Dear Dr. Van Nuys. In "The Secret Life of Plants" by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird (p. 57--58). I read that Dr. and Mrs. Hashimoto "talked" to their cactus by means of a modified lie-detector device. They were even able to teach the cactus to count and add. Is anyone in this area carrying on experiments of this type? My husband and I would love to see a demonstration. - D.K.A., Whitehall, Pa. The current excitement about plant communication dates back to 1966 when Clive Backster, a New York lie-detector expert, decided on Impulse to see if he could monitor the water-intake of one of his office plants. Among other things, a lie detector measures changes in the electrical resistance of the skin, known as galvanic skin response (GSR). Backster reasoned that, by attaching the GSR electrodes to a leaf of his dracena, he might be able to detect the arrival of water in the leaf through changes in its resistance. But nothing happened. He tried dipping the leaf in his cup of hot coffee. Still nothing happened. Frustrated, he thought he'd try a more extreme stimulus. He'd burn it with a match. At the same instant of his intention to burn the plant, the tracing-pen of his chart-recorder went wild. The plant suddenly showed a large shift in resistance, apparently in response to a thought. This observation led Backster to months of testing, on 25 different varieties of plants. He went to elaborate extremes to rule out all other possible influencing factors. Nevertheless the plants still seemed to respond to thoughts about harm or mutilation. This led Backster to pose what he calls "primary perception" he believes that plants possess a mode of communication more primitive and direct than human sensory perception. He even suggests that all living cells, not only those of plants, may have the ability to communicate directly with one another. Backster's work is controversial. Not only does it stretch conventional credulity but, more seriously, scientific researchers in other laboratories by and large have not been able to replicate his results. This difficulty did not Impede Tompkins and Bird in writing their sensationalized bestseller. While provocative and interesting, such journalistic accounts should not be taken too seriously, since they tend to seize upon and inflate every positive glimmer while glossing over any critical limitation. Two of my former students, Randall Fontes and Bob Swanson, have been working on the "primary perception effect" in plants for several years and, to my mind, they are probably doing the most advanced and sophisticated work In the country. Their early work is mentioned in "The Secret Life of Plants." Fontes and Swanson recently completed a study which they feel will provide the first solid evidence of "primary perception." Their tightly controlled experiment Involved showing emotionally arousing slides to volunteer subjects, while monitoring the GSR of the subject and a nearby houseplant. When a male subject is shown a slide of a female nude, the large fluctuation In his GSR betrays emotional arousal. Would a nearby plant show a similar and simultaneous fluctuation? The experimental design allowed Fontes and Swanson to approach their data objectively, since all they had to do was compare the GSR record of the plant with the GSR record of the human subject. They were not able to find a consistent one-to-one relationship between the responses of human subjects and plants but in 20 per cent of the subjects studied they did find a significant correlation between the subjects' GSR and the plant's GSR. Not as dramatic as had been hoped for, but this result may provide the first really solid evidence for "primary perception," since the experiment is set up in such a way that Fontes and Swanson feel certain other laboratories will be able to replicate It. I asked Fontes and Swanson about the Hashimotos and their "whiz-kid" cactus. They told me they had seen video tapes of the couple and their cactus and were not one bit impressed. They didn't feel the Hashimotos brought the least bit of scientific rigor or objectivity to their observations. According to my friends, it was something like the "talking dog" you can see on the Johnny Carson Show. However, you will soon have an opportunity to see these things for yourself. In the near future, a feature length film of "The Secret Life of Plants" which will be released which will feature the work of my friends, Fontes and Swanson, as well as that of the Hashimotos and others. In the meantime, why not try your own experimentation? A recent issue of Popular Electronics described a simple build-it-yourself GSR circuit for the express purpose of tapping the brainpower of plants. Let me know what happens. David Van Nuys, Ph. D. Clinical Psychologist Psychology Department Sonoma State University
Dear Dr. Van Nuys.
In "The Secret Life of Plants" by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird (p. 57--58). I read that Dr. and Mrs. Hashimoto "talked" to their cactus by means of a modified lie-detector device. They were even able to teach the cactus to count and add.
Is anyone in this area carrying on experiments of this type? My husband and I would love to see a demonstration. - D.K.A., Whitehall, Pa.
The current excitement about plant communication dates back to 1966 when Clive Backster, a New York lie-detector expert, decided on Impulse to see if he could monitor the water-intake of one of his office plants.
Among other things, a lie detector measures changes in the electrical resistance of the skin, known as galvanic skin response (GSR). Backster reasoned that, by attaching the GSR electrodes to a leaf of his dracena, he might be able to detect the arrival of water in the leaf through changes in its resistance. But nothing happened.
He tried dipping the leaf in his cup of hot coffee. Still nothing happened. Frustrated, he thought he'd try a more extreme stimulus. He'd burn it with a match. At the same instant of his intention to burn the plant, the tracing-pen of his chart-recorder went wild. The plant suddenly showed a large shift in resistance, apparently in response to a thought.
This observation led Backster to months of testing, on 25 different varieties of plants. He went to elaborate extremes to rule out all other possible influencing factors. Nevertheless the plants still seemed to respond to thoughts about harm or mutilation. This led Backster to pose what he calls "primary perception" he believes that plants possess a mode of communication more primitive and direct than human sensory perception. He even suggests that all living cells, not only those of plants, may have the ability to communicate directly with one another.
Backster's work is controversial. Not only does it stretch conventional credulity but, more seriously, scientific researchers in other laboratories by and large have not been able to replicate his results.
This difficulty did not Impede Tompkins and Bird in writing their sensationalized bestseller. While provocative and interesting, such journalistic accounts should not be taken too seriously, since they tend to seize upon and inflate every positive glimmer while glossing over any critical limitation.
Two of my former students, Randall Fontes and Bob Swanson, have been working on the "primary perception effect" in plants for several years and, to my mind, they are probably doing the most advanced and sophisticated work In the country. Their early work is mentioned in "The Secret Life of Plants."
Fontes and Swanson recently completed a study which they feel will provide the first solid evidence of "primary perception." Their tightly controlled experiment Involved showing emotionally arousing slides to volunteer subjects, while monitoring the GSR of the subject and a nearby houseplant.
When a male subject is shown a slide of a female nude, the large fluctuation In his GSR betrays emotional arousal. Would a nearby plant show a similar and simultaneous fluctuation? The experimental design allowed Fontes and Swanson to approach their data objectively, since all they had to do was compare the GSR record of the plant with the GSR record of the human subject.
They were not able to find a consistent one-to-one relationship between the responses of human subjects and plants but in 20 per cent of the subjects studied they did find a significant correlation between the subjects' GSR and the plant's GSR. Not as dramatic as had been hoped for, but this result may provide the first really solid evidence for "primary perception," since the experiment is set up in such a way that Fontes and Swanson feel certain other laboratories will be able to replicate It.
I asked Fontes and Swanson about the Hashimotos and their "whiz-kid" cactus. They told me they had seen video tapes of the couple and their cactus and were not one bit impressed. They didn't feel the Hashimotos brought the least bit of scientific rigor or objectivity to their observations. According to my friends, it was something like the "talking dog" you can see on the Johnny Carson Show.
However, you will soon have an opportunity to see these things for yourself. In the near future, a feature length film of "The Secret Life of Plants" which will be released which will feature the work of my friends, Fontes and Swanson, as well as that of the Hashimotos and others.
In the meantime, why not try your own experimentation? A recent issue of Popular Electronics described a simple build-it-yourself GSR circuit for the express purpose of tapping the brainpower of plants. Let me know what happens.
David Van Nuys, Ph. D. Clinical Psychologist Psychology Department Sonoma State University
CIA-Initiated U.S. Government program to investigate paranormal abilities; code name "Star Gate"
The Play of Light is about the Beauty of Light, of Sound and of Form. As each of these is deeply resonant with the other, the underlying unity that they share is revealed within their dance; and can be realized through direct experience. Within this experience, the mind becomes still and spontaneous Meditation arises. I have developed this technique over a period of 45 years, and this is as effortless and joyful a path into meditation as I am aware of. Individual and Group sessions are available. Please call or email me, I look forward to sharing this experience with you. Randall Fontes R.fontes@comcast.net
Randall Fontes R.fontes@comcast.net
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