A 'shadow person' might reside in our left temporoparietal junction.
Credit: Wikipedia
SYDNEY: Ever feel as though you're being followed? As if someone is behind you, shadowing your every move? It might be your ‘shadow person', created by unusual activity in a specific brain region, a new study shows.
The paper, published in the British journal Nature, describes the case of a 22-year-old woman with no history of psychiatric problems who was being evaluated for treatment of epilepsy. When a region of her brain called the left temporoparietal junction was electrically stimulated, the woman described encounters with a ‘shadow person' who mimicked her bodily movements.
"Electrical stimulation repeatedly produced a feeling of the presence of another person in her extra-personal space," said Olaf Blanke, co-author of the study conducted by a team of researchers from University Hospital in Geneva, Switzerland.
When the patient was lying down, stimulation of this brain region caused her to feel that someone was behind her. She described the person as young, of indeterminate sex, "a shadow who did not speak or move, and whose position beneath her back was identical to her own", according to the researchers.
When the patient sat up, leaned forward and clasped her knees, she felt that the figure was also sitting, embracing her in its arms - a feeling she described as "unpleasant".
During a language task, in which the seated patient held a card in her right hand, she described the person sitting next to her and trying to interfere with the task. "He wants to take the card … he doesn't want me to read," she said.
Because it was possible to induce the sensation repeatedly, and because the ‘shadow person' closely mimicked the patient's posture and movements, the researchers conclude that the patient was experiencing a perception of her own body.
"The strange sensation that somebody is nearby when no one is actually present has been described by psychiatric and neurological patients, as well as by healthy subjects," said Blanke. Until now, however, it was not understood how the illusion was triggered in the brain.
The temporoparietal junction is known to be involved in creating the concept of ‘self', and the distinction between ‘self' and ‘other'. According to the researchers, stimulation of this region interfered with the patient's ability to integrate information about her own body, leading to her experience of a ‘shadow person'.
Although the woman was aware of the similarity between her own movements and those of her doppelganger, she didn't recognise the experience as an illusion of her own body.
Similar shadowy encounters have been described by people with schizophrenia, as well as by healthy subjects, leading the researchers to believe that: "Our findings may be a step towards understanding the mechanisms behind psychiatric manifestations such as paranoia, persecution and alien control."
Shadow People
Tim, In comment to what you wrote there, if it bothers you what people write, then don't respond. There is a lot of proof out there that spirits and stuff exist. This includes shadow people. They are not idiots. Sure some people have seen shadow people, UFOs, whatever through brain stimulations. However, what about those who have never done drugs in their life, go for an evening walk and come across a shadow person? Is that person suddenly insane? Or an idiot with a degree? This particular person has never done drugs, lives a good life, is loved by many, has never had their intergrity questioned, has been proven to be honest to a dangerous degree as far as having the crap knocked out of them because they told the truth, believes in God but is not a fanatic about it, is a college student with a major in psychology. This person is not an idiot but was surrounded by shadow people that totally surround the person and enclosed them within a two foot circle with witnesses that help that person get away. This person is still stable, but has chosen not to share their experience until more research is done. So why would you just say an unkind thing like that? Everyone is entitled to their opinion and you have obviously expressed yours. So allow them to say theirs without ramifications from you. Thank you.
Shadow people
I applaud you Visitor, for your comment. E me nv "Amen" and so it is gi na li i {my friend} I believe, I know, it has happened to me, still does, and I don't care what anyone on this earthly plane has to say about this subject, because it's true, they exist, as well as other entities. Take heed in what you say Tim...
Wado {thank you} once again Visitor. Your a good and receiving soul my friend.
Dohiyi {peace}
FreeSpiritRunning...
Shadow People
A shadow person and doppelganger are two VERY different things. This "Scientific" study suggests no new evidence for the Shadow Person phenomena. From personal research and investigations that I have done, Shadow People don't "mimic" one's own body movement. They are a mere negative presence that looms over an individual causing intense dread and terror and VERY rarely actually cause physical harm. There are, of course many other possibilities that I must rule out before categorizing a person to be having Shadow Person activity (like, Hypnogogia and Pareidolia, et al); however, to suggest what this "study" has means nothing to those of us in the paranormal field that know better.
SHADOW PPL ARE REAL
hi I JUST SAW A SHADOW PERSON AROUND 3:30 -340 AM.. I SEE THEM ALOT ..LAST NIGHT I THOUGHT I HEARD MY DOOR OPEN AND IT CLOSES REALLY TIGHT AND THERE IS CHILD PROOF HANDLES ON THERE. i DEDCIDED I WAS GOING TO ROLL OVER JUST A LIL BIT TO PEAK OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE AND I SAW A SHADOW PERSON.i ROLLED COMPLETELY OVER AND HE DISAPPEARED.I GOT SO SCARED I CLOSED MY EYES AND BEGIN PRAYING AND AFTER I WAS DONE PRAYING I LEFT MY EYES CLOSED BC I FELT I WAS BEING WATCHED, LIKE SOMETHING WAS RIGHT IN MY FACE, SUDDENLY I FELT LIKE SOME TOLD ME IT WAS OK TO OPEN MY EYES AND I DID AND IT WAS EXACTLY 4 AM (WHICH WEIRD COMSIDERING 3AM IS THE HOUR OF SATAN) ANYWAYS i SAT IN BED WATING FOR MY HUSBAND TO GET UP FOR WORK AT 5 AM AND WHEN HE GOT UP , I GOT UP AND I CHECKED THE DOOR AND IT WAS CRACKED OPEN WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE BC IT WAS COMPLETELY CLOSED AND ITS A VERY GOOD DOOR AND ONLY SOMEONE CAN OPEN IT. i NOTICE WHEN i DO SEE A SHADOW PERSON IT IS AROUND 3:30 AM AND I NOTICE MY 2 YEAR OLD SON IS UP AT THAT HOUR AND SOMETIMES I HEAR HIM TALKING TO SOMEONE. i ALSO hAVE VERY LUCID DREAMS AND ALOT OF MY DREAMS HAVE HAPPENED..i WAS ONCE TOLD I HAVE A GIFT BUT IF I DO I CERTAINLY DONT WANT IT.
Insulting
These scientists are describing a real phenomenon involving the way the brain functions, allowing us to perceive our own bodies in a way that is abnormal due to an unusual means of stimulating brain function. They are not talking about paranormal encounters with actual alien or extra-dimensional creatures, or beings from a "greater universe." They simply used the term "shadow person" to describe the results of their studies of a specific patient's perceptions... much more accurately, I might add, than in those instances where people are using it to describe a paranormal experience, as a general rule. They are not saying that your paranormal experiences are real, or that they are unreal; they aren't talking about anything like that at all, to begin with. This has nothing to do with ghosts and goblins and other things that go bump in the night which MUST be real because your dog "who is normally friendly" barked at them. If you want to run off about that sort of thing, why don't you find a paranormal research magazine, and not derail the discussion about a legitimate scientific phenomenon that apparently is not at all bizarre or inexplicable enough to interest you in and of itself?
shadows are wraiths
i was sitting in my living room playing my guitar in the dark cause i was trying not to look at the keys, and the cat was laying on the automan beside my feet. the room was not completly dark because of th whene street lights so my eyes ajusted to the lighting, when suddenly i get this shiver down my spine its this shiver i get when something invades my space, but all of the suddden, the cat turns its head in the direction of of this black spiraly cloud, & this very large shadow darker then the surroundings appeared, it was about 6'5" with really broad shoulders, it showed itself purposely to me, i stopped playing the guitar & all of the sudden, i left the living room & left. i didn't feel any fear from this being. Just to let you guys know that this was a time i was started to go into severe depression,(for reasons i rather not disclose) from that day on things hot rock bottom for me spiritualy, psyhcologicly, i turned into a very negative being, and this shadow thing just hung around, These things feed off negativity, they catch you off gaurd when your not looking, They are wraiths from past mythology!i've talked to a buhdist monk, & he told me was all in my head, how was it all in my head when another aware life form was aware of it too(the cat)(obviously no help) then one day i started praying, cause i was just soooooo sick of coping with this, amongst other things, just asked for dear help from a higher power,(a bright light so to speak)& in the end i felt these things come around me! (help so to speak) i guess i'll call em my soldier of angels! This shadow was tormenting me! for about 2 years, hard to function in a world when everyone thinks your crazy for telling em these things exist! But anyways i guess that higher power i was praying to, kinda helped me out, when i asked fro help i kinda got sent to the right place to get help, a friend saw this psychic and told me to see her, so i did, i told her about my problem, and she sayed these things usually hang around the homles people, this lady is actually a first nations elder, she did this cleansing & whatever was haunting me got exorcised from my body, these things are like spiritual leeches,ever since i never got bugged by it again other than in a dream, wher it was being sneaky like those creepy things are alway like, hopes this helps some of you who are looking for help with this, if you would like to talk more about this contact me at deathbyemotions@hotmail.com
about shadows
First off, this article was about a newly discovered brain phenomena. It highlights a potential source for brain malfunctions like paranoia and other such mental illnesses. The article had nothing to do with shadow people in the paranormal sence. As others have already said before me, if your going to respond, respond about the article, not paranormal events which this article was most definitly NOT about.
However, since many of you insist on bringing up the subject of the paranormal, I am skeptical and convinced that a high percentage of paranormal events are fake and can be explained. Though I do acknowledge not all are fake. The so called "spirits" or shadow people , as they have said feed off of negative energy. earlier it was mentioned they seek out negative emotions, and in somecases make people even more depressed. These so called " negative spirits" are actually demons. And yes demons are malicios. As one person posted she prayed and it went away. Me , being a christian (and yes im not afraid to admit it) I know these "spirits" for what they actually are. They are satan's minions , and as such they are evil and do try to bring misery to the world. As a christian though, a born again believer who has been washed and cleansed by the blood of my savior, they have no power over me and can not effect me in anyway because my Lord is stronger then they ever could be. As one man posted earlir, the one that said he had been playing guitar, he mentioned that after he prayed he felt he had people protecting him. God does have angels and if you ask for help he will answer. God sent him angels to protect him. However his move of going to a psychic was a bad choice. psychics themselves call on the power of the devil (though they deny it). Going to a demonic power source to get rid of demons is decidedly silly. You do hear of christians that commit exorcism and stuff...Me being a christian though i know some are fake. There are fake christians and you do have to watch out for them. But the best thing to do is go to some christian church and ask for help. Though make sure you get a real God loving church though , not some fake "we will just say we love God church" . Try a baptist church or grace. Of the ones I've had the pleasure of attending they were great. Well I hope this helps people who have been having problems with demons.
But I do believe all the people all you paranormals scolded about wanting to get back to conversation about the article were right.
Everyone should get back to the conversation about the brain because
that was what this forum was originally (and still is) for. So paranormal followers there are posts for paranormal conversations, THIS JUST IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
Energies
I am sure many have heard of the marching soldiers of Gettysburg, I have heard of so many sightings there. I do believe there can be energies that remain, energies from very traumatic events. "Rumor" had it that a woman was beheaded on the property where my parents first home was built. Many sightings in that home, many unexplained sounds, and as someone mentioned, the electricity or temp flux in the air. All sightings were in shadow, describing the same menacing male figure, save one. I had a female shadow follow me for most of my life, maybe the murdered woman? I never felt danger from the shadow, but it frightened me at first, and she always brought a floral scent. Has anyone detected a scent of any kind? She appeared when I was under extreme stress, I came to feel she was trying to comfort me. She stopped appearing for so many years when I adopted a very defensive cat. She came back immediately following his death. I was so distressed at her reappearance I told her "I don't need you anymore, you can't help me" and that was the last I saw or felt or even smelled anything of her.
I don't believe in ghosts, or spirits that can cause physical harm, but that is just me. My brother did crash through my bedroom door when I was 16, screaming "what the he*% is going on in here!" I was sleeping, no radio or T.V. in the room. He wanted to know who was there and where did he go, what was he doing to me. He saw a large figure standing over me with arms raised, something indescribable in his hands. He wouldn't allow me to sleep with my door closed again. I saw nothing other than a dark red light behind my brother.
Maybe I am wrong, maybe they can harm? Or just scare the bejesus out of us!
the "shadow person"
this perception might also be connected somehow with what is usually called "the observer." I wonder if the 'shadow person' ever has something positive to add or if having the 'shadow person' around could be perceived as comforting and/or positive instead of negative...... (always wondering ???).....
You are being unfair visitor
This article is NOT only about paranoia and mental illness, it speaks of healthy subjects as well. Obviously, the people who have responded believe their encounters may have been with shadow people, and they have every right to comment on those encounters, as much right as YOU have, visitor, to go off the subject and discuss religion. Divine intervention by God's heavenly angels is not brain power, it is God's power, from the hand of God.
Stop being so judgmental and self righteous, people. Allow others to share their experiences, this is not the second grade and no one has to follow the unwelcome restrictions of another here.