Was Washington State Ground Zero for PSI Experiments on Elementary School Kids by the CIA?

The Monroe Institute, founded in 1971 by Robert A. Monroe, is known for its work on altered states of consciousness using a technology called Hemi-Sync. This patented system of binaural beats synchronizes brain hemispheres to help users reach focused, relaxed, or expanded mental states. While most attention focuses on adult retreats and the Gateway Experience tapes, lesser-known applications reached public elementary schools in Washington state during the early 1980s. In particular, Tacoma-area educators worked with Monroe Institute affiliates to test Hemi-Sync as a tool for improving student attention and learning. These classroom trials involved young children and were presented as educational innovations.

Background on Hemi-Sync and the Monroe Institute

Robert A. Monroe, a former radio broadcasting executive turned consciousness researcher, developed Hemi-Sync after his own out-of-body experiences. He established the Monroe Institute in Virginia to explore sound-based methods for expanding human awareness. By the late 1970s, the institute began sharing its technology with professional members who saw potential beyond personal growth. The goal was to create practical applications for everyday settings, including education.

CIA Interest in the Monroe Institute and Hemi-Sync

During the 1970s and 1980s, the CIA showed documented interest in the Monroe Institute’s work as part of broader Cold War-era investigations into psychic phenomena, remote viewing, and altered states of consciousness. Declassified documents, including the 1983 report “Analysis and Assessment of the Gateway Process” by U.S. Army Lt. Col. Wayne McDonnell, analyzed Hemi-Sync technology and the Gateway Experience for potential military and intelligence applications. The agency explored whether these methods could enhance focus, enable out-of-body experiences, or support remote viewing programs.

The CIA collected and archived Monroe Institute materials, such as issues of the WAVES newsletter, which later appeared in the agency’s public reading room. While the CIA’s primary focus was on adult training and high-level consciousness research rather than K-12 education, this official interest helped legitimize and document Hemi-Sync within government circles. No evidence indicates direct CIA funding or oversight of the Washington school trials, but the technology tested in classrooms originated from the same institute under CIA scrutiny.

Key Figure: Devon Edrington

One prominent collaborator was Devon Edrington, a philosophy professor at Tacoma Community College in Washington state. Edrington worked directly with Robert Monroe to adapt Hemi-Sync patterns, often combined with neoclassical music, for use in schools. By the early 1980s, he had successfully used the technology in his college courses for about five years. He documented improvements in cognitive learning and student engagement. Edrington believed attention problems affected students at all levels and modified the approach specifically for younger children to help them develop better focus and self-control.

The Tacoma First-Grade Classroom Trial

The most detailed elementary school implementation took place in Tacoma Public Schools. JoDee Owens, a first-grade teacher, introduced Hemi-Sync to her classroom on the first day of the 1983-1984 school year. She played the specially prepared audio tracks for several hours each day initially. Over time, she reduced usage as students learned to enter the focused state on their own. After about two months, the sounds were needed only as occasional reminders.

According to reports shared with Edrington, the results were striking. Owens observed that her students reached performance levels typically seen at the end of first grade after just four weeks. The school principal noted the rapid progress. A district psychologist, along with parents and fellow teachers, commented on the calm, cooperative atmosphere and increased on-task behavior in the classroom.

Broader Experiments Across Western Washington

Edrington did not limit the trials to a single classroom. In May 1984, he organized sessions with twenty-four teachers from various school districts in western Washington. The participating students ranged from preschool through high school and included both gifted and special-education groups. Teachers incorporated the Hemi-Sync audio into their regular lessons.

Although some trials lasted only a few hours, eighteen of the reporting teachers described positive outcomes. Common benefits included greater student focus, reduced behavior issues, and a more pleasant learning environment. One special-education teacher from Aberdeen, Washington, stated that she would rather retire early than return to teaching without the tool.

Connections to the Monroe Institute

These school programs were directly tied to the Monroe Institute. Edrington served as a professional member and collaborated with Robert Monroe on the sound technology. Monroe Institute publications, such as the WAVES newsletter, featured his work. The institute supported practical applications of Hemi-Sync in learning environments, and Edrington’s projects supplied real-world data from public schools.

Legacy and Reflections

Devon Edrington passed away in 1986, which limited further expansion of these specific programs. Public records and later references to his work appear in books and papers on binaural beats for learning. Today, some adults who attended elementary schools in the Tacoma area during the 1980s recall special sessions with headphones and unusual audio, often linked to gifted programs.

The story of Hemi-Sync in Washington elementary schools represents an intriguing chapter in applied consciousness research. What started as exploration at the Monroe Institute, later examined by the CIA for intelligence potential, found its way into everyday classrooms through dedicated local educators. These early efforts remain a notable footnote in the history of sound technology, education, and the study of attention and learning.

References

• Edrington, Devon. “Hemi-Sync in the Classroom.” Synopsis and letter dated June 21, 1984. Archived at Internet Archive.

• Monroe Institute of Applied Sciences. WAVES newsletter. CIA Reading Room document CIA-RDP96-00788R001700210039-0.

• “Analysis and Assessment of the Gateway Process.” CIA declassified document, 1983.

• “Selected papers on using hemi-sync and binaural phasing.” Available at rebprotocol.net.

• Contemporary discussions in online forums referencing 1980s Tacoma school experiences with Gateway or Hemi-Sync audio.