Jun 01, 2026 12:00:00

A psychologist explains 'three factors' that increase the likelihood of seeing ghosts or encountering paranormal phenomena.

While not many people openly claim to see ghosts,

one in five Americans says they have seen a ghost, indicating that many people have had paranormal experiences. Melissa Maffeo , an associate professor of psychology at Wake Forest University in the United States, explains three factors that increase the likelihood of seeing a ghost or encountering paranormal phenomena.

Is my brain wired to never see a ghost? A psychologist on three factors that make a paranormal experience more likely
https://theconversation.com/is-my-brain-wired-to-never-see-a-ghost-a-psychologist-on-three-factors-that-make-a-paranormal-experience-more-likely-279812

As a psychologist, Maffeo often thinks about the subjectivity with which people interpret various experiences. 'I wonder if there isn't a very ordinary explanation for seemingly extraordinary experiences. Perhaps various everyday factors come together to create a feeling that is paranormal,' he says, listing three factors that may cause paranormal phenomena.

◆1: Environmental stimuli
In paranormal investigation programs, investigators often visit locations rumored to be haunted, armed with portable electromagnetic wave detectors, and point out that 'the electromagnetic waves are showing abnormal levels.' Electromagnetic waves are invisible energy formed by electrically charged particles, and as of the time of writing, there is no evidence that humans can perceive electromagnetic waves in the same way that humans can touch, see, or hear objects in their surroundings. However, numerous research findings have been reported suggesting a link between electromagnetic waves and ghost sightings.

Experiments conducted in Edinburgh, England , showed that electromagnetic field fluctuations were greater in locations where ghost sightings had occurred. Similarly, research conducted at Hampton Court Palace in southwest London also found greater electromagnetic field fluctuations in locations believed to be haunted. These results suggest that people may unconsciously perceive changes in environmental stimuli, such as electromagnetic fields, and interpret these changes as being caused by ghosts.

In a 2009 study , subjects were placed in a specially designed small room, and environmental factors, including electromagnetic fields, were altered, and they were asked how they felt. The results showed that subjects reported dizziness, a feeling of being detached from their bodies, and even a sense of 'something being there,' but these experiences occurred regardless of the researchers' changes to the electromagnetic field. Interestingly, the subjects who experienced unusual sensations were those who had a stronger belief in paranormal phenomena.

Maffeo summarized, 'Could environmental factors like electromagnetic fields lead to the perception of paranormal phenomena? On the one hand, there is a correlation between places where ghosts are said to appear and fluctuations in electromagnetic fields. There is also some evidence suggesting that humans can sense magnetism . On the other hand, manipulating electromagnetic fields in a laboratory environment has not been consistent with strange sensations.'

◆2: Disruption of the nervous system
Researchers sometimes apply electrical currents to patients' brains as part of the treatment for mental illnesses. When a weak current is applied to

the temporoparietal junction , the area where the temporal and parietal lobes of the brain meet, subjects sometimes report feeling as if 'someone is nearby,' 'someone is mimicking or imitating my movements,' or 'I experienced an out-of-body experience where my consciousness separated from my body.'

Experimental evidence suggests that the temporoparietal junction is crucial for the sense of 'being in the body,' and disrupting the function of this brain region appears to make one feel as if their consciousness is detached from their body. Neuroscientists do not fully understand how bodily sensations are constructed in the brain, but it is thought that the brain integrates things like balance and spatial awareness with other internal processes such as self-awareness and agency. Maffeo points out that when this integration breaks down, people will experience strange sensations.

One experience resulting from nervous system disruption is what is medically known as sleep paralysis, or 'sleep paralysis.' During REM sleep , when we experience the most vivid dreams, the brain sends signals to suppress the movement of the body's skeletal muscles to prevent the body from reacting to the dream's content and moving. However, some people wake up during REM sleep and realize they 'cannot move,' and at the same time experience vivid hallucinations due to the influence of their dreams. This period is not long, but the suppression of skeletal muscle movement creates a mismatch between the body's and brain's feedback, and some people experience fear due to the lost sensory information, leading to the experience of 'sleep paralysis.'

◆3: Personality traits
To see a ghost or encounter a paranormal phenomenon, one must attribute some experience to the work of a paranormal entity or a ghost. For example, even if several people are exposed to the same electromagnetic field and experience a strange sensation, some may attribute that sensation to a paranormal phenomenon, while others may think, 'Something felt strange, but I don't know why.'

In recent years, there has been a growing number of studies suggesting that people with a personality trait called '

schizotypy ' are more likely to believe in paranormal phenomena. Schizotypy is associated with magical thinking, distorted thinking, abnormal thoughts, and disorganized behavior, and it can make it difficult for people to form close relationships.

People with strong schizotypic tendencies are more likely to believe in paranormal phenomena , experience a disconnect between body and mind, and have spontaneous sensations without external triggers , and may have difficulty distinguishing themselves from others. It should be noted that schizotypic tendencies are merely a personality trait and are not related to whether or not a person has schizophrenia.

Maffeo suggests that whether or not someone believes in ghosts and paranormal phenomena may be a key factor in why some people are more likely to encounter them. In a 1997 study , when subjects walking through an abandoned theater in the United States were told either 'the theater is haunted' or 'the theater is under renovation,' only those who were told the theater was haunted reported strange sensations caused by paranormal activity.

Maffeo stated, 'Let's say someone who believes in the paranormal experiences natural changes in electromagnetic fields or sleep paralysis. These experiences cause strange sensations that they cannot explain. In their attempt to find meaning in the ambiguity, they blur the distinction between internally occurring and externally occurring sensations. And they end up with the only explanation that makes sense to them, namely the conclusion that 'the strange sensations I experienced were the work of a ghost.'' He continued, 'Believing alone may not create ghosts, but if, in addition to belief, there is at least one factor that could lead to a ghost, such as environmental stimuli, nervous system abnormalities, or psychological state, it may be enough to make a ghost seem real.'