The human subconscious may “see” events before they occur, research from independent laboratories suggests.
The Human Subconscious Can Predict the Future
There are aspects of science that remain unexplained, and the subconscious is one of those topics. A meta-analysis from over 20 experiments conducted by 7 independent laboratories indicates that the human subconscious has the ability to predict future events. This document, titled “Predicting Physiological Responses to Unpredictable Stimuli”, was published by Julia A. Mossbridge, a psychologist at Northwestern University, in the journal Frontiers in Psychology in October 2012.
The human subconscious can predict the future. (Image: AGS Andrew/iStock)
According to the research, the subconscious somehow can “see” events before they happen, within a timeframe of 1 to 10 seconds. Before we consciously recognize an event, our bodies respond to it, as evidenced by changes in the cardiopulmonary system, skin, and nervous system.
In the independent experiments mentioned, participants were shown random images that evoked emotional or neutral reactions. The results showed that prior to the images being displayed, their bodies exhibited reactions that aligned with their subsequent emotions. The strongest reactions occurred after viewing the images, but a lighter response was noted seconds before. This demonstrates the subconscious’s predictive ability regarding stimuli in the future.
Researchers used a similar analogy to describe this phenomenon, likening it to a stick floating in a river, with water flowing around it. The disturbance caused by the stick represents an event that is about to occur, disrupting the water flow. This process is akin to emotionally charged events, or significant occurrences. The flow of the river can be perceived as the passage of time as your consciousness perceives it.
The water flowing around the stick experiences greater disturbances downstream. A short section of the river upstream also shows minor water disturbances. Similarly, our subconscious can detect disturbances just moments before an event happens.
A short stretch upstream with the stick also shows minor water disturbances. (Image: Epoch Times)
The authors note that a unified standard across multiple experiments is necessary to confirm the existence of Predictive Anticipatory Activity (PAA). The above meta-analysis could only assess experiments using various methodologies. However, they did find significant signs indicating that PAA indeed exists. Scientists encourage further research in the future, following a common standard to validate this hypothesis.
