Infrasound Likely Linked to Reported Hauntings

A new study looked at how humans respond to infrasound, a type of sound we cannot hear, inspired by zebrafish research by Kale Scatterty that showed the fish avoided infrasound areas. This suggested infrasound might cause stress. Researchers wanted to see if this was true for people, so they tested if cortisol, a stress hormone, increased with infrasound exposure.

The study involved 36 people who sat in a room while listening to either relaxing or unsettling music. Some were also exposed to infrasound, which was played through hidden speakers. Researchers thought infrasound would make relaxing music more soothing and unsettling music scarier.

However, results showed that all participants felt more irritated and stressed when infrasound was on, no matter the music. Their cortisol levels went up, and they could not tell when they heard the infrasound. This means people can react physically to infrasound even if they don’t know it’s there.

Although this finding is interesting, infrasound alone does not explain why people might feel a place is haunted. Other factors, like our expectations, play a role. While infrasound might contribute to these feelings, it is not the main cause. It might be one part of what makes some buildings feel haunted.

How much do you know?

What type of sound does the study focus on?

Ultrasound

Infrasound

Audible sound

White noise

How many people participated in the study?

12

24

36

48

What types of music were participants exposed to during the study?

Classical and jazz

Relaxing and unsettling

Pop and rock

Country and blues

What hormone did researchers measure to determine stress levels?

Adrenaline

Serotonin

Cortisol

Dopamine

What was the expected effect of infrasound on relaxing music?

Make it more annoying

Make it more soothing

Make it neutral

No effect

According to the study, who felt more irritated when exposed to infrasound?

Only those listening to unsettling music

Only those listening to relaxing music

All participants

No participants

Infrasound can be heard by humans.

True False

The study confirmed that infrasound is the main cause of haunted feelings.

True False

Participants were unaware of when they were exposed to infrasound.

True False

Cortisol levels decreased when infrasound was played.

True False

The researchers used zebrafish to inspire their study on humans.

True False

Expectations have no effect on why people might feel haunted in places.

True False

The study involved people participating in the experiment.

Researchers tested if cortisol, a stress hormone, increased with infrasound .

Infrasound is a type of sound that we cannot .

Participants felt more irritated and stressed when infrasound was .

Infrasound might contribute to feelings of places being .

The findings suggest that people react physically to infrasound even if they don’t know it's .

This question is required