Surveys have repeatedly shown that many people believe in the existence of anomalous cognitive phenomena, that is, phenomena directly challenging the standard ontological assumptions of conventional science. This includes the belief in the fundamental interconnectedness of consciousness and the physical world, including the belief in the power of “mental causation.” By contrast, conventional science views consciousness as an epiphenomenon, that is, a by-product of neuronal activity with no causal, or co-causal, powers of its own. This definition is consistent with the ruling scientific metaphysics called physicalism—the position that all phenomena, including life and mind, can at least in principle be wholly derived from physical processes. However, could a future breakthrough in our understanding of consciousness and cognition reach beyond neuro-determinism and physicalism? For example, might advances in research on anomalous cognition allow for a new scientific perspective on consciousness to emerge? Historically, many laboratory studies exploring anomalous cognition have claimed that consciousness is a causal, or co-causal, factor in the physical world, and not merely a vivid but powerless illusion. At the very least, the historical database from anomalous cognition research suggests the existence of anomalous correlations between human conscious intent and physical outcome measures, that is, psycho-physical correlations that—taken at face value—appear to challenge the known Laws of Nature. 

Using advanced methodologies, could new experimental studies confirm any of the extraordinary claims reported and discussed in anomalous cognition research? Paradox Science Institute seeks to make new progress towards addressing that question. Briefly, the Institute’s research projects on anomalous cognition are considering the possibility of (anomalous) information as a nexus between mind and matter, or mind and mind. For explanation, research on anomalous cognition has frequently argued that anomalous (or quantum) informational exchanges might be the source of many of the reported effects in this research area. However, whether any of the reported anomalous results presents a true-positive finding remains unknown. The Institute seeks to develop and implement advanced methodologies for increasing the chances of making reliable discoveries in anomalous cognition research. The goal of the Nexus program is to help clarify whether the wide-spread belief in the existence of anomalous cognitive phenomena could be supported by confirmatory evidence using advanced scientific methodologies.