American scientists from the Center for Hearing Loss in Washington have solved the mystery of a strange phenomenon in which individuals, while walking through the forest, hear their names called despite the absence of individuals nearby.
Also called ‘voices in the woods’, this phenomenon is often attributed to mysticism, with many associating such events with ghosts and other supernatural entities. However, Living Science reveals that there is a completely scientific explanation for this baffling occurrence: auditory pareidolia.
Auditory pareidolia denotes a form of perceptual illusion in which individuals perceive familiar voices or words in natural sounds, such as the rustling of leaves, waving grass, or the melody of birdsong.
This phenomenon occurs when the brain tries to interpret unknown sounds by matching them with known patterns stored in its vast database of sounds and words.
Audiologists explain that this cognitive process can sometimes cause the brain to select an incorrect template, resulting in the erroneous perception of non-existent voices.
“Think of your brain as a big database of patterns. All the words you know and have ever heard in your life are in there,” Neil Bauman, an audiologist and CEO of the Center for Hearing Loss Help, based in Washington, told LiveScience.
“It chooses what it thinks is the best pattern. That best pattern may not be right at all. In fact, it could be a way out.”
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 should be referred to a specialist.
