Citation

This study aimed to investigate anomalously modulated physiological

responses as an indicator of anomalous interactions between emotionally related partners. For this purpose, we used a modified version of the Guilty Knowledge Test. In this experiment, partners were spatially separated. One partner (Participant 1) was confronted with probe objects such that these objects gained particular significance for Participant 1. The other partner (Participant 2) was investigated for differences in their physiological responses to pictures of probe objects and pictures of objects that Participant 1 had not been confronted with (irrelevant objects). In the case of an anomalous interaction between participants, the particular significance of probe objects was expected to modulate the physiological responses of Participant 2. Physiological variables consisted of electrodermal activity, heart rate, respiratory activity, and pulse activity. Behavioral variables consisted of reaction times and hit rate in a guessing task. Paranormal beliefs and connectedness of participants were assessed, via questionnaires, as possible moderators for the performance of Participant 2. Correlations between questionnaire scores and physiological as well as behavioral variables were analyzed. Overall, the analyses revealed no anomalously modulated physiological responses or other indicators for anomalous interaction between participants. Methodological remarks and implications for future studies are discussed.