Monday, February 18, 2013

What is Project MKUltra? [Research]

My technothriller novel Dead Links makes some references to Project MKUltra. One reader emailed me, asking to expand on  it.

MKUltra essentially was a project by the U.S. government to develop an effective method of mind control. It sounds like some crazy conspiracy theory, but it was real. Here's an overview from Wikipedia:
MKUltra is the code name for a covert research operation experimenting in the behavioral engineering of humans (mind control) through the CIA's Scientific Intelligence Division.The project attempted to produce a perfect "truth drug" for use in interrogating suspected Soviet spies during the Cold War, and generally to explore any other possibilities of mind control.

 The program engaged in many illegal activities; in particular it used unwitting U.S. and Canadian citizens as its test subjects, which led to controversy regarding its legitimacy. MKUltra involved the use of many methodologies to manipulate people's individual mental states and alter brain functions, including the surreptitious administration of drugs (especially LSD) and other chemicals, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, isolation, verbal and sexual abuse, as well as various forms of torture.

 The scope of Project MKUltra was broad, with research undertaken at 80 institutions, including 44 colleges and universities, as well as hospitals, prisons and pharmaceutical companies.The CIA operated through these institutions using front organizations, although sometimes top officials at these institutions were aware of the CIA's involvement.

The program began in the early 1950s, was officially sanctioned in 1953, was reduced in scope in 1964, further curtailed in 1967 and "officially halted" in 1973.
Many modern conspiracy theories often cite and reference MKUltra, mixing fact and fiction. They imagine that the project continued in secret, and has expanded into everything from hypnosis to cybernetic brain implants. While all available evidence indicates the project no longer exists, Dead Links imagines what would happen if the research from MKUltra continued into our Internet age.

[Image: Human Brain from stock.xchng]

8 comments:

  1. I'd heard about the LSD tests. I certainly wouldn't want to be in the mind of anyone on that drug!

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    1. Yeah, the LSD didn't have the consequences they thought it would. The gov thought it would make people open to suggestion. It really just made them hallucinate.

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  2. That sounds really interesting. I'd really like to see how this governmental mind-control thing plays into your novel.

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    1. It's pretty critical to the background of the whole thing

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  3. Ah MKUltra, there are some very famous graduates from that and programs like it. There was a lot of money in that sort of thing.

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    1. Yup, and the government is still using some of the research, particularly in torture

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  4. Ooo, I love a good conspiracy theory, and I have no clue why I hadn't heard of this one before!

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    1. It's a good one. Mainly conspiracy theories spring from this true incident

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