Does consciousness influence quantum systems (double-slit PK)?
Quick Summary
A series of experiments, primarily from Dean Radin's lab at IONS, claims that human conscious observation or intention can influence the interference pattern in a double-slit optical system β a quantum-level psychokinesis (PK) effect.
If real, this would link consciousness directly to quantum measurement processes.
Current Consensus
The double-slit PK paradigm is one of the most provocative claims in psi research because it directly implicates consciousness in quantum mechanics. Radin's lab has published a steady series of results spanning over a decade (2012-2025), though the 2021 report is notable for having a null planned analysis with only exploratory post hoc analyses showing positive results. Independent pre-registered replications outside IONS (Maier 2018, 2020) have generally found null results. The Walleczek & von Stillfried (2019, 2020) AMP-based replication found a significant false-positive effect in a control condition but null results for Radin's predicted true-positive conditions, and documented HARKing in Radin et al.'s response β raising concerns about the reliability of the entire paradigm's statistical claims. Tremblay (2019) independently re-analyzed Radin's 2-year dataset and identified a critical statistical error (trimming before bootstrapping) that inflated significance by ~5 orders of magnitude (claimed p=10β»βΈ, actual p>0.05 after proper correction). Critics point to the lack of successful independent replication, the reliance on post hoc metrics, Jeffers' null results, and now documented statistical errors and false positives. Proponents counter that the protocol requires specific expertise and that Radin's series shows internal consistency across multiple metrics. The broader mind-matter meta-analysis (Bosch 2006) does not specifically address the double-slit paradigm but casts doubt on the wider class of PK effects. This controversy remains unresolved and is likely to intensify as more labs attempt the protocol.
Evidence Breakdown
Based on 30 papersSupporting Evidence
A Gas Discharge Device for Investigating Focussed Human Attention
Tiller (1990) -- Gas discharge cell operated below breakdown voltage at Stanford; ~50 subjects tested over 3 years (1977-1979) in several thousand tests; nearly all produced enhanced electron micro...
The Strange Properties of Psychokinesis
Schmidt (1987) -- Foundational theoretical-experimental paper articulating the 'weak violation' hypothesis (PK affects only quantum-indeterminate outcomes) and 'equivalence' hypothesis (all random ...
Consciousness and the Double-Slit Interference Pattern: Six Experiments
Radin et al. (2012) -- "Consciousness and the Double-Slit Interference Pattern" reports statistically significant shifts in fringe visibility correlated with observer intention
*[Radin et al. (2019) β referenced as `radin_2019_double_slit` in this controversy but NOT in the catalog β a phantom entry. Likely a Physics Essays paper in the double-slit series. Track down and ...
*[Radin et al. (2019) β referenced as `radin_2019_double_slit` in this controversy but NOT in the catalog β a phantom entry. Likely a Physics Essays paper in the double-slit series. Track down and ...
Paper not yet added to catalog
Psychophysical Modulation of Fringe Visibility in a Distant Double-Slit Optical System
Radin, Michel & Delorme (2016) -- Online double-slit experiment with 1,479 participants from 77 countries contributing 2,985 sessions over 2013-2014. Combined analysis: z = 5.72, p = 1.05 x 10^-8; ...
Psychophysical Effects on an Interference Pattern in a Double-Slit Optical System: An Exploratory Analysis of Variance
Radin & Delorme (2022) -- Exploratory reanalysis of a two-year online double-slit experiment (8,294 sessions: 2,825 human, 5,469 robot). The original directional hypothesis was not confirmed by Tre...
Psychophysical Interactions with Electrical Plasma: Three Exploratory Experiments
Radin & Anastasia (2022) -- Three experiments testing directional intention on ionized plasma streams in a sealed EM-shielded chamber (optical-fibre USB isolation). NOTE: this is a *plasma globe* p...
Psychophysical Interactions with a Double-Slit Interference Pattern: Exploratory Evidence of a Causal Influence
Radin, Wahbeh, Michel & Delorme (2021) -- Previously unreported 2012-2013 double-slit experiment (N=25, 250 sessions in shielded chamber at IONS). The planned analysis found no significant effect a...
Commentary: False-Positive Effect in the Radin Double-Slit Experiment on Observer Consciousness as Determined With the Advanced Meta-Experimental Protocol
Radin, Wahbeh, Michel & Delorme (2020) -- Commentary rebutting Walleczek & von Stillfried (2019): argues their false-positive claim was invalid because eight non-overlapping comparisons required mu...
Observer Influence on Quantum Interference: Testing the von Neumann-Wigner Consciousness-Collapse Theory
Radin (2025) -- Preregistered 47-participant diffraction grating experiment with custom-built at-home interferometers; three primary hypotheses not supported overall, but exploratory trend analysis...
Testing Nonlocal Observation as a Source of Intuitive Knowledge
Radin (2008) -- "Testing Nonlocal Observation as a Source of Intuitive Knowledge" β pilot Michelson interferometer experiment in double-steel-walled shielded chamber; 18 sessions with 10 participan...
Quantum Aspects of the Brain-Mind Relationship: A Hypothesis with Supporting Evidence
Kauffman & Radin (2023) -- Proposes a quantum-mind theoretical framework (Res potentia / Res extensa) that predicts consciousness-mediated effects on physical systems; reviews the double-slit serie...
Effects of Frontal Lobe Lesions on Intentionality and Random Physical Phenomena
Freedman, Jeffers, Saeger et al. (2003) -- "Effects of Frontal Lobe Lesions on Intentionality and Random Physical Phenomena" tests PEAR claims using patients with frontal lobe damage (hypothesized ...
Mind-Matter Interactions and the Frontal Lobes of the Brain: A Novel Neurobiological Model of Psi Inhibition
Freedman, Binns, Gao et al. (2018) -- "Mind-Matter Interactions and the Frontal Lobes of the Brain" proposes neurobiological model where frontal lobes (medial middle frontal region, Brodmann areas ...
Does Consciousness Collapse the Wave-Packet?
Bierman (2003) -- Conceptual replication of Hall et al. (1977) testing whether conscious observation collapses the quantum wave-packet. EEG recorded from 30 final observers while a pre-observer ran...
Reexamining Psychokinesis: Commentary on the BΓΆsch, Steinkamp and Boller Meta-Analysis
Radin, Nelson, Dobyns & Houtkooper (2006) -- Point-by-point rebuttal of BΓΆsch et al. (2006) in *Psychological Bulletin*; argues the core assumption that PK effect size is independent of sample size...
A Faulty PK Meta-Analysis
Kugel (2011) -- "A Faulty PK Meta-Analysis" provides the most detailed critique of BSB (2006): demonstrates BSB included ~40 ESP studies in their PK database, fabricated z-scores from misinterprete...
Critical Evidence
Mind/Machine Interaction Consortium: PortREG Replication Experiments
Jahn et al. (2000) -- Three-laboratory consortium (PEAR/Princeton, FAMMI/Freiburg, GARP/Giessen) attempted to replicate PEAR's 12-year REG database using identical PortREG equipment and tripolar pr...
Examining Psychokinesis: The Interaction of Human Intention With Random Number GeneratorsβA Meta-Analysis
BΓΆsch, Steinkamp & Boller (2006) -- Meta-analysis of 380 RNG-PK studies (1959-2004) finds a significant but extremely small overall effect (REM: Ο = .500286, z = 4.08 excl. 3 outliers), but a stron...
Searching for the Impossible: Parapsychology's Elusive Quest
Reber & Alcock (2019) -- "Searching for the Impossible" argues that psi effects, including quantum-mind interactions, violate fundamental physical principles and positive results must reflect metho...
Intentional Observer Effects on Quantum Randomness: A Bayesian Analysis Reveals Evidence Against Micro-Psychokinesis
Maier, Dechamps & Pflitsch (2018) -- Online experiment with 12,571 participants using Bayesian sequential testing found strong evidence for the null hypothesis (BF01=10.07; M=50.02% vs. 50% chance)...
Observer Effects on Quantum Randomness: Testing Micro-Psychokinetic Effects of Smokers on Addiction-Related Stimuli
Maier & Dechamps (2018) -- "Observer Effects on Quantum Randomness: Testing Micro-Psychokinetic Effects of Smokers on Addiction-Related Stimuli" tested unconscious desire (cigarette addiction) as m...
A Preregistered Multi-Lab Replication of Maier et al. (2014, Exp. 4) Testing Retroactive Avoidance
Maier & Dechamps (2020) -- Another pre-registered mind-matter study reporting null results
Boesch (2019) -- Online RNG experiment with large sample finds no psychokinetic effect
Boesch (2019) -- Online RNG experiment with large sample finds no psychokinetic effect
Paper not yet added to catalog
A Double-Slit Diffraction Experiment to Investigate Claims of Consciousness-Related Anomalies
Ibison & Jeffers (1998) -- Two-site Young's double-slit experiment (York University: 74 series; Princeton PEAR: 20 series). York result: Z = β0.481 (null), though secondary analysis showed variance...
Give the Null Hypothesis a Chance: Reasons to Remain Doubtful about the Existence of Psi
Alcock (2003) -- "Give the Null Hypothesis a Chance" discusses Jeffers' null double-slit experiments at York University (now cataloged as ibison_jeffers_1998_double_slit) as evidence that conscious...
False-Positive Effect in the Radin Double-Slit Experiment on Observer Consciousness as Determined with the Advanced Meta-Experimental Protocol
Walleczek & von Stillfried (2019) -- Commissioned conceptual replication of the Radin DS-experiment using the Advanced Meta-Experimental Protocol (AMP): 10,000 test trials with pre-specified blinde...
Response: Commentary: False-Positive Effect in the Radin Double-Slit Experiment on Observer Consciousness as Determined With the Advanced Meta-Experimental Protocol
Walleczek & von Stillfried (2020) -- Response commentary documenting two instances of HARKing by Radin et al. in their defense of the double-slit experiment: a chi-square test falsely claimed as pr...
On the Double-Slit Experiment of Dean Radin
PitkΓ€nen (2017) -- Theoretical commentary raising experimenter effect concern: if mental intention can influence physical systems, experimenters' subconscious desires for positive results could pro...
Independent re-analysis of alleged mind-matter interaction in double-slit experimental data
Tremblay (2019) -- Independent re-analysis of Radin et al.'s 2-year double-slit dataset (8,655 sessions) identifies erroneous trimming procedure (trimming before bootstrapping instead of after) tha...