Floors that creak, things that “go bump” in the night, and a sneaking feeling that you’re not alone.
A surprising third of the UK population and almost half of Americans say they believe in ghosts, spirits and other types of paranormal activity.
Meanwhile, one in five say they have actually seen an apparition and one in ten have communicated directly with the dead, surveys suggest.
But could there be a more realistic medical explanation for these spooky phenomena?
Yes, say experts who suggest a strange common condition known as sleep paralysis as one of the main reasons for perceived apparitions.
According to the National Health ServiceSleep paralysis occurs when you are unable to move or speak while waking up or falling asleep.
It occurs at a specific stage of the sleep cycle known as REM sleep, when the brain is very active but the body is still “asleep.”
The most vivid dreams are believed to occur during this stage and sleep paralysis is thought to occur when people wake up during it.
One in five say they have actually seen an apparition and one in ten have communicated directly with the dead, surveys suggest
Some sufferers also report a feeling of pressure in the chest and may experience hallucinations, including frightening figures.
Descriptions of this condition can be found in folklore dating back hundreds of years, when it was given names such as “old hag” due to the idea that a witch-like demon was sitting on the chest of the one who had it. suffered.
Modern science cannot explain why it happens; However, it is known to be more common in those who suffer from insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety.
Another cause of ghost sightings could be much more worrying: carbon monoxide.
Colorless, odorless gas can be emitted by poorly installed, faulty or improperly used appliances, such as boilers, gas stoves and grills.
It is poisonous and can cause a variety of symptoms including headaches, confusion, dizziness and nausea.
Carbon monoxide can also cause hallucinations, which medical experts were already linking in the 1920s to reports of hauntings.
Seeing ghosts could also be due to a brain abnormality, studies suggest.
Experts suggest that a strange condition known as sleep paralysis is the main reason for the perceived apparitions
In 2017, a leading medical journal published the story of a 26-year-old patient with epilepsy who was undergoing an experimental treatment that involved implanting electrodes in his brain.
When doctors at the New York State Department of Health’s National Center for Adaptive Neurotechnologies simulated a region of the brain known as the fusilform facial area, or FFA, he suffered terrifying hallucinations.
“His face completely changed,” he allegedly said, looking at one of the investigators. ‘I don’t know what’s going on. Your eyes… change.’
He described those around him as “anime characters”, referring to the Japanese cartoon genre.
Stimulation of FFAs also caused rainbows to appear around the objects, the researchers added.
In a separate experiment with another person with epilepsy, a 22-year-old woman, it was found that stimulation of the left hemisphere of her brain made her feel like “a person” or “shadow” who was not moving or speaking was standing directly behind her. she.
These findings could offer insight into why up to half of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s neurological disease, which causes progressive brain damage, also report seeing ghostly figures.
Meanwhile, recent research has revealed the reason why up to half of people report “hearing” the voice of a deceased loved one during periods of grief.
Recent research has revealed the reason why up to half of people report “hearing” the voice of a deceased loved one or feeling their presence during periods of grief, just as Demi Moore’s character did in the classic Ghost. the 90s, with Patrick Swayze.
This is thought to be due to the way the brain creates what are called schemas in psychology: a mental framework that helps people organize and interpret information based on past experiences.
When we go to a restaurant, we know from experience that they will greet us, then seat us, then offer us drinks and a menu, etc.
In the same way, couples become so accustomed to each other’s presence at home, to the point that even when one of them is gone, it sometimes seems like they are still there.
According to grief counselors, grieving couples also often describe being able to hear their husband or wife talking.
So if you see a ghost, don’t panic, but consider what else could be the culprit.
On the other hand, there may be no credible scientific evidence of life after death… that doesn’t rule it out completely.