Dr. Bryan Farha, director of the applied behavioral studies graduate program, recently directed an experiment for the Independent Investigations Group. The experiment involved a man who claimed he could change the brightness of a light bulb with his mind.
“I am a member of the Independent Investigations Group at large,” Farha said. “Since the applicant was here in Tulsa, they asked me to do it.”
The group’s goal is to promote skepticism and to test the claims of people who have special abilities, according to their website, iighq.org. Abilities range from telekinesis to telepathy.
People have submitted to their IIG $100,000 Challenge, a contest wherein, if a participant proves his or her abilities, he or she can win $100,000. Part of Farha’s job is to test the claims of applicants.
The subject did not pass the test.
“He did not even come close to passing,” Farha said.
The experiment involved the subject looking at a light bulb with a Sekonic L-758 light meter attached to it. If the meter had increased or decreased above or below 11.2 EV, his claim would have been proven. The subject signed a contract claiming he would make it increase or decrease by 3 EV for 10 out of 15 trials, but he didn’t move it plus or minus one.
“He said that, when he was at home or work, he could do it when he concentrated,” Farha said. “We asked him how old the building he worked in was, so I think he was misinterpreting poor wiring as psychic ability.”
To control the testing, the light bulb had an uninterruptible power supply to assure that if any changes in brightness occurred, it would be due to psychic ability.
“He truly believed he had psychic abilities,” Farha said. “He realized at the end he didn’t. If he had passed that and then duplicated it, he would have won $100,000.”
Farha said, for now, the case is closed.
“The subject says that he is going to apply next year, but I don’t think he’s going to,” Farha said.
The group’s next potential experiment involved someone who claims telepathic abilities, but the subject backed out at the last minute.
“We had the protocol done and everything and he backed out,” Farha said. “He said he would try later, but I said that I’m not going back now, he’s going to have to come here.”
Other students have shown interest in what happened.
“I’m personally fascinated by paranormal stuff,” said Callie Michaud, design and production senior. “I find it really interesting and strange that a professor is actually taking part in something relating to it, since, usually, intellectuals reject the idea of the paranormal.”
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