A declassified manual linked to experiments conducted by the U.S. Army and the CIA claims that U.S. intelligence researchers developed a simple five-step technique designed to enhance the body’s natural abilities using only the power of the mind.

According to the Daily Mail, the 21-page document was produced in 1977 by the Monroe Institute in Virginia. It outlines techniques intended to expand human perception, improve concentration, enhance problem-solving, relieve pain, and boost energy levels.

The manual, which was declassified and released by the CIA in 2003, formed part of the training material reviewed by the U.S. Army’s Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) during the Cold War.

A Five-Step Technique for “Power and Speed”

On page 14, the manual describes a method that its authors claimed could “charge” the body with greater strength and speed before a physically demanding task, such as lifting a heavy object or sprinting.

Participants were instructed to close their eyes briefly, take a deep breath, and, while inhaling, focus simultaneously on two things: the physical action they were about to perform and the image of a “powerful red energy” filling their body.

As they exhaled, they were instructed to open their eyes and immediately carry out the action. According to the manual, this process would improve coordination, accelerate reflexes, and enhance physical performance.

“You will be able to immediately perform the physical action you have imagined, with much greater strength, much greater speed, and complete coordination of your body,” the manual states.

The Gateway Program and Hemi-Sync Technology

The exercises formed part of a series of classified programs reportedly funded by the CIA between approximately 1972 and 1995 to study human consciousness and its potential applications for intelligence personnel and special operations.

The Monroe Institute, a private research organization that remains active today, developed the Gateway Program, which was based on the Hemi-Sync audio technology created by its founder, Robert Monroe.

According to the institute, specially designed audio frequencies could synchronize the brain’s left and right hemispheres, inducing a state of deep relaxation while simultaneously increasing focus and mental clarity.

The manual also warned that these techniques were not intended for the general public. It advised that anyone who had not completed the first session of the Gateway Program should not attempt to use them.

It further cautioned that improper use of the methods could result in “undesirable and uncontrollable consequences.”

“Psychic Spies” and the Stargate Project

Beyond techniques for improving concentration and controlling pain, the material has also been associated with some of the CIA’s most controversial Cold War programs, including the Stargate Project.

One area of research focused on so-called remote viewing—the claimed ability to obtain information about distant objects, locations, events, or individuals without using the known senses.

Participants in these experiments reportedly claimed they could locate hostages, identify drug traffickers, detect secret Soviet naval vessels thousands of kilometers away, and even observe non-human life forms on the Moon.

The declassified manual includes a section titled “Perception of Distant Events and People,” which provides instructions for trained operators on how to clear their minds before attempting remote viewing.

“With practice, this becomes an excellent method for remote observation and sending messages to another person,” the manual states.

Although the claims surrounding these techniques remain highly controversial and have not been scientifically validated, the declassified documents provide a glimpse into the Cold War era, when U.S. intelligence agencies explored even the most unconventional ideas in their search for strategic advantages in espionage and special operations.