Charles Henry Honorton (5 February 1946 – 4 November 1992) was an American parapsychologist best known for his pioneering work on the ganzfeld technique, an experimental method used to investigate claims of extrasensory perception (ESP), particularly telepathy.
Honorton also developed automated approaches to ganzfeld testing and was a prominent figure in experimental parapsychology during the late 20th century.
Early life
Honorton developed an early interest in consciousness research and paranormal phenomena. As a teenager, he corresponded with J. B. Rhine, founder of the parapsychology laboratory at Duke University, and spent time at Rhine's research facility.
He studied at the University of Minnesota from 1965 to 1966, where he became involved with the Minnesota Society for Psychic Research, serving as research coordinator.
Career
In 1974, Honorton joined the dream telepathy research programme led by Stanley Krippner and Montague Ullman at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.
During his time at Maimonides, Honorton became involved in the development and refinement of the ganzfeld procedure, which used sensory reduction techniques to test claims of telepathic communication under controlled conditions.
In 1979, Honorton founded the Psychophysical Research Laboratories (PRL) in Princeton, New Jersey. The laboratory continued research into ganzfeld experiments while also investigating areas such as micro-psychokinesis.
Honorton was active within the Parapsychological Association, serving as president in 1975 and receiving the organisation's Exceptional Contribution Award in 1988.
In 1991, he joined the Koestler Parapsychology Unit at the University of Edinburgh, where he worked on an automated version of the ganzfeld procedure known as the autoganzfeld.
He was collaborating with psychologist Daryl Bem on a publication examining ganzfeld research when he died suddenly from a heart attack on 4 November 1992. The resulting paper was completed by Bem and published posthumously in 1994.
Legacy
Honorton's work remains influential within parapsychology, particularly in relation to experimental approaches to studying alleged psi phenomena.
Supporters regard his ganzfeld research as among the strongest experimental evidence produced within the field, while critics have questioned whether the reported effects can be separated from methodological issues, statistical limitations or other non-paranormal explanations.