RELATIONS BETWEEN ESP AND MEMORY IN LIGHT OF THE FIRST SIGHT MODEL OF PSI

James C. Carpenter, Ph.D.

Rhine Research Center
Durham, NC, USA

ABSTRACT

Although less active recently, the study of ESP in relation to memory has been a relatively active concern for parapsychology. Methods, questions and findings have been varied, and in need of clearer conceptualization for work to proceed usefully. The First Sight model of psi functioning is proposed as having promise in this regard. I sketch the basic premises of the model (by which psi transactions are presumed to begin the developmental processes of all experience), and argue here that various findings, including the positive correlation of long-term memory with ESP, the negative correlation of working memory with ESP, the importance of alerting participants to the pertinence of ESP in the context of memory tests, the additive and subtractive effects of attempts to influence recall with ESP, and the effect of degree of familiarity of test material on ESP, among other trends, are congruent with the expectations arising from the model.