A new study in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience suggests that feelings of being haunted might not be due to supernatural entities but rather to infrasound, the low-frequency vibrations commonly emitted by things like pipes or wind turbines. The research indicates that these vibrations can influence our perceptions and create a sense of unease.

In 2003, University of Hertfordshire psychologist Richard Wiseman conducted studies at locations with reputations for hauntings, such as Hampton Court Palace in England and Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh. Despite the subjects’ lack of awareness of local rumors, they reported more unusual experiences in areas known to be haunted.

Wiseman found that these experiences correlated with variations in magnetic fields, humidity, and lighting levels, suggesting people are responding to environmental factors rather than ghosts. He hypothesized that stronger magnetic fields could affect the brain similarly to electrical stimulation of specific regions, making one feel as if there is another presence nearby.

The study also revealed that 70% of subjects at Mary King’s Close reported feeling cold or being touched suddenly in areas with lower humidity levels. These sensations were heightened when participants expected a place to be haunted, indicating the power of suggestion and perception in creating these experiences.