by ‘boundary conditions’. That’s why we don’t see ‘advanced’ wave (Feynman, Wheeler) • CIRTS: Boundary condition of ’information dissipated in coherent brain sustaining consciousness’ restores the time symmetry • Physics is not changed to accommodate the paranormal.

Signals? • The big Rhinean interpretation error: – ESP = scanning for relevant signals • Requires unlimited information processing capacity and cannot be true • CIRTS: – ESP = time symmetry of ‘information’ available in the future. • Requires twice the ‘normal’ information processing capacity • Adds correlations not signals! (advanced & retarded wave are correlated)

The role of emotion • (Reported) Spontaneous cases have always an emotional significance. • Presentiment deals by definition with (future) emotions • However CIRTS is a physical theory, emotions shouldn’t be crucial.

Necker Cube Transparent Bi stable views 8

The Necker Cube experiment • Is a well accepted main stream paradigm, especially in consciousness research • The subjects do not know that they participate in a psi experiment • Does not involve emotions • Fits into a series of time symmetric but main stream based experiments (like retro-active priming (de Boer), retroactive habituation (Bem), etc)

The Necker Cube experiment 2 future conditions Top view is experienced Change into opaque Top or Bottom view Top view duration First Second button press time 10

Prediction • The later random manipulation will have an effect on the earlier top-view duration. • More specifically: when a non-transparent bottom view is displayed the top-view duration will be shorter. • We call this: RETRO-ACTIVE INTERFERENCE

Method • Set-up – Pilot – 2 independent replications (Amsterdam & Groningen) • Subjects – Pilot & Groningen: Psychology students (mean age: 23) – Amsterdam: Long term yoga & controls (mean age: 41) • Procedure – Computerized instruction. Also for experimenters! – Possibility to disregard a trial.

Analysis • Pilot is considered exploratory • Determines the parameters – For Outliers – For Disregarded subjects (too many outliers) • Simple student t-test (confirmed by random permutation test)