Papers Evaluation Form - 4th PSI MEETING - 2008

Title: Infrasonidos y experiencias paranormales

Category: Full Paper

1. Referee’s Ratings

Poor Marginal Adequate Excellent1. Title x2. Abstract x3. Research question - hypothesis -

variablesx

4. Methodological description and coherence

x

5. Coverage of literature x6. Presentation of the results and/or

discussionx

7. Validity of conclusions x

Please indicate your rating by placing an “X” in the appropriate field.

2. Referee’s Recommendation:

1. Accept in present form2. Accept with suggested changes x3. Accept conditionally: needs requested changes4. Accept conditionally: needs requested changes and I want then to

see the manuscript again for re-evaluation5. Reject

3. Comments to the Author(s):

3.1 Positive aspects of the paper El aspecto más relevante de este estudio se encuentra en que busca probar empíricamente la hipótesis

de probar de una posible relación entre la emisión de infrasonidos y la generación de experiencias aparicionales, así como el uso de tecnología de fácil acceso que podría facilitar la réplica del mismo por parte de otros investigadores latinoamericanos

3.2 Aspects that should be changed - If you suggest changes to the author please indicate which are suggested changes [SC] and which are requested changes [RC]:

Cambios Sugeridos: Se sugiere el homogenizar los términos utilizados en el estudio se mencionan: “experiencias

paranormales”; “experiencias anómalas” y “experiencias aparicionales” debido a que el objetivo principal del estudio son las supuestas experiencias aparicionales este ultimo termino sería el más adecuado, asimismo se recomienda utilizar este término en el titulo del estudio.

También sería recomendable el uso de definiciones operacionales de las “experiencias aparicionales” y “infrasonidos” lo cual permita en un futuro poder replicar el estudio con mayor precisión.

En la sección método debería ponerse mayores detalles sobre la muestra l igual que en el resumen (ej. media de edad, rango, desviación estándar, etc.)

En cuanto a los resultados si la recolección de los datos permite hacer análisis de experiencias táctiles, visuales o auditivas sería recomendable presentarlas.

3.3 Final comments to stimulate and help the author(s):

Al igual como lo menciona el propio autor al final de este estudio hay que resaltar la importancia del mismo por su carácter innovador en estas latitudes, lo cual le da la calidad justa para ser replicado y comprara resultados en pro de entender mejor la fenomenología de las experiencias aparicionales.

Futuros estudios de este tipo deberán tener en cuenta el uso de una metodología doble ciego en la cual la persona encargada de guiar el recorrido al inicio del estudio no sepa cuál es la habitación en la cual s encuentra el dispositivo de infrasonido, esto disminuirá el sesgo que podría causar algunos gestos no verbales que podrían inducir a los sujetos experimentales a escoger la habitación objetivo. Estas limitaciones s e podrían disminuir automatizando la metodología del estudio

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INFRASONIDOS Y EXPERIENCIAS APARICIONALES Infrasounds and apparitional experiences

Infrasons e experiencias paranormais

AbstractIntroduction: Investigations done in the nineties have proposed that low frequency sounds can cause experiences that can be considered “apparitions”. A pioneering study (Tandy and Lawrence, 1998), suggest that a frequency of 18.9 Hz was present in a laboratory where many people felt what can be reasonably described as an “apparition”. A novel experiment was carried out in an old house in Santiago, Chile, to verify empirically the plausibility of the infrasound hypothesis. A group of volunteers met at midnight of the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th of June 2006. One of the rooms of the house had an infrasonic artificially generated stimulus. Purpose: The purpose of this study is twofold: First to empirically verify the hypothesis that a possible link exists between infrasound stimulation of 18.9 Hz and seeing apparition(s) or feeling a “presence”*. Secondly to verify if participants who reported the alleged paranormal experiences had specific psychological characteristics.Subjects: The sample consisted of 32 volunteers, 20 females and 12 males. (Mean age: 27.9, age range: 19 to 60; SD=10.54).The only selection criterion was an interest to participate; the participants were not told the objectives and methods involved in the investigation.Methods: The experiment was carried out in an old house in Santiago, Chile. The installed equipment’s infrasound came from a computer controlled panel and two professional subwoofers.One of four underground rooms, chosen as the one with good dimensions and structure to respond to 18.9 Hz, received the infrasonic stimulus.Evaluations: The perceptual alterations in the self-report questionnaire were classified as visual, tactile, auditory, olfactory, and emotional and referred to sudden as “emotional” changes in mood occurring in any of the basement rooms.A” yes” response meant “anomalous experience”, meaning that the individual had responded “yes” to one (or more) of the questions concerning abnormal sensations, like the presence of somebody or something. Specific psychological characteristics were studied in the sample. Dissociation and paranormal belief traits was measured in all the volunteers (Using DES and RPBS scales, respectively). Results: There was a clear increase in the frequency of anomalous experiences in Room C, the only one provided with a hidden infrasound source device vibrating at 18.9 Hertz. According to McNemar’s test, this increase is highly significant. The results of the questionnaires (DES and RPBS) showed no underlying psychological relationship to the type, place, and number of reports. In addition, the Pearson correlation between the RPBS and DES scales is 0.098 (nonsignificant), so they seemed to be independent. Discussion and conclusions: The finding that neither the DES nor the RPBS correlated with the reporting of anomalous experiences was unexpected, given that these two measures have consistently had been found to be the strongest predictors of anomalous experiences. There could be some undetected artifacts in the present study that could explain the results in both tests. Overall, the results of this experiment suggests two complementary interpretations: A) The same volunteers seemed to react in a similar way when remaining in the rooms without added infrasonic stimulus.B) When encountering the infrasonic stimulus, the majority of participants registered changes in their physiology and behaviour. The consistency of the data in the three rooms without added infrasonic stimulus suggests that the responses made by the participants in these rooms are related to an underlying psychosocial factor, since they experienced similar changes in rooms with equivalent environmental characteristics (no infrasonic stimulus). Given the above, it can be suggested that the infrasound wave of 18.9 Hz could contribute significantly to the divergence in the number and types of reports registered by the volunteers. as registered in a self-report questionnaire, designed to establish alterations in perception and the places where they happened.

Keywords: Infrasounds, apparitions, paranormal experiences

ResumenIntroduction: Investigaciones hechas en los noventa han propuesto que sonidos de baja frecuencia pueden causar experiencias que pueden ser consideradas como “apariciones”. Un estudio pionero de Tandy y Lawrence (1998), sugiere que una frecuencia de 18.9 Hz estaba presente en un laboratorio donde las personas sentian lo que podria describirse como “una aparición”. Con motivo de probar esta hipotesis que relaciona infrasonidos con reportes de apariciones, un experimento se desarrollo en una antigua casa de Santiago, Chile. Un grupo de voluntarios fueron sometidos a prueba, a la medianoche de los dias 12, 13,14 y 15 de julio del año 2006. Una de las habitaciones tenia un estimulo infrasonico artificialmente generado. Prosito: El proposito de este estudio es doble: Primero probar empiricamente la hipótesis de un posible vinculo entre experiencias de apariciones e infrasonidos. Segundo, verificar si los participantes que reportan experiencias paranormales tienen características psicológicas específicas.Muestra: La muestra consistio en 32 voluntarios, 20 mujeres y 12 hombres (promedio de edad 27.9; rango: 19 – 60; DE= 10.54). El Único criterio de selección era el interes de participar. Los participantes no sabian los objetivos ni los métodos de la investigación.Metodo: El experimento fue llevado a cabo en una antigua casa en Santiago, Chile. El equipo de generacion de infrasonidos consistía en un panel controlado por un computador y dos sub- bajos profesionales. Una de las cuatro habitaciones fue elegida, por sus apropiadas dimensiones y estructura para resonar a 18.9 HzEvaluaciones: Las alteraciones perceptuales en el cuestionario de auto-reporte fueron clasificadas en visuales, táctiles, auditivas, olfativas, cinestesicas o emocionales. Se Estudiaron caracteristicas psicológicas especificas en la muestra (disociación y creencia en lo paranormal) Estas fueron medidas en todos los voluntarios.Resultados: Se registro un claro incremento en la frecuencia de experiencias anómalas en la habitacion C, la única con una fuente de vibración infrasonica. Los resultados de los dos cuestionarios no mostraron ninguna relación con algún patrón en los reportes de las experiencias por habitacion.

Discusión y conclusiones: Fue inesperado descubrir que las escalas de personalidad no registraron correlación con los reportes de experiencias anómalas. Los resultados globales del experimento sugieren dos interpretaciones complementarias: 1) Los voluntarios parecen reaccionar de manera similar a las tres habitaciones sin estimulación infrasonica. 2) Cuando los voluntarios se ubican en la habitación con estimulación infrasonica, ellos en su mayoría reportan cambios en su fisiologia y comportamiento.

Palabras clave: Infrasonidos, apariciones, experiencias paranormales.

INTRODUCTION

Some studies have sought to discover the underlying mechanisms of alleged hauntings (Wiseman et al, 2003; Tandy and Lawrence 1998). From these studies, it is important to understand how sensory-perceptive mechanisms, a continuum that ranges from the stimulation of sense organs to the ways in which the organisms process, analyze and integrate these stimuli, are altered by our previous beliefs, our personality, and by subtle environmental changes (Feldman, 1999).

Investigations done in the nineties have proposed that low frequency sounds can cause experiences that can be considered “apparitions”. In a pioneering study (Tandy and Lawrence, 1998), the authors explain that a frequency of 18.9 Hz was present in a laboratory where many people felt what can be reasonably described as an “apparition”. Later on, investigations that support the previous findings were conducted in a cellar dating from the 14th century, with a reputation for being “bewitched.” finding a correlation between a fixed infrasound wave of 18.9 Hz and the specific sites where the people that visit this place have appearance experiences (Tandy, 2000; Tandy, 2001).

From the physical point of view (Berg and Stork, 1995), infrasound represents a pressure variation in the low frequency range of audible sounds, below 20 Hz. As vibrations in solids have been subsumed under a subject called Mechanical Vibrations, the domain of infrasound has been restricted to vibrations in liquids and air; the vibrations in solids are only considered as sources of infrasound. (See appendix 1 for a review of technical aspects of infrasound emissions and their effects in the human body)

Some reports have determined that some infrasound frequencies cause physical alterations (Takigawa et al, 1988) and physiological changes in animals (Nishimura, 1988). These frequencies are significantly related to “resonant frequencies” (the natural frequency of an object, the minimum threshold of energy needed to vibrate). Some studies have defined in particular that the resonant frequency of the eye is 18.9 Hz (Tandy & Lawrence, 1998); this resonance can spread to peripheral vision and cause it to be blurred (which can be interpreted subjectively as an “apparition”). However, some authors (Braithwaite & Townsend, 2006) find a number of problems with this suggestion (e.g.,. eyeball pressure alone does not produce the sustained forms of high-level hallucinations that could be interpreted as a human form, or it is not clear what energy levels are both necessary and sufficient to generate such resonant vibration in the human eyeball.)

On the other hand, hyperventilation is catalyzed by infrasound (Tandy, 2001) and is characterized by fast superficial breathing that reduces carbon dioxide in the lungs (Tandy & Lawrence, 1998). The increase of C02 causes a generalized alert in the central nervous system (Tempest, 1976). Experiments with rats and humans show that the infrasound is detected and that the brain suffers chemical changes. There is an increase of adrenocortical hormones, influenced by the amplitude of the infrasound they are exposed to (Tandy, 2001). These effects from the production of adrenocortical hormones can produce an increase in anxiety. This high anxiety increases the possibility of a panic attack, which is usually preceded by a period of anxiety (Tandy, 2001).

It is possible that the apparition-type experiences are influenced by context and individual differences. When the situation is unknown or sensory perceptions are diminished, it is possible to lose control of the situation. If contradictory signals are added to this, the effects on people demand an explanation (Tandy, 2001). People who reports apparition experiences are more sensitive to subtle environmental changes (Jawer, 2005). We need to understand the relationship between physiological and psychological factors that could come into play in situations with these characteristics, which could explain the high level of apparition type experiences at sites exposed to special environmental conditions.

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Apparition experiences, cases of spontaneous psi and psychological traits.

The apparition-type experiences, in parapsychological research, are usually categorized as a part of the variety of spontaneous cases of psi experiences (Irwin, 2004). The studies of spontaneous psi experiences (referring to any psychic or paranormal experience which occurs naturally and generally in an unexpected manner) has centered fundamentally on characterizing these accounts and their relationship to psychopathological traits or personality types, (Irwin, 2003; Alvarado, 1996; Thalbourne, 1996; Rhine, 1962).

The most frequently used procedures for understanding the nature of these phenomena include the use of inventories and surveys, which have made it possible to carry out comparative studies of the incidence of spontaneous psi experiences in various countries and population segments (Palmer, 1979; Haraldsson & Houtkooper, 1991).

There are a vast number of reports of these experiences in people who have learned, or strongly believe, that these experiences are possible (Thalbourne, 1998). This represents a significant difference in the type and number of apparition reports between skeptics and believers (Wiseman et al, 2002). Some studies show that cultural differences or belief systems (e.g., religiosity) influence reports of paranormal experiences (Hergovich, Shott & Arendasy; 2005), whilst others suggest that paranormal beliefs have a role mediating some psycholophisiological traits, like anxiety (Roe & Bell, 2007).

One of the instruments most frequently used to measure belief in paranormal phenomena is the Paranormal Belief Scale (PBS; Lange et al., 2000; Tobacyk and Thomas, 1997) and its new version, the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale (RPBS; Diaz-Vilela and Alvarez-Gonzalez, 2004). The RPBS consists of 26 questions related to several paranormal beliefs that participants indicate on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from “total agreement to total disagreement". In addition to the total score, seven orthogonal factors have been found: traditional religious beliefs, psi, witchcraft, superstition, spiritualism, forms of extraordinary life, and pre-knowledge.

Some relationship has also been discovered between reports of psi experiences and dissociative phenomena (Krippner, Wicramasekera & Tartz, 2000). Mediums and certain others who have many experiences with entities or ghosts have many more dissociative experiences than average (Krippner et al, 1998). DSM IV TR defines the essential characteristics of the dissociative disorders as an “interruption of the commonly integrated functions of the conscience, memory, identity or perception" (APA, 2000 pp 519).

In some cases the dissociative states, could be vehicles for an increase or change in control over neurophysiologic and peripheral somatic functions (Spiegel & Vermutten, 1994; Hilgard, 1977). Dissociation could be a psychological trait that could help to understand the way in which the body informs and integrates subtle changes in the environment into the whole psychological or conscious experience. This could have a key role in the understanding of the psychophysiological basis of apparition experiences and mediumistic phenomenon (Williams & Roll, 2007).

Taxonomic models of disassociation have been used to study disassociation in a wide variety of contexts, such as the Dissociative Experiences Scale (Carlson, 1994). The DES is a 28-item self-report measure of dissociation. The DES items inquire into experiences of amnesia, loss of consciousness, depersonalization, unreality, absorption, and flights of imagination. This scale has been used in studies that link paranormal experiences and disassociation, with results that allow the establishment of a link between both (Krippner & Wickramasekera, 2006; Krippner et al 1998). Nevertheless, the variety of experiences labeled as conjunct as “dissociative”, are found in clinical and non-clinical populations (Zingrone & Alvarado, 2002) specifically one of the features of dissociative experiences, know as “psychological absorption” (which is a high engrossment in experience where attention is highly focused on one task).

The aim of this research, is to empirically test the following two hypotheses; Firstly that there exists a relationship between the infrasound stimulation of 18.9 Hz (in an attempt to replicate the infrasonic frequency reported in the study of Tandy & Lawrence, 1998) and people reporting the appearance of an apparition or a feeling of ‘presence’ (as recorded in a specially designed auto-report questionnaire that allows the occurrence of perceptual alterations and the location in which these occur to be established Secondly that subjects who reports more experiences have different psychological characteristics that can be identified in the applied questionnaires (DES and RPBS).

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METHODS

Materials Sound was measured by a Tes-1305 sound meter. Adobe Audition 1.5 software was used to analyze the data coming from the sound meter and to generate the infrasonic wave signal, that were produced by two subwoofers (RCF Event ESW 1018). The two subwoofers were hide in the room, with a big black net, that covers from the ceiling to the floor. With the light conditions used in the experiment, this solution was the best for hide all the equipment to any sensorial biases that could report the volunteers. The ESW 1018 is a professional bass reflex subwoofer.

Sound Equipment

In order to create the conditions needed to generate the room’s acoustic vibration of 18.9 Hz, an electro-acoustic system was used, consisting of:

-Sound Meter (TES-1305)-Frequency generator, (personal computer loaded with software Adobe Audition 1.5)-Behringer Euro rack UB1202 Deck-Crest audio CA6 Potency amplifiers-2 RCF Event ESW 1018 Sub woofers-Cables: Stereo miniplug to mono plugs L and R, from PC to deck-Plug plug, from deck to amplifiers.-Speakon, from amplifiers to sub woofers-Adobe Audition 1.5 software-Notebook

To manage an audio register of the level of sound in each room, we used:-3 microphones, one Shure BG 2.1 and two Senheiser, located in different rooms.-XLR balanced cables running from the microphones to the deck.

In order to hide the possible sound of the wave or that produced by the vibration of the walls of room C, a parallel audio system was installed to play ambient music, this ambient music is listened at the same level in every room, with 4 small speakers, a deck (CD player), and a sound amplifier. The house consists of a basement and 3 upper floors. For this study, we used the basement, which has different rooms. Measures of each room were taken (length, width, and height), which were necessary to determine if any of them vibrated at 18.9 Hz. (Room C met this test; for more details see appendix 2). Finally, the basement was divided into 4 sectors, labeled A, B, C and D.

All the installation was made by a team of sound engineers. The target room was not randomly chosen. The room C was selected, because it was the only one that met the requirements to resonance with 18.9 Hz, necessary to produce a stationary infrasonic wave inside the room (see normal modes, in appendix 2). This selection was made by the sound engineers after the proper analysis of each room.

Questionnaires

The following psychological tests were used: The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and The Revised Paranormal Belief Scale (RPBS). Finally, the participants completed The Anomalous Experiences Table. The floor plan, and an Anomalous Experiences Questionnaire asking about any anomalous experience that they may have had and the letter of the room in which they had it.

The Anomalous Experiences Table, Floor plan, and Questionnaire

Participants quietly walked around the basement of Republica House and marked with an x on the Table (with the anomalous experiences on one axis and the room names on the other) any unusual phenomena they experienced (categorized as visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, or emotional shift). Then they marked on the floor plan with the name of the corresponding room (A, B, C or D), where they were standing when they had their experience(s). (For further information about the map and the questionnaire, see Appendix 3 and 4)

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The volunteers also were asked to “Describe here any additional description of your experience, in particular where it was and what sensation you felt“. Two other questions were included about health issues: “Do you suffer from any illnesses (physical and psychological)? “And “Are you taking any medication? If so, what? “.

The DES The DES is a 28-item self-administered questionnaire that measures the extent of dissociative symptomology in both clinical and non-clinical populations. The format of the DES requires that individuals make a slash on a horizontal line to indicate the percentage (ranging from 0 to 100) of time that the participant has a particular type of experience. The DES was published in 1986 and has been used to study dissociation in a wide variety of contexts, ranging from clinical to non-clinical (Carlson, 1994). The DES addresses other experiences that have been previously associated with dissociation, such as amnesia, loss of consciousness, depersonalization, derealization, absorption, and imaginative involvement (Carlson, 1994).

The test- retest reliability for the DES has ranged from .84 to .96 over intervals of 4-6 weeks (Fritzholtz et al, 1990). These authors also measured the inter-rater reliability for the DES and found a coefficient of absolute agreement of .96. Studies of internal reliability of the DES have investigated the degree of consistency of item scores across the scale. In the present study, we used a Spanish translation of DES by Alfonso Martinez-Taboas (1995). In addition to translating each item, Martinez-Taboas adopted words and phrases that are consistent with a Latin American context. Martinez-Taboas’s Spanish translation of the DES has produced findings consistent with those reported in Canada and the USA. His preliminary results suggest that the DES is a potentially useful screening instrument to detect Hispanic persons with a marked proclivity to experience dissociative phenomena.

The RPBS

The PBS provides seven independent factors of paranormal belief: Traditional Religious Belief, Psi Belief, Superstition, Spiritualism, Extraordinary Life-forms, Precognition, and Witchcraft.

For over a decade it has been the psychometric tool of choice for the examination of paranormal belief and its correlates (Irwin, 1993). However, the PBS has also been the focus of sustained conceptual and empirical criticism (Lawrence, 1995; Lawrence, Roe, & Williams, 1997).

Lange, Irwin and Houran (2000), by employing ‘top-down purification’ to remove differential item functioning in an Australian sample, reduced the PBS to two correlated clusters of items dubbed ‘New Age Philosophy’ and ‘Traditional Paranormal Beliefs’. Using mostly undergraduate student data (N = 560), they confirmed the existence of seven factors in the RPBS. They noted that differential item functioning might profitably be investigated across cultures.

Both clusters obey an Andrich rating-scale model with reliabilities of .90 and .74 respectively. Principal component analysis confirmed that these two clusters are one-dimensional and the items do not function differentially with respect to age or gender (p >.10).

Diaz-Vilela and Alvarez-Gonzalez (2004) developed a Spanish adaptation of the RPBS in order to make intercultural comparisons of the reliability and dimensionality of the instrument. They found a high level of reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha of .91), which allows us to conclude that the items measure a group of highly related beliefs.

However, the some of the items not follow in the expected way, the trends proposed for the scale, or differ in some way with the developed clusters. A clear, significant interaction exists between the participants and the items. There are problems in the distribution of some items, especially, those related to monsters and superstitions. These results suggest that a general tendency exists to believe or not to believe in the paranormal, but this does not apply with the same force to an object of paranormal belief. Finally, after testing 355 students from 6 universities having both scientific and non-scientific careers, Diaz-Vilela and Alvarez-Gonzalez propose that the questionnaire is reliable, but differences in scoring were found within the sample. They also found differences among students in different areas of study, suggesting that training in the scientific method influences paranormal beliefs. They propose that it is possible to use this questionnaire with Spanish speakers.

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Participants The sample consisted of 32 volunteers, 20 (62.5%) females and 12 (37.5%) males. (Mean age: 27.9, age range: 19 to 60; SD=10.54). The only selection criterion was an interest to participate; the participants were not told the objectives and methods involved in the investigation. Volunteers were recruited by posters in universities in Santiago, Chile (SEK International University, University Andres Bello, and University of Desarrollo) and in an alternative therapy centre (Syncronia). There were also some participants from military and police institutions. The posters invited volunteers to participate in a visit to a “haunted” house, where investigators are seeking to establish what is going on and to measure the most haunted locations in the house (where there are the most reports of anomalous experiences). None of the participants knew about the infrasound or the real aims of the study.

Location

The place chosen was an old house located on Avenida República Nº 550, built in 1924 by the Chilean architect Josué Smith Solar. At first, it was a residential house, but then the State took it over and it was used as an embassy until it became student housing for Pedagogy students from the Universidad de Chile. During the 70s it was expropriated by the DINA (Direction of National Intelligence), later named CNI. DINA’s actions were oriented toward detecting, imprisoning without trial, and sometimes eliminating the enemies of the military government, both inside and outside Chile, and to exerting far-reaching control over the lives of Chileans.The house was used as a centre of detention and torture, and after the dictatorship (the end of the 80s), it was returned to the University. Nowadays it is used as a multicultural centre by the AKI collective (Scenic Investigation Centre).

Research Procedure

The author (S.S), and a team of sound engineers (Jimena Barrales (J.B), Hugo Zapata (H.Z)) used the house of Republic Street Nº 550, in which they installed the infrasound production equipment. A specific room was chosen for its good dimensions and structure for resounding to 18.9 Hz.

Volunteers were allowed access to the room one day after the installation and testing of the materials and equipment. A series of speakers was also installed to mask any possible sound that a volunteer could perceive. The volunteers met at midnight of the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th of June 2006. The experiment consisted of three phases; The first was the psychological test, together with the partial description of the experiment and the history of the location. After the tests (the Spanish versions of DES and RPBS and a consent letter), a short introduction to the experiment was provided, which indicated that the house was‚ ‘bewitched’, that a series of strange phenomena had occurred in the basement, and that the current residents knew about the house’s dramatic past; this information was bogus, however.

The volunteers then started the trip to the basement, one by one, after receiving the basement floor-plan, the Anomalous Experiences Table, and the steps of the procedure. The installed equipment operated automatically, producing an infrasound emission of 18.9 Hz in Room C as well as the ambient sound. The average sound amplitude was 56 Db for the infrasound emission alone, and 65 Db for the infrasound emission with the ambient sound (see Appendix 4 for details), taken one meter and a half from the source. All the installation was made by the sound engineers J.B & H.Z

S.S. accompanied each volunteer individually to the entry (“entrada”) of the basement of the house (see Appendix 4 for map details); half of the participants began the experiment at the exit (labelled “salida” in the map) in order to try to avoid any response biases concerning the sequence of stops. They had with them the floor-plan as well as instructions about how long they could spend in any one place and the general characteristics of the activity at that place. Meanwhile, one of the two sound engineers stayed with the rest of the volunteers in the hall waiting for their shift. Each volunteer visited all 4 rooms (A, B, C, and D). The basement was illuminated with a dim light. The participants started the trip from A to D, or from D to A, in random order (that means from “entry” to “exit” or from “exit” to “entry”).

The last phase consisted of the participants coming to the exit (or entry if they did the opposite route), returning to an isolated room (occupied by J.B or H.Z and all the returning volunteers), and completing the Anomalous

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Experiences Table. They could not talk with the other participants until they left that room. Several days later they received an explanation of the real aims of the experiment by email.

On average, the visit took 10 minutes per participant (not counting answering the Anomalous experience table, which took an average of 7 minutes); the total experiment took approximately 3-4 hours.

RESULTS

Anomalous experience

Because each volunteer visited all four rooms of the house (A, B, C, and D) the obtained data are dependent measures. Each room change may be considered as a treatment/control pair (A with B, B with C, and C with D), so that we may compare the frequencies of anomalous experiences reported by individuals in the first room with those reported in the second room, and so forth. Because the probability distribution of the Anomalous Experience Chart responses is unknown, we applied the McNemar test (Marascuilo and Serlin, 1979), to analyze changes from before to after a treatment.

A “yes” on the Anomalous Experience Table represents an “anomalous experience”; the individual experienced abnormal sensations, like the presence of somebody or something. a “no” response implies that individual has not had such an experience. This list of items is scored for each room separately.

TABLE 1Frequency analyses of anomalous experience (yes) reported by N = 32 individuals after they stayed in rooms named A, B, C, and D, applying the McNemar’s test (χ2 with one degree of freedom)

Room B Room C Room DRoom A yes no Room B Yes no Room C yes No

yes 8 3 Yes 10 2 yes 11 15no 4 17 No 16 4 no 2 4

χ2 = 0.14 χ2 = 10.89 χ2 = 9.94p > 0.05 P < 0.001 p < 0.005

There is a clear excess in the frequency of anomalous experiences in Room C, the one provided with a hidden infrasound source device vibrating at 18.9 Hertz., compared to the other rooms. According to the McNemar test, this increase is highly significant.

Questionnaires of paranormal belief and dissociation experiences

In order to evaluate if, in some way, variations in the answers about anomalous experiences in the basement are associated with paranormal belief or dissociative experiences, each volunteer completed the RPBS and the DES. For standardisation, the scores were transformed to z values (with their respective sample’s parameters). Finally, a correlation analysis with all of these variables was performed, following the Pearson’s procedure as a good preliminary statistical approach (Mode, 1967).

TABLE 2Pearson’s correlation coefficients between frequencies of anomalous experience and standardized scores of paranormal belief (RPBS) and dissociation experiences (DES). Any coefficient is statistically significant (N = 32)

Questionnaire Room A Room B Room C Room DRPBS 0.008 0.017 0.085 0.107

DES -0.111 -0.028 0.104 -0.014

Table 2 shows no underlying pattern between the previously measured psychological traits and the observed frequencies of anomalous experience in different rooms. The Pearson’s coefficient between RPBS and DES scales is .098 (non significant), so they seem to be independent.

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These results lead to two complementary interpretations: Participants seem to react in a similar way when remaining in the rooms without the addition of infrasound. When coming into contact with the sound stimulus, the majority of participants registered changes in their physiology, behavior and psychological experience. The data’s consistency in the three non-intervening rooms outlines the possibility that the responses made by the participants in these rooms are related to an underlying psychosocial factor, since they experience similar changes in rooms with equivalent environmental characteristics. In addition, the data support the hypothesis of a link between the anomalous experiences of the participants and the infrasound stimulation of 18. 9 Hz.

DISCUSSION

The analyses previously described support the hypothesis of a possible relationship between infrasound stimulation and perceptual alterations. The data has an internal consistency that allows distinguishing the three control rooms from the room influenced by the variable of sound. Given the aforementioned, it is reasonable to conclude that the infrasound wave of 18.9 Hz contributes significantly to the divergence in the number and type of reports registered by participants in the experimental situation.

Nevertheless, it is important to point out, that there is no definitive answer about how the infrasonic waves affect the neurophysiology and human experience (Braithwaite & Townsend, 2006). Maybe the experiences that our participants reported could be explained by other underlying effects, such as Electro Magnetic Fields (Braithwaite & Townsend, 2006; Wiseman et al, 2003; Roll & Persinger 2001). The relationship between EMF and Haunt-type experiences, is well documented across several studies (Braithwaithe, 2004; Persiger & Koren, 2001; Houran 2000).

It may be the case that the sound vibrations came from a source that also emits complex electro magnetic fields .If a magnetic or ferrous object is vibrating at a given frequency it could generate distortions in the local magnetic field, which will vary the level of vibration. Some authors conducted experiments that could support this idea, (Braithwaite & Townsend, 2006). Perhaps the reported experiences could be explained by another underlying mechanism (like electro magnetic fields).

It is necessary to point out that the results of the questionnaires do not show any underlying psychological pattern with regards to the type and number of reports of anomalous experiences from participants, or the location in which they were reported to have occurred, stemming from a certain score in the scale of paranormal belief or the scale of dissociative experiences..

The absence of a significant correlation between the scales (DES and RPBS) and the reports in room C, does not demonstrate a relationship between the environmental factor and a psychological predisposition characteristic of those derived of the elements measured in both psychometrics scales.

A number of volunteers expressed a relationship between their psychological experience and the presence (or absence) of certain environmental components in the structure of the rooms that were employed for the study. In general, the participants exhibited an answer pattern that indicated that their perception had been in some way altered. The collected data of this study concurs with some previous findings about apparitions, proposing that these experiences are based on multiple factors; which includes physiological and psychological characteristics (Braithwaite, 2005; Houran & Lange, 1996; Tandy, 2001).

Psychiatry and psychology struggles trying to explain why the humans have experiences related with ghosts, gods and the paranormal. This experiences are still a puzzle for the both disciplines. Now the issue are showing many new faces or aspects to take in account, before to obtain a reasonable idea, about what could underlie this wide variety of experiences.

It seems to me, that this kind of experiences can not be explained solely like a sort of mental mechanism, designed to protect us for the uncertainly about what will happened at the moment of death. Maybe the psycho-anthropological explanations normally used to explain this phenomena are too simplistic. The results of the studies concerning environmental factors underlying (or catalyzing) apparition experiences, ought more attention from the mainstream mental health disciplines.

It is necessary to identify, if the magnetic fields and sounds could affect the mood in other ways, besides apparition-like experiences reports. Bearing in mind, that ELF and infrasound, for example, provoke a variety of

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psycho-physiological changes. Finally, this new knowledge could be useful at the time to develop a differential diagnosis for some of the actually labeled, mental “disorders”.

Beyond the specific beliefs of each subject, certain environmental elements contribute to configure their experience. We need to take in to account the context of the phenomenon to understand the lives and experiences of ourselves and the rest of the people. Human experiences are more than only a simple dichotomy between normal and abnormal. We live lives that are far beyond to explain with only a psychological centered model of reality.

Strengths and weaknesses in the research It is necessary to state the fact, that this study is (to the best of my knowledge) the first research that uses this type of methodology (inducing the apparition phenomena, using infrasound to catalyze the experience). This is valuable given that there is a limited amount of empirical studies developed internationally, on matters related to the environmental factors of haunt experiences. Another contribution could be the information on the objective data and measures regarding the nature of these acoustic waves, the physiology and the perception that can be useful as a reference point for later investigations that could give a final answer about the possible link between infrasound and apparition or haunt experiences.

One of the mayor flaws in this study was the lack of any electromagnetic measure of the distortion in local fields that maybe were produced by the two-subwoofers. The study that point out that possibility (Braithwaite & Townsend, 2006), was unacknowledged by the present authors, until a few months ago. In the following months it was no possible to repeat the experience in same conditions, and made the appropriate measure of the magnetic activity (the present author don’t have the expertise or the equipment to do so alone)

It would be preferable if the experimental room (with the 18.9 Hz standing wave) had been chosen at random between all the rooms in the basement. However, this was impossible, because the room was the only one that could resonate with the infrasonic stationary wave of 18.9 Hz. Another limitation of the investigation was related to the lack of a “double-blind” that would allow for a control element of the possible influence that the investigator could bias the answers of the individuals on their experiences (the author, took the DES, RPBS test to all subjects). It would also be interesting to better understand why 18 or 8% of the individuals submitted to infrasound stimulus in the corresponding room did not present an anomalous report. Here, we are assuming that they suffered some alteration.

The finding that neither the DES nor the RPBS correlated with the reporting of anomalous experiences is unexpected result, given that these two measures have consistently been found to be the strongest predictors of anomalous experiences.

There may be some undetected artifacts in the present study, that could explain these results in both tests. Maybe cultural biases, are preventing to some of the subjects (the 20% of the volunteers that not report any anomalous sensation in room C) to have a recognition of the stimulus that they are being exposed, staying in that room. On the other hand it is possible that the tests do not give us a greater understanding in relation to the variables that they mediate and the physiology of the exposed person to infrasound because they are not properly adapted to our cultural environment, considering that these measures could reflect the cultural reality coming from other countries of Hispanic language (the DES used in the present study was an Spanish adaptation of the test for Puerto Rican population, and the RPBS is an adaptation developed from a sample of Spain). However, it seems that there is a close similarity between the language and culture of that places and the language and culture in Chile.

Acknowledgements To Jimena Barrales and Hugo Zapata who gave their time and knowledge to this investigation. To Waldo Mora, for his contribution to the statistical analysis of this report. To Dr. Carlos Alvarado, for his constructive comments and encouragement. And to Louise Farrell, for her proof reading of the present text. This report was made in part possible thanks to Eileen J. Garrett Library Fellowship.

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Appendix 1:

Tecnical aspects of infrasound emissions and their effects in the human body

Infrasound Emissions

Due to the low yield in frequencies, it is difficult to construct infrasounds emissions that work periodically with great power and exceed several kms of radiation. The classic emitters such as loudspeakers, resoance tubes, whistles, piston engines with acoustic filters, etc., have not given technically valid results for the production of pure IS [AU: IS needs to be defined] greater than 160 dB. On the other hand, infrasound emission is seldom directive; for example, a loudspeaker fixed to an absorbent box emits IS in all directions; or rather, it emits spherical waves. Therefore, there is a difference of π2 (one wavelength) between the pressure (P) and the speed of particles (V;Recuero, 1995).

The intensity of radiation as a function of the outphasing is represented by the equation:

I = __1__ p * v cos α 2

Specialists in sound (e.g., Recuero, 1995) propose that pseudo-infrasound exists in closed sites where there is variation in pressure. Although infrasound spreading of these emissions is almost nonexistent for objects with dimensions below the wavelength, it can be assumed that the effects of the pressure are the same as the true IS. The concentration of infrasounds is very difficult because of the dimensions of the reflectors; for example, for 10Hz in the air, the diameter of the reflectors should be several tens of meters.

Physiological Effects of Infrasounds

Investigations of the damage produced by infrasound are in their initial stages. We are going to list some of the effects of infrasound that are not dangerous psychically but can sometimes be very dangerous physiologically. The effects of infrasound can be divided into 4 different categories (Recuero, 1995). First level: Infrasound with an amplitude greater than 180 to 190 dB are fatal. (Breach of the pulmonary alveolus). Second level: The effects of infrasounds with an amplitude from 140 to 155 dB have been thoroughly explored with exposure for more than two minutes in the launchings of rockets. These infrasounds are tolerable for persons in good health.

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Third level: Infrasounds with amplitudes from 120 to 140 dB sometimes cause slight physiological disturbances and fatigue phenomena after many hours of exposure, as seen in the cases of drivers and aviators. Fourth level: Infrasound with an amplitude of about 120 that is not present for more than some dozens of minutes does not seem dangerous. However, reactions to longer exposures remain to be studied. It would be natural to think that infrasound affects mainly hearing, but this is not so. Infrasounds, especially those of low intensity, have physiological effects that can be very serious because they affect the nervous system. They can produce audible noise, luminous signals, variations of temperature, and other internal effects. In general terms, the behavior of the organism in response to infrasound exposure depends on: A) the components of the stimulus; B) the relationship among these components; C) the characteristics of the organism; and D) the reaction of the organism (Recuero, 1995).

APPENDIX 2

Normal mode results for room C

Normal modes

Lenght (L x): 9.1 mts. Width (L y): 4.3 mts. Height (L z): 3.2 mts.

l m N Normal Mode (Hz)

0 0 1 53.75

0 1 0 40

1 0 0 18.901

0 1 1 67

1 0 1 56.97

1 1 0 44.24

1 1 1 69.61

Normal mode results for room C

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Appendix 3

The Anomalous Experiences Table and Questionnaire

Perception in the different rooms, after having carried out the experience.

VISUAL AUDITIVE OLFACTORY TACTILE EMOTIONAL

Room A

Room B

Room C

RoomD

I. – The above chart contains the names of the rooms and the possible anomalous sensations related with

some(s) or all of them. They are divided by the 5 senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch and the last one with

sensations, associated to internal rhythms or emotions). Put an X if you feel some type of anomalous activity in

a room, and put another X in the box that corresponds with the sensorial means you felt affected (A).

II. - Describe here any additional description from your experience In particular, where it was and what

sensation you felt.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

III. -¿Do you suffer any illnesses (physical and psychological)? ¿Are you taking any medication? If so,

which?

______________________________________________________________________

Appendix 4

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Map of the participant`s visit and electroacustic chain diagram. “Entrada”, means “entry” and “salida”, means “exit”. One half of the visitors follow the path entry-exit and the other half follow the inverse order (beginning the experimental situation in “exit” labeled site and finish in “entry” labeled site). Control rooms: A, B and D. Infrasonic room: C.

Basement: Division of rooms in basement and visit in the experimental situation.

House: Republic Street Nº 550

Flow graph, electroacustic system

XLR from mic to console. Mini Stereo plug to mono L and R, from Pc to a stereo console Channel Aux exit plug from console to amplifier. Cable Speakon, from amplifier to Sub basses.

Mono L and R to Mini plug Stereo,

Main out to Pc

Appendix 5

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Sound graphics (taken from Adobe audition 1.5)

Emission of 18,9 Hz (amplified wave) Graphics of 18.9 Hz wave and

background noise.

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