History

The Monroe Institute had its beginnings in the Research and Development Division of Monroe Industries, Inc., which at the time (1958) was investigating methods and techniques of accelerated learning through practical environmental changes. As a result of certain findings, the decision was made to broaden the research. So in 1971, the Monroe Institute was created to facilitate this new expanded approach.

Early History—Research and Development

The early goals were defined as the development or learning methods and techniques solely through practical environmental changes. No chemical, drug, or dietary stimulation what-so-ever. Also, to be widely adoptable, Bob determined the use of sophisticated or expensive instrumentation should not be a necessity.

Robert Monroe, Pat Price and Russell Targ, at SRI, circa 1974

The purpose was to produce something effective in a new form, rather than an extension or expansion of traditional practices. He evaluated 3 different types of learning. Type 1, retention-recall as related to the intensity of the experience. Type II, deliberate and willful learning process and Type III, the non-conscious retention of experience and the non-conscious self—the dream experience. It was Type III learning that initially held the most hopeful promise of achieving Bob’s research objective.

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