The three best scientific explanations for ghost sightings

From ghosts to ghouls, from witches to wizards, Halloween is the one time of yr when people come together to have fun all things supernatural. But beyond fancy dress and trick-or-treating, belief in ghosts is definitely relatively common – with 38% of individuals are believers and the same number who actually reported seeing one.

The term “ghost” refers to the concept the spirits of the dead – people and animals – influence the physical world. The idea of ​​a haunting can often include anything from a felt presence or moving objects to ghostly activity.

However, in a world filled with science and reason, these “hauntings” can often be reduced to a quite simple explanation. With Halloween just across the corner, listed here are the highest three scientific and psychological explanations for hauntings, ghosts, ghouls and all things supernatural – even though it must be noted that many necessary questions are yet to be answered…

1. Because I told you so

Attempts to elucidate hauntings often depend on psychological aspects – resembling suggestions – so information that a spot is haunted is more more likely to result in ghosts.

One classic examination Study participants visited five foremost areas of the theater before completing a questionnaire designed to evaluate their feelings and perceptions. Before the tour, one group was told that the place was haunted and the opposite group was told that the constructing was under renovation. Not surprisingly, participants who were told the place was haunted experienced more intense paranormal-like experiences.

Verbal suggestion has also been shown to extend the perception of paranormal phenomena – as shown in tests on séance phenomena, paranormal keybending, and paranormal reading – especially when the suggestion is consistent with existing paranormal beliefs.

But tests in real-world conditions produced inconsistent results. Investigation in a supposedly haunted place Hampton Court found that the suggestion had no effect on participants' expectations of experiencing unusual phenomena or their tendency to attribute unusual phenomena to ghosts.

So it's secure to say that the results of suggestion vary depending on an individual's beliefs. And in fact, paranormal believers are inclined to support alleged paranormal phenomena, while skeptics will deny the existence of paranormal phenomena.

2. Electromagnetic fields and spooky sounds

Other explanations depend on environmental aspects resembling electromagnetic fields and infrasound. Canadian neuroscientist Michael Persinger have shown that applying different electromagnetic fields to the temporal lobes of the brain can induce memorable experiences – resembling the perception of presence, the sense of God or the feeling of touch. It was also noted that areas most related to hauntings – resembling Hampton Court – do indeed feature irregular magnetic fields.

Similarly, infrasound – a sound frequency below the human hearing range – is assumed to elucidate such phenomena. In several studies combined infrasound and strange sensations.

In one example, live contemporary music was mixed with infrasound and the audience was then asked to explain their reactions to the music. More unusual experiences were reported when infrasound was present – chills down the spine, feeling nervous, waves of fear and anxiety or sadness.

3. Toxic hallucinations

“Supernatural” observations can also result from this reactions to toxic substances – resembling carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and pesticides. It has also been suggested that fungal hallucinations – attributable to toxic mold – may stimulate the perceptions related to hauntings.

Shane Rogers and his band from Clarkson University within the USA observed similarities between paranormal experiences and the hallucinogenic effects of mushroom spores. This may explain why ghost sightings often occur in older buildings with inadequate ventilation and poor air quality.

This concept will not be recent and has been reported by experts before similar effect as within the case of old books. They argue that mere exposure to toxic molds may cause significant psychological or neurological symptoms that produce sensations much like those reported in hauntings.