Study Examines Why People See Ghosts in Mirrors
Scientists ran an experiment to find out which personal traits and environmental conditions are linked to seeing ghosts in a mirror. The results point to perception, creative imagination and surroundings, but do not prove ghosts exist.
Researchers have carried out an experiment to understand why some people claim to see deceased relatives when they gaze into a mirror for a long time in a dimly lit room. The study was published in the journal "Anomalistic Experience and Cognition" and reported by "Tech Insider". It does not prove that ghosts exist, but it points to several factors that may shape such experiences.
What a psychomanteum is
There is a practice called the "psychomanteum": a person sits in front of a mirror in a dim room and tries to see a dead loved one in the reflection. The ritual is believed to help establish a connection with the afterlife. Researchers note, however, that unusual images can also arise from the brain's own activity.
How the experiment worked
Thirty participants took part, all of whom had previously reported encountering ghosts. Half of them had synesthesia, a perceptual condition in which the senses can blend; for example, while listening to music a person may link sounds with colors or see certain shapes.
Participants spent 15 minutes recalling a deceased relative, then 45 minutes looking into a mirror. They were asked to record unusual sensations, such as a strange face appearing or a feeling of another person's presence, and to press a special button at such moments. Scientists monitored heart rate and recorded electromagnetic fields, geomagnetic fluctuations and temperature. After the session, participants rated how vivid and realistic the images were and whether they seemed to occupy real space. The data were compared with survey results on creativity and perceptual abilities.
Results
Unexpectedly, participants with synesthesia did not report unusual experiences more often than the others. However, a link was found between creativity and how real the images in the mirror seemed. Among people with synesthesia, changes in geomagnetic and electromagnetic fields correlated with ratings of how much physical space the images occupied. A relationship with heart rate variability was also found, and it did not depend on synesthesia.
The study does not clearly explain the nature of such visions, but suggests they may be influenced by individual perception, creative imagination and environmental conditions.
