Project CHATTER

Project CHATTER was a United States Navy program that began in the fall of 1947. Focused on identifying and testing truth serums, it was a response to the Soviet's supposed success in using such drugs to interrogate U.S. prisoners during the Korean War. The project was officially terminated in 1953.

History[edit | edit source]

Project CHATTER was initiated by the Navy in response to reports of mind-control techniques being used by the Soviet Union on U.S. prisoners of war during the Korean War. The project aimed to develop methods for obtaining information from individuals through interrogation and truth serums.

The project was heavily influenced by the work of Dr. Winfred Overholser, who was researching the use of truth serums at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C. Overholser's work focused on the use of Scopolamine, a drug that was believed to inhibit the higher functions of the brain, making the individual more susceptible to suggestion.

Research and Findings[edit | edit source]

The research conducted under Project CHATTER included drug testing, hypnosis, and the use of other chemicals. The primary drug tested was Scopolamine, but other drugs such as Mescaline and Anabasine were also used.

The project found that Scopolamine was effective in making individuals more susceptible to suggestion, but it also had significant side effects, including hallucinations and long-term memory loss. The project also found that hypnosis could be effective in certain situations, but it was not a reliable method for extracting information.

Termination and Legacy[edit | edit source]

Project CHATTER was officially terminated in 1953, but its research and findings were incorporated into later projects, such as Project MKUltra, which was run by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The project has been criticized for its ethical implications, including the use of human subjects in drug testing. It has also been cited as an example of the U.S. government's involvement in mind control and interrogation techniques during the Cold War.