Voices in the forest: a mystical phenomenon or is there a scientific explanation?

American scientists from the Center for Hearing Loss in Washington have solved the mystery of a strange phenomenon when people, while in the forest, hear someone calling their name, although there is no one nearby.

According to the Live Science portal, many people interpret such situations from a mystical point of view, associating them with ghosts and other supernatural beings. However, in fact, this phenomenon has a completely scientific explanation - auditory pareidolia.

Pareidolia is a type of perception illusion in which a person sees or hears familiar images in everyday objects or sounds. In the case of auditory pareidolia, the brain interprets natural sounds such as the rustle of foliage, the rustle of grass or the singing of birds as familiar voices or words.

Audiologists explain that the human brain stores a huge database of sounds and words that he has ever heard. When he encounters unfamiliar sounds, he tries to interpret them by comparing them with the most appropriate patterns. In the case of auditory pareidolia, he chooses an erroneous pattern, which leads to the perception of non-existent voices.

Experts note that in most cases, auditory pareidolia is not a cause for concern. However, if a person begins to hear voices or other sounds in complete silence, this may be a sign of a more serious illness and requires contacting specialists.