Phantom Frequencies: The Exploration of Pareidolia in Spirit Box Investigations
Keywords:
Internet, Physics, Psychology, Pareidolia, Spirit Box, GhostsAbstract
In ghost hunting, spirit boxes are used to communicate with spirits and understand hauntings. These devices scan AM/FM frequencies to produce fragmented sounds and white noise, which enthusiasts believe spirits can manipulate. This paper delves into the concept of pareidolia, the brain's tendency to find familiar patterns in random sounds and evaluates the reliability of spirit boxes. By comparing human perception and paranormal tools, this paper provides a balanced analysis of spirit boxes' trustworthiness in paranormal investigations.
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