Are ghosts real?

Five logical answers have been offered by two researchers from the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at London’s Goldsmiths University for why individuals see ghosts, which, while anomalous, are not paranormal.

Are ghosts real?

Their research is part of a BBC Three investigation, the most recent effort to try to come up with a rational scientific explanation for ghosts and other supernatural beings.

Sleep Paralysis

Many ghost stories can be explained by sleep paralysis, claims Dr. Chris French of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at London’s Goldsmiths University.

People’s bodies remain immobile when they are dreaming, which can cause rapid eye movement (REM).

People who experience sleep paralysis may find themselves awake but immobile.

It feels like someone is in your room or like something is pressing you down, according to the NHS website.

According to Dr. French, a “small percentage” of people who have sleep paralysis may also experience hallucinations.

Also read: Why are ghosts always shown in white clothes?

He adds that “sleep paralysis is a kind of glitch in the normal sleep mechanisms.”

“It can be terrifying. One student of mine told me about waking up and there’s a black cat by the side of the bed hissing at him.

“But it had an inverted cat skull with black goo dripping from its mouth.”

Prior belief, context, hallucinations

Dr. French emphasized that prior belief, context, and hallucinations are the three psychological factors that contribute to people’s belief in ghosts.

It is a psychological phenomena that when you know a place is haunted, you notice every shiver, creak, and shadow. The experience of learning a new term and then using it regularly is analogous to this phenomena.

He continued, “People think of ghosts going through walls and rattling chains when they hear the word ghost. People do report such things, but they are extremely infrequent. It’s much more likely to be more vague sensations. A sense of presence. Feeling dizzy, changes in temperature shivers up the spine.”

French continues that context is also key.

“If you’re shown around an old building and somebody says it’s haunted… you’ll notice every little creak and change in temperature in a way you wouldn’t have done otherwise.”

Hallucinations are way more common occurrences people think.

“Anybody can hallucinate under conditions like extreme sleep deprivation, high stress or high temperature,” he added.

Electromagnetic fields

Dr. French continues by saying that electromagnetic waves can disrupt human brain function and result in hallucinations.

These waves may originate from man-made or natural sources.

Infrared, ultrasonic sound

There are a lot of sounds in the world that are either too high or too low for humans to hear.

However, these lower frequencies, particularly those around 19 hertz, can cause very tiny eye vibrations that lead to optical illusions.

Professor French and his team looked examined how electromagnetic fields and hidden sounds affected people’s perceptions of ghosts.

Participants were exposed to electromagnetic and infrasound activities to achieve this. People did notice strange sensations in the room, French said.

Around 8% of the participants, he observed, even claimed to have been terrified.

Surprisingly, the investigation showed that the results were mostly unaffected by electromagnetic and infrasound environments.

French explained that people who are more susceptible to suggestion will be more likely to notice weird occurrences if they are primed with the idea that they may encounter them in space.

However, rather than being the result of a supernatural force, this impact can only be traced to the power of suggestion.

Mould

Unassuming component mould frequently appears in reports of paranormal activity. Mold is commonly found in “haunted” locations, according to Dr. Shane Rogers, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Clarkson University in New York.

Rogers noticed strange behavior in his kids after they were exposed to mold in the basement of their house.

After Rogers saw multiple TV programs that focused on allegedly haunted homes, the relationship between mould and unsettling locales became more clear.

Mold growth was discovered in many of these old buildings, which are known for their creaks.

Shortness of breath and the appearance of dark shapes drifting across one’s eyes can both be brought on by the Aspergillus mold, which is frequently present in moist conditions.

On the other hand, research has shown that Stachybotrys, sometimes known as black mould, can cause mice to become frightened.