How does infrasound cause “haunted” feelings?

Infrasound exposure may trigger stress responses without conscious hearing

A growing line of research suggests that what people describe as “haunted” feelings could be linked to infrasound—very low-frequency sound that many people can’t consciously hear.

In studies of individuals exposed to infrasound, researchers have reported two measurable physiological and behavioral effects: elevated cortisol levels and increased irritability. Cortisol is a stress hormone, and higher levels can reflect that the body is reacting as if something is threatening or disruptive—even when the person isn’t aware of any sound being heard.

The work matters because it offers a concrete biological pathway that could help explain why some individuals experience sensations that they interpret as paranormal.

The key idea is not that infrasound produces visions or ghost stories directly, but that it may:

• Activate the body’s stress response (via cortisol)
• Increase irritability and perceived discomfort
• Contribute to subjective experiences that feel frightening or uncanny

If the stress response is strong enough, it can also shape cognition—people may become more prone to notice unusual patterns, feel uneasy in their environment, and interpret ambiguous cues as significant.

Importantly, the reports about “haunted” experiences are subjective, but the stress markers give the claims a testable mechanism. That could reduce the gap between extraordinary personal experiences and ordinary biology, while also guiding public health and safety discussions about exposure to low-frequency environmental noise.

More research will be needed to determine exposure thresholds, duration effects, and how individual differences shape responses.