Ghosts & Hauntings

Could ultrasound be responsible for some paranormal experiences?

By T.K. Randall
April 27, 2026 ·  4 comments

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) The role of inaudible sound in feelings of uneasiness, the sensation of being watched or in the perception that a particular location might be haunted has been a topic of study for years.

The idea is that certain vibrations, which produce sound at wavelengths beyond the range of human hearing, might still have notable effects on us - even if the sound itself cannot be audibly heard.

To test out this concept, researchers at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta enlisted 36 participants who were asked to sit in a room and listen to either calming or unsettling music.

What half the participants didn't know, however, was that hidden speakers in the room were putting out sound at a very low frequency (approximately 18hz).

The findings determined that the participants who had been exposed to the ultrasound had higher salivary cortisol levels and reported that they had felt more irritable."Increased irritability and higher cortisol are naturally related, because when people feel more irritated or stressed, cortisol tends to rise as part of the body's normal stress response," said study lead author Professor Rodney Schmaltz.

"But infrasound exposure had effects on both outcomes that went beyond that natural relationship."

The team now hopes to expose participants to additional frequencies and durations.

Ultimately, the research could help to prove that the feeling of unease or presence felt at an allegedly haunted location could be down to inaudible sound frequencies rather than paranormal entities.

"The next time something feels inexplicably off in a basement or old building, consider that the cause might be vibrating pipes rather than restless spirits," said Prof Schmaltz.

Source: Mail Online | Comments (4)

Tags: Haunting, Ghost