◆ SpookStack

Approved For Release 200B/ ARE Bea ifYyRDP96-00788R001300020001-6 ST-CS-01-169-72 July 1972 2. (C/CD/NDA) The most recent conference on flashing lights was heid during the period of 19 through 22 April 1971 in London. It was the “International Symposium on the Perception and Appli- cation of Flashing Lights." From the sources available, it has been determined that no Soviet or East European personnel attended; further, no one at the conference discussed the possible use of flashing lights for military purposes (223). 3. (U) Among the varied research interests in the Soviet Union dealing with flashing lights is the relationship of the vestibular to the visual systems. Electrophysiological data on the effect of the vestibular apparatus on the optical system has been published in the Soviet Union (224,225). It has been reported that stimula- lation of the vestibular apparatus (polarization of the labyrinth by a direct current) causes an increase in neuron reaction to light stimulation and an increase in the critical frequency of flashes. The Soviets also conclude that the interactions of visual and vestibular analyzers is brought about mainly because of their cortical levels. Studies were carried out with deaf individuals to provide further evidence of this. If these studies are all valid, this could lead to the possible development of systems that combine vestibular stimuli with photic-flicker capa~ bility in order to achieve a degree of mental disorientation and confusion. The Soviets conclude by stating that functional varia- tions of the cortex of normal subjects caused by vestibular stimula- tions result in a disruption of cortical-subcortical relationships, which in turm alters the functional states of the retina. Further work in the relationship of visual perception, auditory stimuli, and the cerebral cortex have been reported (226-228). Studies have been conducted on rabbits, cats, and Moscow school children. It was found that repeated stimulation with sound resulted in a complete extinction of neuronal response. 4. (U) The reaction to prolonged rhythmic photic stimulation has interested the Soviets. In experiments with rhythmic light flashes at different frequencies, monkeys exhibited individual sensitivity to certain rhythms. Some animals recruited and trans- formed the lower frequencies better (7.9 flashes per second), while others responded to the higher frequencies (18 and 25 per second). The following variations in the cortical and subcortical responses to the stimuli were distinguished: (a) simultaneous recruitment of the given rhythm by cells of the motor and visual cortex and subcortex; (b) recruitment of the rhythm only by the visual cortex; (c) recruitment of the rhythm by the visual cortex 81 CONTROLLED DISSEMINATION NO DISSEMINATION ABROAD CONFIDENTIAL Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300020001-6