Joint Attention Telepathy Test
NB: We do not require further participants for this research.
Details of the experiment
Can you tell when someone is looking at the same photo as you?
This experiment involves two people using two computers, and takes less
than five minutes to complete. You do 20 quick trials, and receive the
score at the end.
Many people report the experience of knowing when someone else is
looking at the same object as them. Whether the result of telepathy
non-conscious communication, or simply chance, the JAT tries to
establish this phenomenon in an experimental context.
How the experiment works
This is collaborative research with Dr Rupert Sheldrake (www.sheldrake.org),
using the online experiments available through his website. We are
using a more stringent experimental setup for this project, but
participants essentially take the same ‘telepathy test’. We no longer
require participants for this project, but you can take Rupert’s own
test here: www.sheldrake.org/Onlineexp/portal/jointattention.html
This test is symmetrical: both participants are "senders" and
"receivers". One person registers both of you, gives the pair a
nickname and a password. Both participants then log on to the
experiment at a prearranged time. You can use the same nickname to do
this test repeatedly
In each trial, both people are shown a picture. In a random order you
will sometimes be shown the same picture, and sometimes a different
picture from your partner. After ten seconds, each of you will be asked
to answer yes or no to the question, "Was you partner looking at the
same picture as you?"
Each participant can choose whether to do the experiment with or
without immediate feedback. If you choose to receive feedback,
immediately after making each guess, you will be told whether or not
your partner was shown the same picture.
After each 20-trial test, you will be told your score. The chance level is 10.