Scientists have explained why old buildings can feel "out of place" in the building
Scientists have found that infrasound - a very low sound that people don't normally hear - can affect mood and stress levels. This may partly explain why people sometimes feel "uncomfortable" in old houses, basements or buildings with pipes and ventilation.
It's not about proving the "paranormal" but a possible physical explanation for the strange sensations.
Details
Infrasound is a sound below 20 Hz. It can arise from natural phenomena, transport, industrial equipment, ventilation, old pipes or technical systems in buildings. Humans don't normally perceive it as an audible sound, but the body can react to it.
In the new study, the scientists invited 36 participants and asked them to sit in a room where calm or disturbing music was playing. Half of the participants had hidden subwoofers additionally playing infrasound with a frequency of about 18 Hz. People were then asked how they felt and saliva samples were taken before and after the experiment to measure levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with the stress response.
It turned out that the participants couldn't reliably tell if the infrasound was on or off. But those who were exposed to it had higher cortisol levels. They were also more likely to report irritability, decreased interest, and rated the music as sadder.
The authors believe this may explain part of the strange feelings in places people perceive as "creepy" or "abandoned." For example, in an old building, low-frequency vibrations from pipes or ventilation can cause anxiety and discomfort, but the person doesn't realise the source and attributes the sensations to the atmosphere of the place.
Why it matters
Research shows that not all strange sensations in rooms are due to imagination. Sometimes they can have a very physical cause - a low-frequency sound that a person can't hear, but to which the body reacts.
This is important in understanding how the environment affects well-being. Infrasound can be found near ventilation systems, transport, industrial machinery and in older buildings. If its effects are confirmed by larger studies, such data could be useful for noise standards, building design and assessing working conditions.
However, the scientists emphasise the limitations: the experiment involved only 36 people, tested a single frequency - around 18 Hz - and the study itself shows a link to mood and stress response, but does not explain all "paranormal" experiences.
Background
The idea of infrasound being linked to feelings of anxiety or "presence" has long been discussed, but the data has been mixed. The new experiment is important because it showed a measurable physiological effect: people didn't hear infrasound, but their mood and cortisol levels changed.
However, experts urge against turning this into a universal explanation for all "ghost" stories. Infrasound may explain discomfort, irritation or anxiety, but it is not proof of the cause of visual hallucinations or stories about moving objects.
Source
The study is published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2026: Infrasound Exposure is Linked to Aversive Responding, Negative Appraisal, and Elevated Salivary Cortisol in Humans. The experiment involved 36 people exposed to infrasound around 18 Hz.