A magical ear trumpet is a device that is said to have mystical properties. It is believed to enhance one's senses and allow them to hear things that are beyond the capabilities of normal hearing. The concept of a magical ear trumpet has been part of folklore and legends for centuries. According to some tales, a person who possesses a magical ear trumpet can hear whispers from far distances, even if they are spoken in secret. This ability is often associated with supernatural beings or individuals who have special powers. In folklore, it is often said that those who possess a magical ear trumpet can eavesdrop on the conversations of ghosts or communicate with entities from other realms.
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This vicious cycle which I call the panic-hallucination model continues to feed into itself until sleep paralysis becomes chronic, prolonged and, worse yet, potentially psychopathological. In Italy, some interpret sleep paralysis as an assault by the so-called Pandafeche, a figure described as a malevolent witch or terrifying giant cat.
In folklore, it is often said that those who possess a magical ear trumpet can eavesdrop on the conversations of ghosts or communicate with entities from other realms. The magical ear trumpet is also sometimes described as a device that can amplify sounds, making them louder and clearer. In some stories, it is said to have the power to distinguish between different sounds, allowing the user to pick up on even the faintest of noises.
Sleep Paralysis and the Monsters Inside Your Mind
Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to an unearthly figure with blood dripping down its fangs. You try to scream, but you can’t. You can’t move a single muscle! If this sounds familiar, you’ve probably experienced an episode of sleep paralysis, which involves the inability to move or speak upon falling asleep or awakening and is often coupled with hallucinations. About one in five people have had sleep paralysis at least once. But despite its prevalence, it has largely remained a mystery. For centuries, cultures across the world have attributed these hallucinations to black magic, mythical monsters, even paranormal activity. Scientists have since dismissed such explanations, yet these cultural beliefs persist. In fact, my and my colleagues’ research, conducted over roughly a decade in six different countries, suggests that beliefs about sleep paralysis can dramatically shape the physical and psychological experience, revealing a striking type of mind-body interaction.
Sleep paralysis is caused by what appears to be a basic brain glitch at the interface between wakefulness and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. During REM, you have intensely lifelike dreams. To prevent you from acting out these realistic dreams (and hurting yourself!), your brain has a clever solution: it temporarily paralyzes your entire body. Indeed, your brain has a “switch” (a handful of neurochemicals) that tilts you between sleep and wakefulness. Sometimes the “switch” fails, however—your brain inadvertently wakes up while your body is still under the “spell” of REM paralysis, leaving you stuck in a paradoxical state between parallel realities: wakefulness and REM sleep. During sleep paralysis, the crisp dreams of REM “spill over” into waking consciousness like a dream coming alive before your eyes—fanged figures and all.
These hallucinations—often involving seeing and sensing ghostly bedroom intruders—are interpreted differently around the world. In Egypt, sleep paralysis is often thought to be caused by a jinn (“genie”)—a supernatural creature that terrorizes and sometimes kills its victims. In Italy, some interpret sleep paralysis as an assault by the so-called Pandafeche, a figure described as a malevolent witch or terrifying giant cat. In South Africa, Indigenous people believe the state to be caused by segatelelo (black magic), involving menacing dwarflike creatures called tokoloshe, and in Turkey, it is the karabasan—mysterious spirit-like creatures. In contrast, the Danes offer a less imaginative explanation: they largely attribute sleep paralysis to physiological risk factors such as stress.
These explanations—scientific and sensationalist—can have a profound impact on how people experience sleep paralysis. When directly comparing the phenomenon in Egypt and Denmark, we found that Egyptians fear it much more than Danes do. In fact, more than 50 percent of Egyptians who experienced the condition were convinced that sleep paralysis was deadly. Egyptians also believed that the episodes lasted longer—and remarkably, they occurred three times more often for this group. Beliefs about sleep paralysis among Egyptians appeared to have dramatically shaped their experience. Those who attributed it to supernatural forces suffered greater fear of the experience and longer paralysis. A pattern was revealing itself. Paired with particular beliefs, sleep paralysis had gone from a simple “brain glitch” to a chronic, prolonged and potentially fatal supernatural event.
The question was whether the results could be replicated. Italians also have striking cultural beliefs about the origin of sleep paralysis. More than a third of those from the Abruzzo region thought their sleep paralysis might be caused by the Pandafeche creature. Like Egyptians, Italians also experienced sleep paralysis more frequently, with prolonged paralysis and excessive fear of the experience. In both groups, beliefs about the disorder heightened symptoms in a bizarre mind-body interaction with “nocebolike” effects. An active imagination had the astonishing ability to shape physiological experiences.
Based on these findings, it appears that the more people fear sleep paralysis, the more they experience it, and the stronger its effects are. What were once thought to be benign, even inventive, beliefs have transformed the disorder, triggering conditioned fear and coloring the content of hallucinations. Anxiety and stress predispose people to an attack, so those who dread it are often more likely to experience it. Indeed, sleep paralysis is nearly twice as common in Egypt, compared with Denmark. And as discovered in Italy, those who believe their sleep paralysis may have a supernatural cause are also more likely to hallucinate during the attack—including experiencing a ghostly “sensed presence.” Once sleep paralysis occurs, it is subsequently interpreted through the lens of fear, leading to more anxiety and unwanted awakenings—and effectively, more sleep paralysis. This vicious cycle—which I call the “panic-hallucination model”—continues to feed into itself until sleep paralysis becomes chronic, prolonged and, worse yet, potentially psychopathological.
Our new findings raise the intriguing possibility that sleep paralysis, if accompanied by certain beliefs, is not just frightening but may also be potentially traumatizing. The effects can linger long after an episode ends. Notably, in one study in Egypt, we found that people who have experienced the phenomenon have elevated trauma and anxiety symptoms, relative to those who have never experienced it. Those with visual hallucinations—seeing “demonic beings,” say—are even more at risk. In another study in Abruzzo, I and my colleagues recently showed that fear during sleep paralysis, and fear of dying from the attack, was linked to trauma and depression symptoms. These findings indicate that when it is understood through a particular cultural filter, the disorder can cause psychopathology.
For those suffering from sleep paralysis, sleep is not an escape from reality. Indeed, for some, “sleeping” can potentially lead to a mental disorder. The human mind is vastly more mysterious, and occasionally malevolent, than one would have thought.
Are you a scientist who specializes in neuroscience, cognitive science, or psychology? And have you read a recent peer-reviewed paper that you would like to write about? Please send suggestions to Mind Matters editor Gareth Cook. Gareth, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist, is the series editor of Best American Infographics and can be reached at garethideas AT gmail.com or Twitter @garethideas.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)
Baland Jalal is a researcher at Harvard University's department of psychology and a visiting researcher at the department of psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, where he earned his Ph.D. You can follow his work on YouTube and Instagram Follow Baland Jalal on Twitter
Recent Articles by Baland Jalal
- A New Way to Understand--and Possibly Treat--OCD
Sleep paralysis is caused by what appears to be a basic brain glitch at the interface between wakefulness and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. During REM, you have intensely lifelike dreams. To prevent you from acting out these realistic dreams (and hurting yourself!), your brain has a clever solution: it temporarily paralyzes your entire body. Indeed, your brain has a “switch” (a handful of neurochemicals) that tilts you between sleep and wakefulness. Sometimes the “switch” fails, however—your brain inadvertently wakes up while your body is still under the “spell” of REM paralysis, leaving you stuck in a paradoxical state between parallel realities: wakefulness and REM sleep. During sleep paralysis, the crisp dreams of REM “spill over” into waking consciousness like a dream coming alive before your eyes—fanged figures and all.
This ability is often portrayed as being highly useful for detecting danger or uncovering hidden treasures. In addition to its ability to enhance hearing, the magical ear trumpet is sometimes believed to have other magical properties. It is said to possess the power to protect the wearer from harm or to grant them the ability to understand the language of animals. These additional powers often make the magical ear trumpet a highly sought-after object in folktales and legends. While the concept of a magical ear trumpet may be purely fictional, it reflects humanity's fascination with the idea of unlocking hidden senses or accessing unknown realms of perception. Throughout history, people have been captivated by the possibility of experiencing the world in new and extraordinary ways. The magical ear trumpet represents this desire and taps into the human imagination, allowing us to dream of a reality that is filled with enchantment and wonder..
Reviews for "The Magical Ear Trumpet: A Device for Time Travel?"
1. Alex - 2 stars - The Magical Ear Trumpet was a major disappointment for me. The concept seemed interesting and unique, but the execution fell flat. The writing was weak and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with the characters or become invested in the plot. Additionally, the pacing was off, with slow and dull moments that seemed to drag on. Overall, I found the book underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I really struggled to get through The Magical Ear Trumpet. The story was confusing and disjointed, with a jumble of ideas that never quite came together cohesively. The writing style was also cumbersome, making it hard to follow the narrative. I felt like the author was trying too hard to be whimsical and clever, but it only resulted in a convoluted mess. I ended up giving up on the book halfway through, as it failed to capture my interest or provide any enjoyment.
3. John - 2 stars - The Magical Ear Trumpet had potential, but it ultimately fell short for me. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their struggles or triumphs. The plot was muddled and lacked a clear direction, leaving me confused and disengaged. I had hoped for a magical and immersive reading experience, but instead, I was left feeling disappointed and disconnected from the story. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book to others.
4. Emma - 2 stars - I was excited to read The Magical Ear Trumpet, but it ended up being a letdown. The pacing was slow, and the story seemed to meander without a clear purpose. The world-building was minimal, leaving me with little understanding or appreciation for the magical elements in the book. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, making it hard to connect with the characters. Overall, I found the book to be unengaging and would not read anything else from this author.