The army’s interests, as summarized by ARi. included more efficient learning, improved motor skills, altered mental states, stress reduction, interpersonal influence, group cohesion, and certain parapsychological processes. More specifically, the army was considering the possibilities that learning could take place during sleep, that learning might be accelerated via packaged programs designed for that purpose, and that motor skills might be enhanced by guided imagery, mental practice, visual con- centration, and biofeedback. Further, it wished to pursue the possibility that mental states could be altered by self- induced hypnotism, meditation, focused concentration, or the integration of activity in the brain’s hemispheres, in order to promote periods of peak performance. The army was also interested in whether biofeedback and methods that purport to alter mental states might be use- ful in managing stress. Certain aspects of interpersonal and group processes were under examination as well, including whether group cohesion, which might be fostered by keeping army units intact, enhances group and individual performance.
Finally, the army had an interest in such parapsychological processes as remote viewing and psychokinesis, or mind over matter, especially mental influence on the functioning of remote machines.
