Glossary of terms


This section is still under construction. Please email the site maintainer if there are any terms used in these web pages that you would like to see added to the glossary

Bio-PK
Psychokinetic influence of biological systems e.g. altering the haemolysis rate of blood cells in a test-tube, or changing the physiological activity of a living system (see DMILS).

Clairvoyance
Literally 'Clear-Seeing'. A subset of ESP covering apparent information transmission as though it were the result of visual perception. The perception can appear externally - either replacing the normal visual scene (as in visions) or being incorporated into it (as could be the case with apparitions) - or internally, in the form of mental imagery and intuition. (see ESP)

Clairaudience
Auditory form of ESP (compare with Clairvoyance).

Clairsentience
A general term covering clairvoyance, clairaudience, etc.

Direct Mental Interaction with Living Systems (abbreviated to DMILS)
Used to denote instances where one person is attempting to influence a distant biological system, usually the physiology of another person. As it is unclear whether this represents an influence (see Psychokinesis), a case of ESP on the part of the influencee (see ESP) or an opportunistic selection process (see DAT, the term 'interaction' has been adopted.

Electrodermal response (EDA)
A measure of skin conductance or resistance related to sympathetic nervous system arousal. This response can be illicited by external stimuli (a light, tone etc.), or by internal activity (e.g. emotions)

Empathy
Rarely used in modern parapsychology, the popular usage of this term refers to a low-level form of telepathy wherein the empath appears to be aware of the emotional state of a distant person. An empath may also be able to 'broadcast' emotions to others (cf. DMILS, ESP).

Extrasensory perception (abbreviated to ESP)
A general term used for all forms of psi where the process of information acquisition appears to be analogous to the conventional sensory processes of sight, sound, taste, touch and hearing.

Healing
Refers to a whole range of phenomena wherein one or more people attempt to bring about the well-being of another person. This area is very complex, involving a number of psychological and physical factors that must be allowed for before a psi component is looked for (compare with DMILS).

Poltergeist
A general term applied to a variety of site-, or sometimes person-, specific physical phenomena. These can include temperature variations, anomalous sounds, and movement of physical objects. The word 'poltergeist' literally means 'noisy spirit' and was coined back when such phenomena were thought to be due to the presence of some sort of mischevious entity. Currently, poltergeist phenomena are usually considered to be related either to unusual physical conditions at the affected site, or to be related to psychokinesis. Anecdotal reports suggest that many poltergeist focus on an individual under some form of emotional stress.

Psi
A general term which covers all parapsychological phenomena. Originally derived from the use of the greek letter psi to denote the unknown quantity in an equation.

Psychic
Popular term used to denote a person who regularly uses, or who appears to be especially gifted with, psi abilities. Also refers to general phenomena related to the mind (from greek psyche).

Psychic Surgery
The supposed ability to paranormally perform invasive surgery using no conventional medical tools. The psychic surgeon uses either an unsterilised knife, or his bare hands, to appear to make an incision and remove some internal matter. Once the operation is finished, there is no sign of an incision, nor are there any unpleasant aftereffects (e.g. infection). Many of the investigated cases have turned out to be fraudulent, involving sleight of hand tricks to make the operation appear convincing. However, it is possible that, in some circumstances, the ritual nature of the 'surgery' could help effect a cure through the equally mysterious placebo effect.

Psychokinesis (PK)
The apparent ability to influence the environment seemingly by intention alone. Parapsychologists usually distinguish between micro-PK , where any effect is on a very small scale and is usually only detectable by statistical analysis, and macro-PK, where the effects are readily seen. Laboratory research tends to be on micro-PK, as this ability is one which can apparently be demonstrated by a general population. The existence of macro-PK is even more controversial, having rarely been demonstrated under controlled conditions and being more susceptible to the possibility of fraud. (psycho kinesis lit. mind movement).

Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis (RSPK)
See Poltergeist

Telekinesis
Another term for Psychokinesis. Sometimes used to denote PK effects at a distance (tele kinesis lit. remote movement).

Telepathy
The apparent ability to communicate information from one mind to another. This information may be 'received' in the form of that from the visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, gustatory or even kinaesthetic senses. It is distinguished from clairsentience in that the information is assumed to have originated from the mind of another person, rather than the target object itself. (tele pathy lit. remote speaking).

Last modified 29th. April 1996 Paul Stevens