◆ SpookStack

Approved For Release 2003/08 FIA-RDP96-00788R001300020001-6 ST-CS-01-169-72 July 1972 2. (C/CD/NDA) The use of Flashing lights to alter or affect human behavior or one's mental state has not received very much research attention. Laboratory tests, however, have revealed some interesting effects which might be worthy of further investi- - gation. At close distances, light of high intensity can alter the alpha rhythm of the brain to bring it into phase with the lights (see Kuproyanovich - 164). It has been noted that a person in hypnosis is more likely to be in the alpha state. Laboratory tests have been devised so that a subject's brain waves can be visually displayed on a wall thus teaching him when he is genera~ ting alpha waves. These tests have all been conducted in darkened laboratories. To reproduce such conditions in the field would require lights of very high intensity. The tests could probably only be conducted at night. Such a test would probably require high intensity lights flashing at about ten cycles per second (cps), which is the approximate cycle rate for the alpha waves. SG1B Obse rva- tion of flashing lights operating at ten cps could indicate experi- ments (218, 219) intended to alter or control alpha waves or could merely indicate coincidence. The color of the lights would seem to be of no importance or significance. Another explanation for flashing tungsten filament lights could be linked to an attempt - to interfere with an observers perception of motion (218,219). Short intense light flashes tend to impede the ability to detect motion. The eye detects motion by observing an object traveling from one position to another. If flashing lights were present, the observer would only be able to observe the object for such a short period of time between flashes so it would appear to be Stationary. Only prolonged observation and comparison to other objects would enable the detection of movement. Even a short period of indecision could be of importance in the detection of a torpedo for example. Experiments have been conducted in the laboratory which demonstrate that high intensity flashing lights operating at ten cps and conducted for a prolonged period of time result in nausea on the part of the observer. Such flashes could be particularly effective against someone feeling the effects of seasickneas. 3. (S/NED) It is interesting to note that the expert above mentioned that color would seem to be of no importance or signi- - ficance. The Soviets have shown a high interest in the effects of color on human behavior, especially red colored lights. The ; 85 CONTROLLED DISSEMINATION NO DISSEMINATION ABROAD NO FOREIGN DISSEMINATION Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300020001-6