Extrasensory perception (commonly abbreviated ESP) was a term used by 23rd century psychiatrists to describe the ability of Humans to perform activities that require use of sensing capabilities beyond the five basic senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.
In 2265 Starfleet believed that the ESP capacity in Humans was always quite limited, although it had been proven that some Humans could sometimes sense future happenings, read the backs of playing cards, see through solid objects, and cause fires to start spontaneously. There was controversy about the limits of such abilities as, despite such apparent evidence, Starfleet psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Dehner claimed that espers (those who exhibit ESP abilities) are "simply people with flashes of insight".
At that time Starfleet also had standardized tests to measure the aperception quotient (or "esper rating") of Humans to determine the degree of extrasensory perception present in an individual. Starfleet service records of the era included aperception quotient ratings.
Human contact with the galactic barrier in 2065 (by the SS Valiant) and 2265 (by the USS Enterprise) resulted in significant augmentation in ESP abilities in those who already had a very high aperception quotient. Those whose esper rating was high but not extraordinarily so were injured by the contact, but not augmented. Later contacts with the Barrier in 2268 by the USS Enterprise did not result in any identified injury or augmentation.
ESP, as a term, has only been used in reference to Humans.
- Dr. Dehner’s statement that the esper capacity in Humans is quite limited is in keeping with 21st century research. To date there have been absolutely no repeatable, scientifically verifiable demonstrations of ESP. All abilities are, so far, anecdotal – although some anecdotes warrant further research.