User:J.smith/Electronic voice phenomenon/Temp

Electronic voice phenomena (EVP)

History

Theories

Beyond the grave

Radio interference

Radio interference is often references as being a possible explanation of many of the recorded signals.^[1] Faulty or cheep recording equipment can pick up stray signals from TV stations, radio stations, CB operators or analogue portable phones.

Researchers have attempted to reduce the possibility of radio interference. Colin Smythe arranged a test in 1971 using a number of tape recorders shield from interference inside of faraday cages and left to record. On playback a large number of EVPs were still recorded. ^[2]

Pareidolia

One presented theory to explain EVP is pareidolia. Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus (often an image or sound) being mistakenly perceived as recognizable. ^[3] White noise, often considered an important part of EVP research, is specifically addressed in the pareidolia theory:

For example, the patient hears voices when the tap is turned on: he hears voices in the running water, but the voices and the noise of the water are quite distinct and can be heard separately and synchronously like any other voice that is heard against a background noise. The perception of hearing running water is necessary to produce the hallucination but the hallucination is not a transformation of that perception.
— Andrew C.P. Sims, ^[4]

Alexander MacRae, like other researcher, have attempted to compensate for the potential by using a panel of independent listeners. After the listener's observations are recorded, the results are compared. Approximately 56% of the words matched across all the listeners.^[5]

Notable Studies

Raudive voices

Spiritcom

References

^ electronic voice phenomenon (EVP), the Skepdic's Dictionary, Retrieved November 22, 2006
^ Judith Chisholm,Distant Voices, Fortean Times
^ Semple, David M. (2005). Oxford Handbook of Psychiatry. Oxford University Press. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-19-852783-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
^ Sims, Andrew C.P. (2002). Symptoms in the Mind: An Introduction to Descriptive Psychopathology. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-7020-2627-0.
^ Alexander MacRae, A Bio-electromagnetic Device of Unusual Properties, skyelab.co.uk, Retrieved November 22, 2006.

External links

[[Category:Spirituality]] [[Category:Recording]] [[Category:Ghosts]]

[1] tronic voice phenomenon (EVP), the Skepdic's Dictionary, Retrieved November 22, 2006

[2] Judith Chisholm,Distant Voices, Fortean Times

[3] Semple, David M. (2005). Oxford Handbook of Psychiatry. Oxford University Press. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-19-852783-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

[4] Sims, Andrew C.P. (2002). Symptoms in the Mind: An Introduction to Descriptive Psychopathology. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-7020-2627-0.

[5] Alexander MacRae, A Bio-electromagnetic Device of Unusual Properties, skyelab.co.uk, Retrieved November 22, 2006.

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