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[[Image:Blog_telepathy.jpg|right|thumb|Integrated Mind Circuits]]
[[Image:Blog_telepathy.jpg|right|frame|<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Adjutant_Mind_Spirits Integrated Mind Circuits]</center>]]
'''Telepathy''', from the [[Greek language|Greek]] τελε, ''tele'' meaning "distant" and πάθεια, ''patheia'' meaning "to be affected by",<ref>Following the model of [[sympathy|sym'''pathy''']] and [[empathy|em'''pathy''']].</ref> describes the purported transfer of information on thoughts or feelings between individuals by means other than the [[Senses#Five classical senses|five classical senses]] (See [[Psi (parapsychology)|Psi]]). <ref name=parasocie1>[http://parapsych.org/glossary_s_z.html#t Glossary of Parapsychological terms - Telepathy] — [[Parapsychological Association]], Retrieved [[December 19]], [[2006]]</ref><ref name=skepdic1/> The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar [[Frederic William Henry Myers|Fredric W. H. Myers]], a founder of the [[Society for Psychical Research]],<ref name=skepdic1/> specifically to replace the earlier expression ''thought-transference''.<ref name=parasocie1/><ref name=skepdic1/> A person who is able to make use of telepathy is said to be able to read the minds of others. Telepathy, along with [[psychokinesis]] forms the main branches of [[parapsychological]] research, and many studies seeking to detect and understand telepathy have been done within the field.
'''Telepathy''', from the [[Greek language|Greek]] τελε, ''tele'' meaning "distant" and πάθεια, ''patheia'' meaning "to be affected by", describes the purported transfer of information on thoughts or feelings between individuals by means other than the [[Senses#Five classical senses|five classical senses]] (See [[Psi (parapsychology)|Psi]]). [http://parapsych.org/glossary_s_z.html#t Glossary of Parapsychological terms - Telepathy] - [[Parapsychological Association]], Retrieved [[December 19]], [[2006]] The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar [[Frederic William Henry Myers|Fredric W. H. Myers]], a founder of the [[Society for Psychical Research]],<ref name=skepdic1/> specifically to replace the earlier expression ''thought-transference''. A person who is able to make use of telepathy is said to be able to read the minds of others. Telepathy, along with [[psychokinesis]] forms the main branches of [[parapsychological]] research, and many studies seeking to detect and understand telepathy have been done within the field.
Telepathy is a common theme in fiction and science fiction, with many [[superhero]]es and [[supervillain]]s having telepathic abilities. Such abilities include both sensing the thoughts of others, and controlling the minds of other people. [[Transhumanists]] believe that technologically enabled telepathy, called "techlepathy", will be the inevitable future of humanity, and seek to develop practical, safe devices for directly connecting human nervous systems.
Telepathy is a common theme in fiction and science fiction, with many [[superhero]]es and [[supervillain]]s having telepathic abilities. Such abilities include both sensing the thoughts of others, and controlling the minds of other people. [[Transhumanists]] believe that technologically enabled telepathy, called "techlepathy", will be the inevitable future of humanity, and seek to develop practical, safe devices for directly connecting human nervous systems.
Within the field of [[parapsychology]], telepathy is considered to be a form of [[extra-sensory perception]] (ESP) or [[anomalous cognition]] in which information is transferred through Psi. It is often categorized similarly to [[precognition]] and [[clairvoyance]].<ref name=parasoc2>[http://parapsych.org/glossary_e_k.html#e Glossary of Parapsychological terms - ESP], [[Parapsychological Association]], Retrieved [[December 19]], [[2006]]</ref> Various experiments have been used to test for telepathic abilities. Among the most well known are the use of [[Zener card]]s and the [[Ganzfeld experiment]].
Within the field of [[parapsychology]], telepathy is considered to be a form of [[extra-sensory perception]] (ESP) or [[anomalous cognition]] in which information is transferred through Psi. It is often categorized similarly to [[precognition]] and [[clairvoyance]].<ref name=parasoc2>[http://parapsych.org/glossary_e_k.html#e Glossary of Parapsychological terms - ESP], [[Parapsychological Association]], Retrieved [[December 19]], [[2006]]</ref> Various experiments have been used to test for telepathic abilities. Among the most well known are the use of [[Zener card]]s and the [[Ganzfeld experiment]].
Zener cards are cards marked with five distinctive symbols. When using them, one individual is designated the "sender" and another the "receiver". The sender must select a random card and visualize the symbol on it, while the receiver must attempt to determine that symbol using Psi. Statistically, the receiver has a 20% chance of randomly guessing the correct symbol, so in order to demonstrate telepathy, they must repeatedly score a success rate that is significantly higher than 20%.<ref name="Skepdic2">{{cite web |url=http://www.skepdic.com/zener.html |title=Zener ESP Cards |author=Carroll, Robert |date=[[2006-02-17]] |publisher=[[The Skeptic's Dictionary]] |accessdate=2006-07-18 }}</ref> If not conducted properly, this method can be vulnerable to [[sensory leakage]] and [[card counting]]. <ref name="Skepdic2"/>
Zener cards are cards marked with five distinctive symbols. When using them, one individual is designated the "sender" and another the "receiver". The sender must select a random card and visualize the symbol on it, while the receiver must attempt to determine that symbol using Psi. Statistically, the receiver has a 20% chance of randomly guessing the correct symbol, so in order to demonstrate telepathy, they must repeatedly score a success rate that is significantly higher than 20%.[http://www.skepdic.com/zener.html]. If not conducted properly, this method can be vulnerable to [[sensory leakage]] and [[card counting]].
When using the Ganzfeld experiment to test for telepathy, one individual is designated the receiver and is placed inside a controlled environment where they are [[sensory deprivation|deprived of sensory input]], and another is designated the sender and is placed in a separate location. The receiver is then required to receive information from the sender. The exact nature of the information may vary between experiments.<ref name="ConsciousUniverse"> ''The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena'' by Dean I. Radin Harper Edge, ISBN 0-06-251502-0</ref>
When using the Ganzfeld experiment to test for telepathy, one individual is designated the receiver and is placed inside a controlled environment where they are [[sensory deprivation|deprived of sensory input]], and another is designated the sender and is placed in a separate location. The receiver is then required to receive information from the sender. The exact nature of the information may vary between experiments.<ref name="ConsciousUniverse"> ''The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena'' by Dean I. Radin Harper Edge, ISBN 0-06-251502-0</ref>
[[Parapsychology]] describes several different forms of telepathy, including latent telepathy and precognitive telepathy.
[[Parapsychology]] describes several different forms of telepathy, including latent telepathy and precognitive telepathy.
'''Latent Telepathy''', formerly known as "deferred telepathy", <ref name=sciam1>Rennie, John (1845), "Test for Telepathy", [[Scientific American]],V3#1 (1847-09-25)</ref> is described as being the transfer of information, through Psi, with an observable time-lag between transmission and receipt.<ref name=parasocie1/>
'''Latent Telepathy''', formerly known as "deferred telepathy", is described as being the transfer of information, through Psi, with an observable time-lag between transmission and receipt.
'''Precognitive Telepathy''' is described as being the transfer of information, through Psi, about the future state of an individual's mind<ref name=parasocie1/>
'''Precognitive Telepathy''' is described as being the transfer of information, through Psi, about the future state of an individual's mind.
==Skepticism and controversy==
==Skepticism and controversy==
The field which studies certain types of [[paranormal]] phenomena such as telepathy is called [[parapsychology]].
The field which studies certain types of [[paranormal]] phenomena such as telepathy is called [[parapsychology]].
There is a consensus within that field that some instances of telepathy are real.<ref name=para-faq4>[http://parapsych.org/faq_file1.html#4 "What is parapsychology?"] From the FAQ of the website of the Parapsychological Association, Retrieved [[February 3]], [[2007]]</ref><ref name=para-faq20>[http://parapsych.org/faq_file3.html#20 "What is the state-of-the-evidence for psi?"] From the FAQ of the website of the Parapsychological Association, Retrieved [[February 3]], [[2007]]</ref>
There is a consensus within that field that some instances of telepathy are real.[http://parapsych.org/faq_file1.html#4 "What is parapsychology?"] From the FAQ of the website of the Parapsychological Association [http://parapsych.org/faq_file3.html#20 "What is the state-of-the-evidence for psi?"] From the FAQ of the website of the Parapsychological Association, Retrieved [[February 3]], [[2007]]</ref>
Skeptics say that instances of what seem to be telepathy are explained as the result of fraud or self-delusion and that telepathy does not exist as a paranormal power.<ref>[http://www.skepdic.com/esp.html Skepdic.com on ESP], Retrieved [[February 22]], [[2007]]</ref>
Skeptics say that instances of what seem to be telepathy are explained as the result of fraud or self-delusion and that telepathy does not exist as a paranormal power.[http://www.skepdic.com/esp.html Skepdic.com on ESP]
Parapsychologists and skeptics agree that many of the instances of more popular psychic phenomena, such as [[mediumship|mediumism]], can be attributed to non-paranormal techniques such as [[cold reading]].<ref>Eberhard Bauer: [http://www.psy.gu.se/EJP/EJP1984Bauer.pdf Criticism and Controversy in Parapsychology - An Overview]. European Journal of Parapsychology (1984), 5, 141-166, Retrieved [[February 09]], [[2007]].
Parapsychologists and skeptics agree that many of the instances of more popular psychic phenomena, such as [[mediumship|mediumism]], can be attributed to non-paranormal techniques such as [[cold reading]].[http://www.psy.gu.se/EJP/EJP1984Bauer.pdf Criticism and Controversy in Parapsychology - An Overview]. European Journal of Parapsychology (1984), 5, 141-166. [http://www.psy.herts.ac.uk/wiseman/papers/MediumBJP.pdf Testing alleged mediumship: Methods and results]. [http://ianrowland.com/ItemsToBuy/ColdReading/ColdReadingMain1.html The Full Facts Book of Cold Reading]
Magicians such as [[Ian Rowland]] and [[Derren Brown]] have demonstrated techniques and results similar to those of popular psychics, but they proffer psychological explanations instead of paranormal ones. They have identified, described, and developed complex psychological techniques of [[cold reading]] and [[hot reading]].
Magicians such as [[Ian Rowland]] and [[Derren Brown]] have demonstrated techniques and results similar to those of popular psychics, but they proffer psychological explanations instead of paranormal ones. They have identified, described, and developed complex psychological techniques of [[cold reading]] and [[hot reading]].
A technique which shows statistically significant evidence of telepathy on every occasion has yet to be discovered. This lack of reliable reproducibility has led skeptics to argue that there is no credible scientific evidence for the existence of telepathy at all.<ref name="skeptic">See for examples, Randi, James. ''Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions''. Prometheus Books (June 1982) ISBN-10: 0879751983 or<br>Charpak, Georges and Henri Broch. Translated by Bart K. Holland. ''Debunked!: ESP, Telekinesis, and Other Pseudoscience''. The Johns Hopkins University Press ([[March 25]], [[2004]]), ISBN-10: 0801878675</ref>
A technique which shows statistically significant evidence of telepathy on every occasion has yet to be discovered. This lack of reliable reproducibility has led skeptics to argue that there is no credible scientific evidence for the existence of telepathy at all. See for examples, Randi, James. ''Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions''. Prometheus Books (June 1982) ISBN-10: 0879751983 or<br>Charpak, Georges and Henri Broch. Translated by Bart K. Holland. ''Debunked!: ESP, Telekinesis, and Other Pseudoscience''. The Johns Hopkins University Press, ISBN-10: 0801878675
Skeptics also point to historical cases in which were discovered flaws in experimental design and occasional cases of fraud.<ref name="skeptic" />
Parapsychologists such as [[Dean Radin]], president of the [[Parapsychological Association]], argues that the statistical significance and consistency of results shown by a [[meta-analysis]] of numerous studies provides evidence for telepathy that is almost impossible to account for using any other means.<ref name="ConsciousUniverse"/>
Skeptics also point to historical cases in which were discovered flaws in experimental design and occasional cases of fraud.
Parapsychologists such as [[Dean Radin]], president of the [[Parapsychological Association]], argues that the statistical significance and consistency of results shown by a [[meta-analysis]] of numerous studies provides evidence for telepathy that is almost impossible to account for using any other means.
==See also==
==See also==
