Infrasound May Explain Unsettling Sensations in Old Buildings

Led by Prof Rodney Schmaltz (MacEwan University), the study recruited 36 adults who listened to calming or unsettling instrumental music while hidden sub-woofers emitted inaudible infrasound (below 20 Hz) mimicking old-building boilers. The design followed an earlier, inconclusive test at the “Deadmonton” haunted-house attraction. Saliva samples measured cortisol and participants rated mood after each session. Emeritus psychologist Chris French offered external commentary.

The Guardian

• Sample: 36 adults; infrasound (undetectable) increased irritation, made music feel sadder, and raised cortisol compared with control periods.

The Guardian

The authors argue that involuntary discomfort from low-frequency vibrations can be labeled “spooky” by those primed to expect paranormal activity. In aging structures where boilers and ventilation emit inaudible rumble, physiological response may reinforce ghost narratives without supernatural cause. The effect may be amplified in poorly insulated basements.

The Guardian

Schmaltz emphasized that inaudible infrasound can generate a vague unease that, when combined with prior belief in hauntings, is likely misattributed to spirits, and he called for larger, more diverse studies to confirm the effect. French described the findings as plausible yet limited, warning that extending them to explain poltergeist activity or visual apparitions exceeds current evidence; he also noted that earlier infrasound research has produced mixed results and that reports of visual hallucinations rely on anecdotal, not controlled, data.

The Guardian

• “What infrasound may do is supply a bit of bodily discomfort that a ghost or haunting explanation can then attach itself to,” — Prof Rodney Schmaltz, Psychologist, MacEwan University

The Guardian

• “In plain terms, you cannot hear infrasound, but your body and your mood appear to respond to it anyway, and the response tends to be unpleasant.” — Prof Rodney Schmaltz

The Guardian

• “They very likely don’t know what infrasound is, but they have been told they are in a haunted location, so they attribute the feeling of irritation to a ghost rather than the old, low rumbling pipes in the basement,” — Prof Rodney Schmaltz

The Guardian

• “It may be a step too far to explain alleged poltergeist activity, such as objects flying off shelves, as resulting from infrasound,” — Chris French, Emeritus Professor of Psychology

The Guardian

Schmaltz and colleagues plan larger investigations across age groups and building types to test reproducibility of cortisol and mood changes. The work aims to determine whether infrasound is a systematic factor in haunted-house experiences or a marginal contributor. The team will also examine seasonal variations.

The Guardian