Extraordinary Experiences Are More Common Than You Think

Experiencing the extraordinary is more prevalent than most people realize, according to a recent study published in PLOS One. Researchers from Brazil identified 38 distinct "extraordinary" experiences, which included feeling touched by an unseen force, seeing objects move on their own, and moments of feeling guided. Over 5,000 Brazilian participants were surveyed about these experiences, as well as how they interpreted and coped with them.

One out of three people reported severe alterations in sensory perception, while up to half experienced feelings of being touched, guided, or having extrasensory perception. While a quarter of participants said these experiences had immediate negative impacts, such as suffering or discomfort, more than half found the long-term effects to be positive and growth-inducing.

The study's authors chose Brazil as the testing ground due to its diverse cultural landscape, which includes a range of religious and spiritual traditions that incorporate non-ordinary psychological experiences into rituals. The majority of these extraordinary experiences occurred to individuals when they were awake and alert, without the influence of drugs or other mind-altering substances.

One neuroscientist involved in the study, Ronald Fischer, suggested that even common experiences like falling in love could be considered extraordinary. He explained that the study aimed to separate the actual experience from the individual's interpretation, allowing for a more accurate assessment of the experience itself.