Nina Kulagina and Psychokinesis In Russia

[Richard]

By THoTH

“A skeptic is someone who would ask God for his ID card” Edgar A Shoaff

In the Beginning

Born Leningrad in the mid 1920's she was originally known as Nelya Mikhailova (her maiden name) most however, knew her as Nina Kulagina. Because she was only 12 when the Nazis invaded Leningrad, a lot of children then joined the miltary, she became a radio operator in a Russian tank regiment. In 1963 she came to the attention of Leonid L Vasiliev, a physiologist and parapsychologist he did some initial tests with her.

Vasiliev was checking groups of people for “Dermo Optic Vision” which was the ability to “feel” certain colours. Kulagina performed well in the initial tests.Vasiiliev however unfortunately died later in 1966.Zdenek Rejdak a scientist at the Prague Military Institute took his place, he and others were to perform many experiments with Kulagina in the coming years. 

Discovery by the west

Kulagina came to the attention of investigators in the west, when films of her were shown at an International Parapsychology conference held in Moscow in June of 1968. The films showed her moving a cigar tube, which sat on top of a playing card, all of which were enclosed in a clear plastic case. The tube moved slowly to the right and toward her. The card also turned in an anticlockwise direction.

Another film showed something more impressive. A pile of matches were placed before her. She was then asked to move the matches toward her then away from her without touching them. She did this to the satisfaction of all present. She was then asked to move a single match nominated by one of the investigators, this she did to their complete amazement.

In another experiment she was tested by Dr Genady Sergeiv of the Uktomskii Physiologiical institute in Leningrad, Dr Zdenek Rejdak mentioned previously and B Blazek a psychologist as well as J.S. Zulerev a Physician. Beforehand Kulagina was checked by the Physician, X-Rayed to see if she had any magnets on her person. It was also to rule out the possibility of her having a magnetised piece of shrapnel in her body, as was suggested by skeptics. She then had a highly sensitised compass moved around her to check for any concealed magnets. The chair and table were also minutely examined for anything hidden there. All of the tests proved negative, and the experiment began.A compass was placed on the table and she put her hands over it and caused the needle to spin about ten times. The whole compass in it's case then moved around the table. Various objects were then placed in front of her glass, china even a gold ring. She was able to move them all successfully. All the tests were performed in full light, and under strict observance of all present. In one remarkable experiment she was able to separate an egg yolk from it's white, in a solution of brine.

Side Effects

The most common side effect of the experiments was exhaustion. Her pulse would occasionally become slight and at other times her heart would beat at a very fast rate. She would also experience a loss of muscle co-ordination. In some tests it was noted that Kulagina lost two pounds in weight. EEG testing showed a strong emotional state. Kulagina was also experiencing very high levels of blood sugar.

Revolution in a Leningrad Hotel Room October 1970

Gaither Pratt and Champe Ransom waited with some trepidation before they were allowed to test her in 1970. Because of Russia's strictness, Kulagina had to be tested in a Leningrad hotel room, which served as a temporary laboratory. Pratt and Ransom had originally seen the films of Kulagina which were shown at the Moscow conference, and were about to witness first hand Kulagina's remarkable abilities. It wasn't long before their visitors arrived, accompanying Kulagina were Dr Genady Sergeyev and a Mr Konstantin Ivanenko a prominent mathematician and computer expert.

Pratt had brought a roll of Polaroid film. The Soviet Scientists had discovered that Kulagina could cause exposure like effects on sealed camera film. Ransom set up the roll of film between a block of wood, and a small non-magnetic cylinder. The intention was for Kulagina to affect the film only, but as they watched, the cylinder began to move toward the film. There were no unusual exposures on the film when the camera was loaded and the prints developed. After witnessing the movement of the film, this hardly seemed to matter.

In another test, Pratt set up a camera while Ransom spread out an area of aquatic gravel in the middle of the table. He then placed a non magnetic cylinder in the gravel, standing it up on it's edge, finally putting a glass over the top of the cylinder. As Pratt filmed, the cylinder began to trace a path in the gravel. It seemed as if the large glass was restricting the cylinders movement, so it was removed and again the cylinder traced a path in the gravel.
The Soviet Government and their approach

Because Kulagina was attracting lots of attention in the west, the Soviet government restricted most attempts to study and experiment with her by western parapsychologists. Almost all of the research was being done by Russians proved frustrating to western parapsychologists. It created a sense of skepticism as well as a worry that the Russians were way ahead of similar studies in the west. Some may say the former was a result of the latter.

As well as the studies made by Soviet scientists, Kulagina was also tested and investigated by groups and individuals from a wide range of other organisations including medical institutions. Medical researchers noted that although Kulagina seemed to be unaffected, she was actually using lots of physical energy. Her heartbeat was measured at 240 beats a minute, and as mentioned previously, her blood sugar levels rose dramatically and she experienced weight loss of up to 3 pounds (6.6kg). As a result of these physiological symptoms, it was important that Kulagina be allowed rest intervals to recuperate.

Enter the British Physicist

Although the Soviet government restricted full scale experiments by western scientists, a British physicist by the name of Benson Herbert, with a colleague Manfred Cassirer were allowed to conduct some experiments in 1973. Well away from Soviet laboratories, they created a make shift laboratory in a hotel room in Leningrad. One of the key experiments was to be based around the operation of a hydrometer (a device for determining specific gravity of liquids). The hydrometer consisted of a glass bulb which floated upright in a tube filled with a saline solution. The entire system was enclosed by a grounded screen to prevent any trickery. It was hoped that Kulagina could move the bulb sufficiently so as to be able to allow Herbert to measure a “psychic force”.

Hope was dashed however, as when Kulagina arrived, they learned that she was ill, and didn't feel able to take part in any experiments. The hydrometer however, proved fascinating to Kulagina and she tried to move the glass bulb inside. She succeeded but it only moved slightly. Because of her illness even this small exercise proved tiring, so she sat in a chair several feet away from the equipment to rest.

Several times the experimenters moved between Kulagina and the hydrometer, when it was noticed that Kulagina was staring intently at the hydrometer. She began to raise her arms as she stared, and it wasn't long before the bulb of the hydrometer moved to the side of the vessel, then after a few minutes retraced it's path backward. All of this taking place under the watchful eyes of the western investigators. They confirmed that there were no strings, or hidden wires or any other forms of trickery in use.

Suppression and Skepticism

Soviet authorities blocked further studies by western scientists. Their own scientists however, carried out many more experiments between 1978 and 1984. The experiments were in the main performed by physicists from various organisations including The Institute of precise optics and mechanics, The Baumann Higher School of Technology and The Research Institute of Radio Engineering and Technology. Almost all of the studies took place in Moscow, and by the very nature of the Institutions, stringent measures were taken to check against any fraudulent activity by Kulagina. In one experiment, it was claimed that Kulagina had altered the intensity of a laser beam, by altering the gas that the laser passed through.

Despite the rigorous and scientific methods used to test Kulagina, she was still accused of trickery, and that she was fooling everyone with basic magicians techniques! Not once in any investigation was trickery, or any evidence of it found, yet despite this Western and Russian critics both persisted in their claims of fraud.

A Soviet magazine called “Man and Law” accused her of trickery in an article they printed. Kulagina took legal action against the magazine. Two members from the Soviet Academy of Sciences testified to the validity of Kulagina's abilities and in 1988 the court ordered the magazine to publish a retraction.

Ill health

Kulaginas health continued to worsen in the mid to late 1980s and it was decided to stop the experiments. Her health became no better however, and sadly she died in April 1990. Perhaps the strenuous nature of her physiology in the experiments throughout the years had taken it's toll? If so then she can be seen as a martyr to the cause of gaining scientific respectability for her abilities. She redefined the way Psychokinesis (moving objects using the mind only) was tested and measured. Her tests were done in well lit rooms and laboratories.

Prestigious physicists and other scientists, examined and tested her abilities and vouched for their validity. She was thoroughly checked for magnets, or “fine wires” as the skeptics insisted that she was using and never found once to be faking any of her abilities. She was perhaps the most examined of all those with Psychokinesis. Whatever the case, she is to be remembered for a long time to come. 

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