Preparatory Phase (1984 - 1992)

It is possible to divide the history of the Ganzfeld studies in Faculdades Integradas Espírita in 4 phases. The 1st phase, which we could call it the preparatory one, was marked by the theoretical deepening achieved through international trips, study groups and exploratory studies with sensorial privation. At this time, there was not a defined structure for the Ganzfeld research. There was, however, the Experimental Parapsychology lab which also held other researches, besides the educational studies. The structure was rather simple and based on one room, with tables and opaque barriers, as well as Zener or ESP card games. There were also two generators of semi-random events. Several studies were conducted, though none of them were published in any publications or professional events.

Implementation Phase (1993 - 1996)

The second phase, which we can call the implementation one, was marked by the creation of the Center for Ganzfeld Research. A series of trials took place, involving interns and professors, in an educational study. A summary of the work and researches done in this period was presented in the Tercero Encuentro Psi, in 1998, in Argentina. In this phase, there was already a physical and technical structure specifically constructed for the usage of the aforementioned technique.

Development phase (1997 - 2002)

The third phase, which we can call the development one, featured the Ganzfeld Lab in another location and with an improved structure. After receiving the funding from the 1st research scholarship of Fundação Bial of Portugal, new equipment were acquired. Besides, the physical structure was redesigned to improve the standards of experimental safety. The main change was the distancing of the receiver’s room to the sender’s one. The structure presented below was used in the “Ganzfeld and non-Ganzfeld research: testing the efficiency of the technique itself and in connection with other psi-conducive factors”.

As one can see in the layout above, this structure has 4 rooms, with 3 of them being in one building and the other 120 meters away from the first three. Among the first three we have the reception and judgment room (s1), where the subjects are received and the non- Ganzfeld trials are developed. The operation and judgment room (s2) is separated by s1 through a double door. It contains the equipments for the electronic communication system. Room 2 is separated from the receiver’s room (s3) by a double-door covered by cork and acoustic foam, aiming at attenuate any emission of sound that might happen between them. This room is covered with drywall, which has an acoustic decrease of 40 dB. In it there is the bed in which the receiver lies to try to relax and obtain the target information. Next to the headboard there are two red light bulbs (25 and 40 W), 50 cm above the bed. The sender’s and target’s room (s4) is 120 meters from the other 3, to avoid any type of sensorial leaking to the receiver’s rooms. This room also features a double door, two comfortable chairs, a 33’ TV and a VCR with speakers, making the activities of emission possible. In it, there is a bookshelf where the videotapes with the research targets are. These tapes are sealed in opaque envelopes. The pictures below better illustrate these rooms and their equipments:

Judgment and reception room (s1)

Judgment and operation room (s2)

Receiver room (s3)

Sender and target room (s4)

Expansion Phase (2003 to nowadays)

This phase is marked by the creation of the Integrated Center of Experimental Parapsychology (ICEP in Portuguese), which also includes two other laboratories (DMILS and Micro PK). The necessary equipments for these two labs were included in the Physiological Digital Ganzfeld project, which integrates these types of research to the automated Ganzfeld system. Both ICEP and the Physiological Digital Ganzfeld research, contemplated with the second research scholarship from the Fundação Bial, needed a new and improved physical and technical structure. This area was implemented in a room with about 77 m2, which can be seen below in two different pictures.

In the middle of 2003, the move to this new facility was done and its structuring began, which took all of 2004. The picture below to the left shows the team of the Ganzfeld Laboratory working on this room. The picture on the right shows the new receiver’s room being built. A steel and drywall structure, with a double covering with woolglass (Drywall) was used, to attenuate the room acoustically.

The two pictures below and to the left show some details of the construction of this room, which also received a double door with acoustic foam. The sender’s room, on the other hand, (to the right), remained the same from the previous study. Nevertheless, it also received acoustic treatment, with drywall and woolglass. The door was changed to the side to allow the placement of the chair in the center of the room. The following pictures show this room being prepared.

The following pictures show this room (sender’s room) already finished. On the first, the reclinable chair can be seen, as well as the projection screen for the target videos and 5.1 surround sound speakers. Above, to the right, the camera can be seen (also in an amplified image) which will record the entire session. The second picture shows the reclinable chair, the multimedia projector which stands above it, two speakers, a computer and a steel acoustic door, which was implemented to increase the acoustic isolation of the room.

The two following pictures show with better detail the steel acoustic door (inner and outer view), which was acquired from a specialized company in acoustic isolation, called Teoria - Engenharia Acústica Ltda-ME.

Returning to the receiver’s room, to the left we can see the projection screen, 5.1 surround sound speakers and, on the ceiling, almost with the lights, a camera to register the activities in this room. Below, these cameras will be shown in detail. The image on the right shows the camera, the reclinable chair, the multimedia projector above it, speakers attached to the wall, the double door (also shows on the outside in the detailed picture) and, on the right, the computer and the amplifier used in the 5.1 sound system.

We will have two cameras filming the activities of this room. As the picture below shows, they are fixed on the ceiling, right next to the lights. One of them is aimed towards the receiver’s chair and will shoot his activities and also a part of the door (showing that it will remain closed during the tests). The other one will be aimed towards the screen and will register the images shown during the tests. This will completely cover the activities of the receiver.

Having already shown the images of the receiver’s and the sender’s rooms, now we can see pictures of the Operation room. The first shows the computers, a keyboard which was used for the shooting of a target and has also served for the sound effects of several targets. Next to the ceiling, one can see the camera (also on the details on the right) which will shoot the activities of this room. It is aimed towards the researcher, also covering the room door.

The illustration on the left shows a new angle of the room, pointing out the digital camera used for the filming of the targets, footage which is then captured and edited in the computer. The picture on the right shows another angle of the room, showing files, some books and other materials.

The last room of the ICEP, directly connected to this research is the Reception room. In it, the subjects are received and prepared for the tests. In the picture on the right, a bookshelf with equipments and videotapes can be seen, as well as a table, a couch and a little fridge, where some food is stored for the subjects. Over the fridge there is a bottle of mineral water. In the picture on the right, this room can be seen from another angle, showing some couches, a part of the center table and the double door of the receiver’s room.

In the next picture, a meeting of ICEP is shown. This meeting took place in this same room and included participants from other labs that form the center, such as the DMILS and the Micro PK Labs.

The last pictures show the schematics of the rooms of ICEP (receiver’s and sender’s ones), and a final picture showing a panoramic view of the two ensembles.

ICEP - Receiver's set of rooms, including the Receiver, Reception and Operation rooms. It is also shown the snack, practices and the Laboratory of TCI rooms.

ICEP - sender set, including his/her room and a general reception room

ICEP - panoramic view of the sender and receiver's rooms.