Is my brain wired to never see a ghost? A psychologist on three factors that make a paranormal experience more likely episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 11, 2026 · 9 MIN

Is my brain wired to never see a ghost? A psychologist on three factors that make a paranormal experience more likely

from Aarva · host Melissa Maffeo, Teaching Professor of Psychology, Wake Forest University

What makes a brain turn a strange sensation into a ghost sighting?This piece, published in late May, explores the curious phenomenon of ghost sightings, shifting the focus from whether they exist to *why* people experience them. A psychologist investigates how environmental factors, neurological quirks, and certain personality traits can converge to create what feels like a paranormal encounter. It asks what happens when the brain misinterprets the world around it, suggesting the sensation of a ghost might be a perfectly ordinary, if unusual, mental event. The article offers a grounded perspective on why some individuals might be more prone to these perceptions.A psychologist's analysis of why some individuals are more prone to perceiving paranormal experiences, such as ghosts. The article identifies three contributing factors: environmental stimuli, neurological phenomena like sleep paralysis, and specific personality traits. It posits that the convergence of these elements, particularly when combined with belief, can create the sensation of a supernatural event.Read at source: The Conversation

What makes a brain turn a strange sensation into a ghost sighting? This piece, published in late May, explores the curious phenomenon of ghost sightings, shifting the focus from whether they exist to *why* people experience them. A psychologist investigates how environmental factors, neurological quirks, and certain personality traits can converge to create what feels like a paranormal encounter. It asks what happens when the brain misinterprets the world around it, suggesting the sensation of a ghost might be a perfectly ordinary, if unusual, mental event. The article offers a grounded perspective on why some individuals might be more prone to these perceptions. A psychologist's analysis of why some individuals are more prone to perceiving paranormal experiences, such as ghosts. The article identifies three contributing factors: environmental stimuli, neurological phenomena like sleep paralysis, and specific personality traits. It posits that the convergence of these elements, particularly when combined with belief, can create the sensation of a supernatural event. Read at source: The Conversation

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Is my brain wired to never see a ghost? A psychologist on three factors that make a paranormal experience more likely

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What makes a brain turn a strange sensation into a ghost sighting?This piece, published in late May, explores the curious phenomenon of ghost sightings, shifting the focus from whether they exist to *why* people experience them. A psychologist...

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