Can specific biological signals be digitized?

Abstract

At the request of the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, we attempted to replicate the data of Professor Jacques Benveniste that digital signals recorded on a computer disc produce specific biological effects. The hypothesis was that a digitized thrombin inhibitor signal would inhibit the fibrinogen-thrombin coagulation pathway. Because of the controversies associated with previous research of Prof. Benveniste, we developed a system for the management of social controversy in science that incorporated an expert in social communication and conflict management. The social management approach was an adaptation of interactional communication theory, for management of areas that interfere with the conduct of good science. This process allowed us to successfully complete a coordinated effort by a multidisciplinary team, including Prof. Benveniste, a hematologist, engineer, skeptic, statistician, neuroscientist and conflict management expert. Our team found no replicable effects from digital signals.

The Evolution of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the USA over the Last 20 Years

“…Most of these issues emerged when the OAM held the first NIH conference on definitions and epistemology [9]. These were quickly followed by NIH technology assessment conferences on meditation and mind-body practices [17], acupuncture [18], the role of placebo in medicine and research [19], and the use of social conflict management for assuring completion of studies in controversial areas like cancer [20] and homeopathy [21]. Some of these issues were subsequently taken up both inside and outside the alternative medicine fields.…”

Laboratory Research in Homeopathy: Pro

“…However, the contention that digital signals recorded on a computer disk produce specific biological signals was not confirmed in a replication trial. 41 Admittedly, there still remains some uncertainty about details of water structure, and further in-depth studies are necessary to provide deeper insight into the nature of this substance, which may further our understanding of the philosophy and science of homeopathic potentization.…”

“Memory of Water” Without Water: Modeling of Benveniste’s Experiments with a Personalist Interpretation of Probability

“…The results of this expertise have been described in an article in 2006 (Jonas et al 2006). The authors concluded that results supporting ''digital biology'' were obtained when members of Benveniste's team were present, but they were unable to reproduce these results in their absence.…”