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Telekinesis and psychokinesis

Robert JahnBrenda DunneHolger BöschDean Radin

This page delivers no verdict; it presents claims and evidence with their sources. No theory in science is absolute. Method

For everyone

Telekinesis or psychokinesis is the claim that the mind can influence matter or physical processes without physical contact. Throughout history many people have claimed to move large objects. Laboratory research has focused mostly on whether human intention can slightly influence the output of random number generators. The results of these experiments are disputed.

For specialists

The Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR) laboratory reported a very small shift in the direction of intention (of order 10⁻⁴) over millions of RNG trials between 1979 and 2007. A three-centre replication in Germany and the US could not confirm the effect. Bösch and colleagues' meta-analysis of 380 studies found a small but significant effect but noted that, because of an inverse relation between effect size and sample size, it could be explained by publication bias. Radin and colleagues disputed this interpretation.

Claims

Evidence

Supporting

Experiment

Over a very large number of trials at the PEAR laboratory, RNG output showed a statistically significant but very small shift in the direction participants intended.[1]

Statistics / meta-analysis

A meta-analysis of 380 RNG studies found a very small mean effect significantly different from chance.[3]

Methodological critique

It was argued that the number of unpublished studies required to explain the meta-analytic effect by publication bias is unrealistic.[5]

Challenging

Replication study

A joint replication conducted in three laboratories failed to reproduce the effect reported by PEAR.[2]

Statistics / meta-analysis

In the same meta-analysis, small studies showing large effects and large studies showing near-zero effects was interpreted as a sign of publication bias.[3][4]

Connections

Parent

Parapsychology

Related

Quantum mechanics

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Sources

  1. ArticleJahn, R. G.; Dunne, B. J.; Nelson, R. D.; Dobyns, Y. H.; Bradish, G. J. (1997). Correlations of random binary sequences with pre-stated operator intention: a review of a 12-year program. Journal of Scientific Exploration 11(3), 345–367
  2. ArticleJahn, R. et al. (2000). Mind/Machine Interaction Consortium: PortREG replication experiments. Journal of Scientific Exploration 14(4), 499–555
  3. ArticleBösch, H.; Steinkamp, F.; Boller, E. (2006). Examining psychokinesis: the interaction of human intention with random number generators — a meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin 132(4), 497–523DOI 10.1037/0033-2909.132.4.497archive
  4. ArticleWilson, D. B.; Shadish, W. R. (2006). On blowing trumpets to the tulips: to prove or not to prove the null hypothesis — comment on Bösch, Steinkamp, and Boller (2006). Psychological Bulletin 132(4), 524–528DOI 10.1037/0033-2909.132.4.524archive
  5. ArticleRadin, D.; Nelson, R.; Dobyns, Y.; Houtkooper, J. (2006). Reexamining psychokinesis: comment on Bösch, Steinkamp, and Boller (2006). Psychological Bulletin 132(4), 529–532DOI 10.1037/0033-2909.132.4.529archive

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Cite this page

APA

Athena contributors. (2026). Telekinesis and psychokinesis. Athena: The tree of human knowledge. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://latifkedi.github.io/athena/en/d/telekinezi/

BibTeX
@misc{athena_telekinezi,
  title        = {Telekinesis and psychokinesis},
  author       = {{Athena contributors}},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://latifkedi.github.io/athena/en/d/telekinezi/}},
  note         = {Athena: The tree of human knowledge. Accessed: 2026-11-01}
}

Added: September 27, 2026 · Last changed: September 27, 2026 · Page history

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