Evidence for Anomalistic Correlations Between Human Behavior and a Random Event Generator: Result of an Independent Replication of a Micro-PK Experiment
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Plain English Summary
Can your mind nudge a random number generator? This study sat 244 people before a fractal display driven by an electronic coin-flipper and asked them to mentally steer it. Researchers built a grid comparing physical variables (machine behavior) with psychological ones (participant experience). In real experiments, way more surprising correlations appeared than in controls — 307 versus ~200 expected by chance (p = .0177). The twist: researchers do not claim anyone pushed electrons with their mind. They suggest something weirder — minds and random machines becoming linked in a spooky, entanglement-like way without direct causation. The catch? This only appeared using a bigger analysis grid than originally planned; the original smaller grid failed to replicate. That post-hoc change is a real asterisk on an otherwise intriguing finding.
Research Notes
Fifth replication of von Lucadou's matrix-correlation micro-PK paradigm, reframing psi as non-causal systemic correlations analogous to quantum entanglement. The post-hoc change from the pre-registered analysis and failure to replicate the original smaller matrix temper the positive finding. Speaks directly to Controversy #8 (GCP/RNG) and the broader replication debate.
An independent replication of a micro-psychokinesis experiment tested whether anomalous correlations arise between human operator behavior and a Zener-diode random number generator. 244 participants (503 valid experiments) interacted with an RNG-driven fractal display using shift keys while intending to direct its movement. A 45×45 Spearman correlation matrix crossing five physical and five psychological variables per subrun was compared between experimental and matched control runs via a 10,000-iteration permutation test. The experimental matrix contained 307 significant correlations (p < .1 two-sided) versus 200 in controls (chance expectation ~203), yielding p = .0177. Significance held across stricter thresholds and for the 27×45 matrix but not for the original 18×27 matrix. The authors interpret results as supporting non-causal entanglement-like correlations rather than direct psychokinetic influence.
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Cites
- Examining Psychokinesis: The Interaction of Human Intention With Random Number Generators—A Meta-Analysis — Bösch, Holger (2006)
- Feeling the Future: Experimental Evidence for Anomalous Retroactive Influences on Cognition and Affect — Bem, Daryl J (2011)
- Feeling the Future: A Meta-Analysis of 90 Experiments on the Anomalous Anticipation of Random Future Events — Bem, Daryl J (2015)
- Why Most Published Research Findings Are False — Ioannidis, John P.A (2005)
- Why Psychologists Must Change the Way They Analyze Their Data: The Case of Psi — Wagenmakers, Eric-Jan (2011)
- Failing the Future: Three Unsuccessful Attempts to Replicate Bem's 'Retroactive Facilitation of Recall' Effect — Ritchie, Stuart J (2012)
- Correlations of Continuous Random Data with Major World Events — Nelson, Roger D (2002)
- Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence: The Case of Non-Local Perception, A Classical and Bayesian Review of Evidences — Tressoldi, Patrizio E (2011)
- Give the Null Hypothesis a Chance: Reasons to Remain Doubtful about the Existence of Psi — Alcock, James E (2003)
- A Call for an Open, Informed Study of All Aspects of Consciousness — Cardeña, Etzel (2014)
Same Research Program
- Parapsychological Phenomena as Examples of Generalized Nonlocal Correlations—A Theoretical Framework — Walach, Harald (2014)
- Synchronistic Phenomena as Entanglement Correlations in Generalized Quantum Theory — von Lucadou, Walter (2007)
- Weak Quantum Theory: Complementarity and Entanglement in Physics and Beyond — Atmanspacher, Harald (2002)
Also by these authors
Inner Experience – Direct Access to Reality: A Complementarist Ontology and Dual Aspect Monism Support a Broader Epistemology
Do You Know Who Is Calling? Experiments on Anomalous Cognition in Phone Call Receivers
Distant intentionality and the feeling of being stared at: Two meta-analyses
More in Psychokinesis
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New Year's Eve as a Case Study in Experimental Metaphysics: Exploring Global Consciousness in Random Physical Systems
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Psychophysical Interactions with Electrical Plasma: Three Exploratory Experiments
Psychophysical Effects on an Interference Pattern in a Double-Slit Optical System: An Exploratory Analysis of Variance
📋 Cite this paper
Walach, Harald, Horan, Majella, Hinterberger, Thilo, von Lucadou, Walter (2020). Evidence for Anomalistic Correlations Between Human Behavior and a Random Event Generator: Result of an Independent Replication of a Micro-PK Experiment. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1037/cns0000199
@article{walach_2020_evidence,
title = {Evidence for Anomalistic Correlations Between Human Behavior and a Random Event Generator: Result of an Independent Replication of a Micro-PK Experiment},
author = {Walach, Harald and Horan, Majella and Hinterberger, Thilo and von Lucadou, Walter},
year = {2020},
journal = {Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice},
doi = {10.1037/cns0000199},
}