1 in 3 Haunted House Reports Tied to Infrasound, Study Finds

By VirentaNews Staff — April 28, 2026

More than 30% of people who report “haunted” experiences in old buildings may actually be reacting to inaudible low-frequency sound waves generated by aging heating systems, according to a study gaining traction on r/science. Researchers exposed volunteers to infrasound—sound below 20 hertz, the threshold of human hearing—from simulated boiler systems in controlled environments. Despite not consciously hearing the noise, participants reported increased irritability, anxiety, and a sense of being watched. Saliva tests revealed cortisol levels spiked by an average of 28% during exposure. These findings suggest that what many interpret as supernatural phenomena could have a measurable physiological basis rooted in environmental acoustics.

The Science Behind the Spookiness

For decades, paranormal investigators and psychologists have debated the origins of ghostly sensations—chills, dread, and the feeling of unseen presence—commonly reported in old houses, castles, and abandoned buildings. While some attribute these experiences to suggestion or cultural conditioning, emerging research in psychoacoustics points to physical triggers. Infrasound, often produced by natural sources like wind or earthquakes, can also emanate from mechanical systems such as HVAC units, water pumps, and aging iron pipes that vibrate as hot water flows through them. These vibrations are typically imperceptible to the ear, but their physiological effects are not. The study, led by acoustics researchers at the University of Reading, builds on earlier work by Vic Tandy, a British engineer who in the 1990s linked a “haunting” in a laboratory to a 19-hertz standing wave from a fan. Now, with more sophisticated monitoring tools, scientists can quantify how such frequencies influence mood and stress markers in real time.

How Old Pipes Turn Houses into Nerve Centers

The new experiments focused on recreating the acoustic profile of century-old heating systems common in Victorian and Edwardian homes across the UK and parts of North America. Using sensors and audio modeling, researchers identified consistent infrasonic pulses between 12 and 18 hertz emanating from corroded boiler rooms and iron pipe junctions. When these frequencies were replicated in a soundproof chamber, 62% of participants reported discomfort, including headaches, nausea, and a sense of oppression. One participant described “a presence in the corner of the room,” despite being alone. The study, published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, controlled for lighting, temperature, and expectation bias by telling participants they were testing air quality. The results suggest that infrasound doesn’t just affect the body—it shapes perception, potentially explaining why some locations become infamous for hauntings.

Physiological Mechanisms of Inaudible Sound

Although humans cannot hear infrasound, the body still responds to it. The inner ear’s vestibular system, responsible for balance and spatial orientation, is sensitive to low-frequency vibrations. When exposed to such stimuli, it can trigger disorientation, dizziness, and even visual disturbances—symptoms often reported during alleged paranormal encounters. Moreover, prolonged exposure activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the body’s central stress response network. This leads to increased cortisol production, which over time can contribute to anxiety, sleep disruption, and irritability. Dr. Elena Martinez, a neuroacoustics specialist at Imperial College London not involved in the study, explained: “The brain doesn’t need conscious awareness of a stimulus to react to it. Infrasound may bypass auditory processing and directly influence emotional centers like the amygdala.” This biological sensitivity may have evolutionary roots, as some animals use infrasound to detect distant storms or predators.

Implications for Architecture and Mental Wellbeing

These findings have practical implications for homeowners, architects, and mental health professionals. Historic buildings, particularly those converted into residences or hotels, may unknowingly expose occupants to chronic infrasound. Simple fixes—such as insulating pipes, replacing outdated boilers, or installing vibration dampeners—can reduce or eliminate the issue. Real estate inspectors could eventually incorporate infrasound screening into evaluations, much like radon or mold testing. For individuals experiencing unexplained anxiety in certain spaces, environmental sound may be an overlooked factor. Recognizing the role of infrasound could also reduce stigma around mental health symptoms in older buildings, reframing them as environmental rather than psychological.

Expert Perspectives

While the link between infrasound and eerie sensations is compelling, some experts urge caution in overgeneralizing. “Not every ghost story can be explained by physics,” says Dr. Neil Finnegan, a cultural anthropologist at the University of Edinburgh. “Belief systems, memory, and group dynamics play powerful roles in how people interpret ambiguous experiences.” Meanwhile, structural engineers like Dr. Lena Cho warn that ignoring these acoustic issues could have broader public health consequences. “If we’re seeing measurable stress responses in controlled settings, we need to assess long-term exposure in homes, schools, and workplaces—especially in low-income housing with aging infrastructure.”

Looking ahead, researchers are calling for large-scale epidemiological studies to map infrasound exposure across urban and rural environments. As cities preserve historic architecture while retrofitting for modern living, understanding the hidden impact of aging infrastructure will become increasingly important. The question remains: how many “hauntings” have been misdiagnosed as supernatural when the real culprit was a groaning boiler?

Source: The Guardian