Kristin Simonds-Moore, a psychologist at the University of West Georgia in the United States, has studied paranormal experiences and their reasons. She states that people undoubtedly have experiences that they consider paranormal; a term usually used for phenomena that science currently cannot explain.
Paranormal Experiences and the Brain
Simonds-Moore says, "These experiences are completely real subjectively and can have a very significant impact on individuals." However, this does not mean that their cause is necessarily supernatural. She explains that when people experience something paranormal, various events may be occurring in the brain. One possible explanation relates to a state called "hypnagogia," a period between sleep and wakefulness.
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She added, "Many of these experiences occur when individuals are in states with slight changes in their level of consciousness." At this time, inner imagination and outer perception can blend, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Sleep paralysis may also occur during this period, and 7.6% of the general population has experienced it.
Feeling an Invisible Presence
Chris French, a professor at Goldsmiths, University of London, says that sleep paralysis occurs when "the body wakes up but the brain does not." This state can be accompanied by a strong feeling of the presence of another being in the room. He explains that even if you do not see or hear anything in the room, you feel that something is there.
Additionally, Professor Rodney Schmaltz from MacEwan University in Canada has referred to the phenomenon of "pareidolia" and explains that this state relates to the human tendency to see patterns in random data. It may also be that during times of stress, individuals are more likely to see such patterns.
Finally, some studies have found a connection between reports of paranormal experiences and a psychological trait known as "transliminality." These individuals are usually more creative and have a higher imagination, and they are more likely to feel that an invisible presence is with them.
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