Paranormal is the term for events that are claimed to have supernatural or folkloric origins and are outside the scope of rational scientific explanation. These include phenomena such as psychokinesis, hauntings, and clairvoyance. Those who claim to have experienced such events often attribute them to supernatural or magical causes and do not follow the steps normally taken to achieve reasonable scientific explanations. These claims have fueled a belief in the paranormal and contributed to the popularity of supernatural films and television shows, as well as a booming industry for ghost tours and haunted locations.
Psychologists have found that people who believe in the paranormal have certain cognitive deficits. These include a tendency to have intuitive thinking, poorer conditional reasoning ability, and a propensity towards confirmatory bias. They also tend to have a lower level of executive functioning. This may be related to the fact that those who have these beliefs report experiencing more paranormal events, such as hearing voices or feeling a presence in their home.
Other theories explain the occurrence of paranormal experiences and phenomena as the result of brain anomalies or abnormalities. For example, some forms of epilepsy can lead to the spooky feeling that someone is stalking you and reports of poltergeists invisibly moving objects are consistent with damage to the region of the brain that processes visual information.
In addition, some researchers have reported that those with temporal lobe seizures and limbic epilepsy have a greater likelihood of experiencing paranormal events. These experiences are generally more intense and negative in nature, such as a sensed presence and feelings of anxiety and fear. This may be due to a combination of the effects on the limbic system and the increased electrical activity that occurs during these disorders.