The Science Behind That Eerie Feeling
Canadian researchers may have finally found a scientific explanation for why some spaces just feel... off. Rodney Schmaltz, a psychology professor at MacEwan University in Edmonton, has been digging into why certain environments trigger feelings of dread, unease, or even the sense that something supernatural is lurking nearby — and his findings point to something you can't even hear.
Schmaltz and his colleagues have been studying infrasound — low-frequency sound waves that fall below the threshold of human hearing, typically under 20 Hz. While we can't consciously detect these sounds, our bodies can absolutely feel them. And that physical response, researchers believe, may be at the root of many so-called paranormal experiences.
What Is Infrasound?
Infrasound is produced by a surprising range of sources: old HVAC systems, wind moving through large structures, industrial machinery, and even certain geological features. Old buildings — with their aging ventilation systems, drafty corridors, and thick stone or brick walls — are particularly prone to generating these low-frequency vibrations.
When humans are exposed to infrasound, the effects can be subtle but deeply unsettling. Research in this area has documented responses including:
- A vague but persistent sense of unease
- Feelings of being watched
- Unexplained anxiety or dread
- In some cases, visual disturbances or the impression of a "presence"
Schmaltz's work builds on earlier studies that first proposed infrasound as a potential explanation for haunted-house experiences. His team is focused on understanding the psychological mechanisms — why do some people respond more strongly than others, and what role does belief in the paranormal already play in amplifying the effect?
Belief Meets Biology
One of the most fascinating aspects of Schmaltz's research is the intersection of expectation and physiology. People who already believe in ghosts or the paranormal may be more attuned to — or more likely to interpret — these physical sensations as supernatural. It's a feedback loop: the creepy old building produces infrasound, your body reacts, your brain searches for an explanation, and if you're already primed to think about ghosts, well, there's your ghost.
This doesn't mean the experience isn't real. The discomfort and fear people feel in these environments are genuine physiological responses. Science is simply offering a different label for the cause.
Why It Matters Beyond Ghost Stories
Beyond satisfying curiosity about haunted houses, this kind of research has practical implications. Understanding how infrasound affects human psychology could inform how we design buildings — particularly spaces where people spend a lot of time, like schools, hospitals, and offices. Reducing unintentional infrasound exposure could improve wellbeing and productivity.
For anyone who's ever walked into an old church, an aging university hall, or a creaky heritage building and felt a chill they couldn't explain — science now has something to say about that. And no, it probably wasn't a ghost. Probably.
Source: CBC Radio, Quirks & Quarks. Research by Rodney Schmaltz, MacEwan University, Edmonton.
