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Activity #2: Effects of Chemical Agents on Bodily Functions, Mentation, Attitude, Etc.

1. Our laboratory at the [...] is already set up for psychological, neurological and pharmacological studies on humans. Such studies are being carried on at this time using patients as subjects. All patients referred to are unwitting of real interest on our part. Such patient-subjects will be available for these studies made by the [...] under Activity #2 [...] which will not involve harm to the subjects. A staff of neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, and psychologists is available and ready to be assigned to these investigations as soon as security clearance is granted.

2. Because studies of the effects of drugs and brain damage, etc., in humans have been limited by lack of understanding of the highest integrative functions of the brain as well as by lack of definitive methods of testing these functions, the study of the mechanisms involved in thought, emotion, behavior conditioning and memory will be the overt aspect of this activity as well as an integral part of the covert study. In developing the methods for use in this study we intend to draw upon all the open resources of neurology and psychology to which we have wide access. We are already engaged in canvassing major centers of research for young scientists of the highest caliber who can be assigned to the task of developing new methods of studying brain function.

3. We also require access to all of the accumulated information of the Agency in this field. We wish to begin to review the ARTICHOKE program as soon as possible.

4. We are now setting up a battery of the best of the known testing procedures for these higher brain functions and have assigned members of our staff to begin the investigation of persons with normal brains, persons with psychological disorders and various forms of brain damage, and persons under the influence of openly available drugs affecting brain function.

5. Potentially useful secret drugs (and various brain damaging procedures) will be similarly tested in order to ascertain their fundamental effect upon brain function and upon the subject's mood, thought, behavior conditioning, memory and speech mechanisms. As these drugs are investigated, a concurrent search for antidotes or counter measures will be conducted. Where any of these studies involve potential harm to the subject, we expect the Agency to make available suitable subjects and a proper place for the performance of necessary experiments.

6. When drugs, after initial study appear to have useful potentialities for offensive and/or defensive intelligence operations, we shall test them by laboratory experiments designed to reproduce the actual operational situations in which they will be used. In designing and executing these experiments we expect to have the advice and assistance of qualified Agency personnel. We will also help design and participate in Field trials of these drugs.

7. As new information is accumulated about the fundamental notion of drugs upon the brain, we hope to be able to make valuable suggestions regarding the development of new drugs and new uses for presently known drugs applicable to the offensive and defensive aspects of intelligence operations.

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