This page contains documentation of CIA involvement in mind control research. The documents and transcript excerpts below concern MKULTRA, a massive program that secretly experimented on people. At least 80 major institutions worked with the program.
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"In a general request for volunteers, [redacted names] volunteered for H [hypnosis] experimentation and were originally tested on 21 May 1951. Both girls, at this time, were nineteen years of age. These subjects have clearly demonstrated that they can pass from a fully awake state to a deep H controlled state via the telephone, via some very subtle signal that cannot be detected by other persons in the room, and without the other individuals being able to note the change. It has been shown clearly that physically individuals can be induced into H by telephone, by receiving written matter, or by the use of code, signal, or words. Control of those hypnotized can be passed from one individual to another without great difficulty. It has also been shown by experimentation with these girls that they can act as unwilling couriers for information purposes, and that they can be conditioned to a point where they believe a change in identity on their part."
"Control of those hypnotized can be passed from one individual to another without great difficulty. It has also been shown by experimentation with these girls that they can act as unwilling couriers for information."
"In other cases drugs and psychological tricks will be used to modify his attitudes. The experimenters will be particularly interested in disassociative states."
"Miss [redacted] carried out these suggestions to the letter including firing the (unloaded pneumatic pistol) gun at [redacted] and then proceeding to fall into a deep sleep. After proper suggestions were made, both were awakened and expressed complete amnesia for the entire sequence."
"She would pick up a pistol nearby and fire it at Miss [redacted]. She was instructed that her rage would be so great that she would not hesitate to "kill" [redacted] for failing to awaken."
"Each girl acted out their part perfectly, the device was planted and set as directed and both girls returned to the operations room, sat on the sofa and entered a deep sleep state."
"Both subjects were placed in a very deep trance state and while in this state, the following instructions were given."
"[redacted] stated that he had constantly used hypnotism as a means of inducing young girls to engage in sexual intercourse with him. [redacted], a performer in [redacted] orchestra, was forced to engage in sexual intercourse with [redacted] while under the influence of hypnotism."
"Preliminary clinical research during 1955-56 has yielded promising leads in terms of knowledge of how hypnotizability can be influenced by pharmacological means. Experiments involving altered personality function as a result of environmental manipulation (chiefly sensory isolation) have yielded promising leads in terms of suggestibility and the production of trance-like states."
"MKULTRA activity is concerned with the research and development of chemical, biological, and radiological materials capable of employment in clandestine operation to control human behavior."
"TSD initiated a program for covert testing of materials on unwitting U.S. citizens in 1955. TSD has pursued a philosophy of minimum documentation in keeping with the high sensitivity of some of the projects."
"There are just two individuals in TSD who have full substantive knowledge of the program and most of that knowledge is unrecorded."
"We intend to investigate the development of a chemical material which causes a reversible non-toxic aberrant mental state, the specific nature of which can be reasonably well predicted for each individual. This material could potentially aid in discrediting individuals, eliciting information, implanting suggestion and other forms of mental control."
"In a great many instances the work in field (a) must be conducted by individuals who are not and should not be aware of our interest."
"Drug Project - A project in the isolation and synthesis of pure drugs for use in effecting psychological entry and control of the individual. Drugs and electricity - Research work on the effects of lysergic acid [LSD] on animals. Use of electric shock and the encephalograph in interrogation. Particular emphasis on the detection and prior use of electric shock and the 'guaranteed amnesia' resulting from electric shock."