New research reveals environmental and neurological factors that make ghost sightings more likely.

A third of residents across England claim they have seen ghosts, but new research suggests specific factors make these encounters far more probable. Professor Melissa Maffeo from Wake Forest University in North Carolina argues that susceptibility to the paranormal stems from a unique blend of environmental triggers, neurological glitches, and personality traits. When these elements converge, the human brain misinterprets ordinary reality, effectively conjuring an experience of the supernatural.

Professor Maffeo recently detailed this phenomenon on The Conversation, questioning whether ordinary explanations can account for seemingly extraordinary events. She suggests that a perfect storm of everyday factors might trigger the sensation of a ghost without any actual spirit being present. Her analysis breaks down exactly how the mind can be tricked into seeing what is not there.

The first major factor involves environmental stimuli, specifically electromagnetic fields. Devices used on popular ghost hunting shows measure these invisible energy zones created by electrically charged particles. Previous studies conducted in historic locations like the vaults beneath Edinburgh and Hampton Court Palace found that electromagnetic fluctuations were more intense in areas with a history of haunting claims.

According to the expert, individuals may unknowingly detect these natural environmental shifts and mistakenly attribute them to paranormal activity. She poses a critical question regarding the direction of causality: Did the ghost cause the electromagnetic field, or did the field cause the perception of a ghost? While one research group attempted to replicate this by creating a "haunted room" with varying frequencies, participants reported feelings of detachment and sensing a presence that did not match the actual environmental conditions.

The second factor involves neurological mix-ups centered on the brain's temporoparietal junction. This area is crucial for the feeling of embodiment, allowing us to know we inhabit our own bodies. Professor Maffeo explains that misinterpretations of bodily sensations often occur during sleep when the brain shuts out the external world. During rapid eye movement sleep, the brain sends signals to paralyze skeletal muscles to prevent dream enactment, a vital neurological safeguard.

However, some individuals wake up during this paralyzed state and experience rich hallucinations that are merely remnants of their dreams. In that moment of sleep paralysis, there is a mismatch of feedback from the body to the brain. Most people respond to this missing sensory information with fear, which makes them significantly more likely to interpret the sights and sounds from their dreams as real. This psychological response can turn a terrifying dream into a convincing encounter with a ghost.

A surge of new research indicates that specific personality characteristics can predispose individuals to accept the paranormal as fact, Professor Maffeo noted. She highlighted that certain people possess an intense sensitivity to "presences," struggle with distorted thinking patterns, and harbor magical worldviews—a cluster of traits known as schizotypy. Those exhibiting high levels of this trait are not only more prone to believing in ghosts but also more likely to feel as though they are detaching from their physical bodies.

The situation becomes precarious when personal belief intersects with environmental or neurological triggers. Professor Maffeo illustrated this dynamic with a hypothetical scenario: imagine someone who already believes in the supernatural encountering a sudden fluctuation in electromagnetic fields or suffering an episode of sleep paralysis. These events generate strange, unexplainable sensations. Driven to find meaning within the ambiguity, the individual blurs the line between feelings originating inside their mind and those coming from the outside world. "They settle on the only explanation that makes sense to them—that this strange feeling they experienced was a ghost," she stated. In her view, belief in the paranormal acts as the adhesive binding these various factors together to fabricate the illusion of a haunting. While belief alone does not summon spirits, she concluded, combining it with even a single "haunted factor"—such as environmental stimuli, neurological glitches, or psychological conditions—can be sufficient to convince a person that a ghost is real.

Scientific scrutiny has also pointed toward physical explanations for what feels supernatural. A study released earlier this year suggested that infrasound, generated by aging pipes in deteriorating structures, could account for reports of paranormal activity. Infrasound is a low-frequency sound wave imperceptible to the human ear, yet even brief exposure can alter mood and spike cortisol levels, according to researchers at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. Professor Rodney Schmaltz, the study's lead author, warned of the risks involved in investigating supposedly haunted locations without understanding these physiological mechanisms. "Consider visiting a supposedly haunted building," he said. "Your mood shifts, you feel agitated, but you can't see or hear anything unusual." He explained that in old structures, particularly in basements where old piping and ventilation systems operate, low-frequency vibrations are common. "If you were told the building was haunted, you might attribute that agitation to something supernatural," Schmaltz added. "In reality, you may simply have been exposed to infrasound." This revelation underscores a critical danger: communities and individuals investigating historic sites may misinterpret natural, physical phenomena as evidence of ghosts, leading to unnecessary fear and the potential for misdirected efforts in preserving or understanding our built environment.