Outcomes of Preregistered Studies Related to Extra-Sensory Perception, and Mind-Matter Interaction: A Systematic Review
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: This review systematically examined preregistered studies on extrasensory perception (ESP) and mind-matter interaction (micropsychokinesis; i.e., micro-PK) available through October 2026. The primary aims were to evaluate their outcomes and compare the percentage of positive findings with those observed in mainstream psychology. We followed the PRISMA Guidelines. We searched major preregistration repositories, including the Open Science Framework and the Koestler Parapsychology Unit (KPU) Study Registry, and relevant meta-analyses. Inclusion criteria focused on completed studies with available preregistration and final results only for confirmatory hypotheses. A positive outcome was defined as the support of at least one confirmatory hypothesis, strictly following preregistered procedures and statistics without deviation. A total of 50 studies with a total of 60 experiments, met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of these, 17 experiments (28.3%) reported a positive outcome, and 20 confirmatory hypotheses out of 97 (20.6%) were positive.Interestingly, and contrary to some expectations, a broader comparison indicated that preregistered studies concerning ESP and PK did not necessarily exhibit a much lower proportion of confirmed hypotheses when compared with results for preregistered studies in mainstream psychology.
Authors: Patrizio Tressoldi, Lance Storm
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7221078275