METHODS

Equipment & Basic Method 1979 - 2010

The methods employed Initially were inevitably wide ranging: the Physical Reaction phenomenon needed to be examined to see whether it was either an "ideo-motor" response generated purely from within the body (consciously or subconsciously) or on the other hand, was a 'sensory-motor' reflex-response to an external stimulus.[1] A number of simple preliminary tests (somewhat lacking in rigorous scientific methodology) were carried out between 1979 and 1982 using the investigator as 'subject' whilst holding an instrument inspired by Guy Underwood's 'Geodesic Link-Rod' [2] - the function of which he described as to:

"… exaggerate and render perceptible such small reflex movements in the muscles of the operator's arms and hands" [3]

In other words, an instrument which could amplify subtle changes in homeostasis between the left and right sides of the body [4]. A slightly modified version of Underwood's 3-part instrument was used throughout the investigation (see the three photo Plates below).

A prerequisite for the investigation was a period of instrument development and secondly, running parallel with this, a period of several months undergoing self-training in how best to hold it i.e., practice was required in order to maintain the hands and lower arm in the horizontal plane in a controlled yet relaxed manner - the development of this skill was a crucial first step.

Construction of the instrument required matching the strength-to-weight ratio of the central 'Link-rod' (weight ~ 2.5 gm) to the flexing power of the spring wire. This involved careful adjustment to enable it to be held by the hands in unstable equilibrium without too much effort over sustained periods of time. Nickel-wound gauge wire of 0.039 inch or preferably 0.052 inch (1.0-1.32 mm) was found to be suitable. A lighter gauge wire required a less heavy Link-rod but made the 'link' either less robust for field work and liable to be bent if made of thinner copper rod or more awkward to construct if made of rigid steel or aluminium i.e., not easily soldered. Conversely, if the copper Link-rod was too heavy for the spring wire it gave the instrument too much 'bounce' for relaxed operation. Bearing these factors in mind, the device was constructed using copper, plate brass, and nickel-wound spring wire: all materials that could easily be soldered and manipulated at the required scale. It was essential that the middle 'link' section be made from a rod of sufficient thickness (1.75 – 2.00 mm) to remain rigid, while under slight pressure from the spring, so that it rotated smoothly within the holes at each end making up its hinged connection. The addition of a wooden handle gave not only an improved grip on the instrument thus, reducing tension in the hand, but also provided insulation from the cold chill of metal during winter observations.

To develop sufficient skill to employ the instrument as an amplifier of the subject's muscular reflex reactions in the sagittal plane, the instrument must be held in unstable, horizontal equilibrium between the fingers of the Left & Right hands while simultaneously walking steadily in any one direction - with arms bent and held with elbows firmly tucked-in at waist height (see plate 1.7 above). 

[NOTE: The gripping of a small notebook, or something similar, between the elbows and the waist can be a good way of practising how to hold the muscles of the upper arm in a fixed position; thereby not only assisting the hands maintain their position in the horizontal plane, but also helping to dampen any movements connected to the physical action of walking]. 

The Right-handed subject grips the wooden handle firmly with the fingers of the Right hand while the thumb and forefinger of the Left Hand hold the spring-wire and simultaneously apply a continuous gentle horizontal pressure, towards the body, through the Link-rod. When an even balance of Left/Right muscle tension is achieved, a series of vertical deflections of the Link-rod can be expected to take place as the operator moves continually forwards (or backwards) and in between each deflection, the connecting bar should automatically return to the horizontal plane. Whilst walking in a similar manner but without holding such an instrument between the two hands, renders these micro-muscle adjustments imperceptible. The deflections produced by the 'Link-Rod' will not only be seen by the subject or by an independent observer but also 'felt' by the subject as a differential pressure on their finger-tips, due to the spring wire moving downwards as the link-rod changes angle.

During this initial exploration of the physiological aspects of the phenomenon (carried out intermittently over the 30-year period from 1979 to 2009) little wider reading beyond Underwood's book was carried out and no attempt made to contact other individuals who might be experiencing or exploring this physical reaction i.e., in psychological terms the subject was a 'blank slate' and carried out the investigation in complete isolation, free of possible outside influences. This long, spasmodic, opening investigation endeavoured to establish whether the observed reaction phenomenon was in fact being brought about by an external stimulus or whether the pattern of reactions was being generated from within the body and thus, was founded on delusion or an alternative reality.

NOTE: There was a possibility that the stimulation came about unconsciously - as part of the physical action of walking or breathing. On the other hand, it was equally possible that it came about as a conscious or unconscious 'ideo-motor' movement – perhaps as a direct response to a visual stimulus in the environment or maybe as an indirect response to objects at a subconscious level - to which the reading of Underwood's book could have drawn attention].

The phenomenon was examined not only while walking at different speeds but also while walking with eyes tight closed, and during the hours of darkness. Observations were also made in the 3-km hinterland surrounding the site: while walking across the fields or along their granite walled boundaries; while hiking through the forests and woodlands along various tracks; and while striding across the mud flats of the Solway Estuary at low tide. Further investigations were carried out at distant, neutral locations (non-archaeological) such as above 800 m in the Galloway hills and also while abroad on the geophysically very different limestone rock of SE Cyprus.

The purpose of the various tests was twofold. Firstly, to establish the whether the 'feel' of the distribution of the reactions changed in different places: in other words, whether the distribution was random or patterned (although initially, no precise measurements were carried out); and secondly, to reduce the likelihood of expectations beforehand - by working in unfamiliar locations.

Simultaneously, the alternative hypothesis was explored: 'that an external stimulus might be causing the reaction phenomenon'. This required the development of systems to visualise and describe the occurrence of the phenomenon in three-dimensional space in order to see if their location produced any arrangement or pattern which might indicate a possible source of the stimulus.

Initial attempts (1979-80) to capture this hypothetical 'external' stimulus were crude in method – such as examining the vertical plane by walking along a table top and comparing a reaction location standing high with one recorded below at ground level; or examining the horizontal plane by making a vague sketch, without measurements, of 'Response Locations' on a reproduction of a simple surveyor's plan of the site.

Step by step methods were improved as the author homed-in on the problem and was able to set time aside to tackle it. In 1987 a larger site plan was created (scale of 1:100) on which response locations were recorded with more precision. The 'Reaction Point' distances from various reference points on the buildings were measured and recorded to allow the distribution and orientation of any zones or vectors of reaction to be seen. However, the accumulated positions were all drawn directly on this one single sheet and observations were spread over many weeks. Such a spasmodic approach had consequences which only became apparent in 2014 when the importance of time was recognised (see results section 2014 – 2015).

References:

[1] Woodworth R, Schlosberg H, 'Experimental Psychology' Methuen & Co, London 1961.

[2] Underwood G, 'The Pattern of the Past', Museum Press, 1969. P.30

[3] Underwood G, 'The Pattern of the Past', Museum Press, 1969. P.19

[4] Mian, O.S, Day, B. L., 'Violation of the Craniocentricity Principle for Vestibularly Evoked Balance Responses under Conditions of Anisotropic Stability', Journal of Neuroscience, 34(22):7696-7703, 28 May, 2014.