Over 60% report strange experiences while fully awake, large Brazilian survey finds

Feeling a presence, déjà vu, lucid dreams: how common are anomalous experiences?

According to НВ — Техно: Publication date/time: August 7, 16:00

Source: Science Alert

D'Or Institute for Research and Education, Brazil

A Brazilian study suggests that anomalous experiences-such as sensing a presence, déjà vu, lucid dreaming, and out-of-body episodes-are far from rare. Often framed as paranormal, they are increasingly examined as part of normal human psychology. Researchers at the D'Or Institute surveyed 5,117 people and collected data on 38 different types of unusual phenomena. Most respondents said these events occurred while they were awake, often lasted only briefly, and were generally rated as positive.

Key findings from the survey

Based on a 47-question questionnaire, the results showed:

• More than 60% of respondents had an unusual experience while fully awake;
• Nearly 40% said they were alone at the time;
• About 36% said the experience lasted a few minutes;
• 27% described it as very brief or almost instantaneous;
• 38% had this kind of experience two or three times;
• 30% reported only one occurrence.

Around two-thirds of participants said the experiences first happened in adulthood, while more than 20% reported them during adolescence. When asked what they thought caused the experiences, 36% did not attribute them to anyone's actions, 41% put them down to chance, and 28% saw them as a sign or message. Only 16% linked the experience to God or gods, and 11% to the Holy Spirit.

The emotional dimension also stood out. Roughly half of respondents felt joy or happiness during the experience, while fewer than one-quarter reported distress or discomfort. About half said the experiences had a positive effect on their lives, and under 15% described negative consequences.

Senior study author Ronald Fischer, a psychologist, said: "Such experiences turned out to be far more common in the general population than the number of relevant clinical diagnoses would suggest."

The researchers advise seeking professional help if unusual experiences begin to interfere with everyday life.

These findings could matter for understanding psychological phenomena that often receive little scientific attention. By showing how widespread such experiences are, the study opens new avenues for exploring their impact on quality of life and mental health, and may encourage clinicians and researchers to develop better ways of supporting patients.

As researchers delve deeper into the realm of human psychology, understanding the brain's responses to various stimuli becomes increasingly vital. For instance, the recent findings on why our eyes widen in surprise highlight the intricate connections between our emotional states and physiological reactions. Exploring these phenomena may shed light on the underlying mechanisms of anomalous experiences reported in the Brazilian study.