Doc 0000022006

• - -<w ~ .. I I ' ,...-------.. ...... -------"-'-· -~ -- ·-----=---,__:'\ _,.,--.,4~--- i Period Covered: June 15, 1966 to October 15, 1966 I. Experimental Following is a brief s>·nopsis of activities under this contract performed during the first _four months. Details will appear in the sLx-month report. 1. Animal experiments involved electrical stimulation of the plantar nerve in cats, while recording skin potential responses and conductance responses from the foot pad, Response amplitude was found to be strongly potentiated by increasing periods of rest between test series. T~is effect appears to be due to the state of resting hydration. It affects both potential response and conductance response and conductance response ana may account for a 100 per cent difference in response amplitude. 2. Microelectrode studies were extended to observation cf potential response from sweat gland pores and from epidermal sites along with simultaneous recordings from large sites with conventional electrodes. The epidermal sites gave primarily positive responses at the same time as_ the sweat pore and the gross site was producing negative responses. This finding was consistant with t."le .hypothesis that the positive responses are of epidennal origin and reflect a different t}·pe of biological adaptation than does the sweat gland activation. 3. Further experiments were carried out on the nail bed ::o determine whether these alleged epidermal responses were in fact only artifacts of nearby skin activity due to volume conduct1on. Strong positive potential responses were found to be easily eliminated by puncture of the epidermis with the rnicroelectrode used for the recording. ~egative responses, if present, could not be so eliminated. The possibility that the weak negative responses are of vascular origin is being examined. This effect would confound the interpretation of negative waves from the sweat gland at normal skin sites. 4. Experiments to invePt.igate the temperature effect on amplitude of the positive skin potential response have been initiated. There is a potentiation of the positive wave with inc!"easing room temperat'.Jre (these induced temperature changes are not local as in previous experiments) indicating that the epidermal component (if this is the origin of the positive wave) possibly serves a thermoregulatory function and is indicative of a covert preparation for motor activity. The negative wave, presumed to be of sweat gland origin, is not potentiated by increasing room tempera·;ure.· Approved for Releus~ l>atl 2 7 cto ~an_ -- .. .... '' ·-. -- 2 This The image is a screenshot with a dark background. On the left, there is a stylized illustration of a vault door, reminiscent of a bank vault, with metallic textures and glowing blue accents. To the right of the vault, in large white, somewhat stylized lettering, is the title "THE BLACK VAULT". Below the title, white text provides information about the document's origin and content, stating it was obtained from The Black Vault, an online database of declassified government documents, specifically mentioning the MKULTRA/Mind Control Collection. At the bottom, the text is displayed in bright yellow, highlighting the URL "http://mkultra.theblackvault.com". There are no photographs, handwritten annotations, signatures, official stamps, forms, diagrams, tables, or redacted content visible in this image. positive wave) possibly serves a thermoregulatory function and is indicative of a covert preparation for motor activity. The negative wave, presumed to be of sweat gland origin, is not potentiated by increasing room tempera·;ure.· Approved for Releus~ l>atl 2 7 cto ~an_ -- .. .... '' ·-. -- 2 This is not surprising if tluo:se sweat glands are non-thermoregulatory as claimed by Kuno and others. 5, A model, relating potenti\ll responses to conductance responses, has been developed.,. and :s serving as a guide to the direction of experiment..1.tion and interpretation of resl.ilts. This model, attributing negative wav~s and the long lasting component of the conductance response to sweat gland activity and positive waves and the fast-recovering col:!lponent of the conductance response to epidermal activity points to methods for q1eir separation. One method involves analysis of the recovery slope of the skin resistance response. The oth~r entails the usc of high frequency impedance measurements in conjunction with conventional D.C. measurements of skin resistance. These measurements are now under test. II. Research facilities ahd personn~ (- -~-/procured under this contract has been delivered and is in operation. The laboratory for the animal work and microelectrode work has been renovated and is also in operation. All personnel engaged in the research activities under this contract have been recruited and trained where neces sq.ry. The page contains a scientific report detailing experimental procedures related to skin potential responses in cats. A hand-drawn diagram illustrates a nerve pathway or electrical circuit. There are several handwritten annotations at the top and bottom, including what appears to be a signature or approval stamp with a date and a circled number. The bottom right corner shows a stamp marked "Approved for Release" with a handwritten date and a circled number. No photographs, official stamps related to classification, or tables are present. The visual elements primarily consist of text, a diagram, and handwritten additions. This page contains text from a declassified document and some drawings at the top. There are no photographs, stamps, forms, diagrams, tables, or redactions. The drawings appear to be abstract sketches or annotations, rather than representations of specific experimental procedures or equipment. The page primarily consists of typed text detailing scientific research and operational updates.