A Physiological Reading of Paranormal Activity
I'm sure there will be a wealth of theories to explain why Paranormal Activity scares the way it does, but I thought I'd raise two interesting physiological explanations (suggested in discussion forums and reviews of the film).
SLEEP PARALYSIS
One reading suggests a parallel between the use of the static camera in the film and the condition of sleep paralysis. According to wikipedia:
The paralytic state may also be accompanied by a sense of dread as well as terrifying hallucinations, the result of being both in a dream and waking state. It's also used as an explanation for encounters with the paranormal (particularly in the case of hauntings from satanic beings), with some cultures referring to it as "the devil on your back". There have even been reports of unexplained deaths attributed to sleep paralysis.
I myself have experienced sleep paralysis (although I never knew it as that until recently) and the sense of being held down is quite accurate. It's also a similar feeling to watching Paranormal Activity, with the film's use of the static camera suggesting a position of paralysis. On the one hand we can't do anything but react, but on the other hand, the camera (and often the characters) don't take into account our reactions. The unbearable sense of dread and even the invisible/hallucinatory nature of the demon I would argue stem from this state of paralysis. Unable to 'move', our imagination goes into overdrive. In addition, the feeling of possession in the night scenes - the way we gradually feel as if someone else is watching through us - correlates with the sense of 'the devil on your back' during sleep paralysis ie. a demon who occupies your blind spot.
BINAURAL BEATS
A user on imdb also suggests the intriguing possibility that the film makes use of binaural beats. The low humming or drone sound accompanying the night scenes corresponds to an increase of anxiety that could be explained by the low frequency sounds. As the user writes:
I have no way of knowing whether the film uses binaural beats or not but it's interesting to speculate. Indeed, the first experiments with binaural beats were to investigate out-of-body experiences. Could it be that the film gradually raises the sound frequency in the night scenes to induce such an out-of-body response?
Wikipedia has a table listing the effects of increased brain wave frequencies:
> 40 Hz [Gamma waves] Higher mental activity, including perception, problem solving, fear, and consciousness
13–40 Hz [Beta waves] Active, busy or anxious thinking and active concentration, arousal, cognition
7–13 Hz [Alpha waves] Relaxation (while awake), pre-sleep and pre-wake drowsiness
4–7 Hz [Theta waves] Dreams, deep meditation, REM sleep
< 4 Hz [Delta waves] Deep dreamless sleep, loss of body awareness
If the binaural beats gradually increase the frequency of brain waves, the effect could be similar to the experience of waking while dreaming - the mix of consciousness correlating closely with the idea of sleep paralysis.
For an example of a binaural beat which sounds somewhat similar to the one in the film (Beta/anxiety/active concentration and Delta/deep sleep/loss of body awareness) listen to the first 30 seconds of the clip below (works only with headphones):
SLEEP PARALYSIS
One reading suggests a parallel between the use of the static camera in the film and the condition of sleep paralysis. According to wikipedia:
Sleep paralysis occurs when the brain awakes from a REM state, but the body paralysis persists. This leaves the person fully conscious, but unable to move. The paralysis can last from several seconds to several minutes "after which the individual may experience panic symptoms and the realization that the distorted perceptions were false".
The paralytic state may also be accompanied by a sense of dread as well as terrifying hallucinations, the result of being both in a dream and waking state. It's also used as an explanation for encounters with the paranormal (particularly in the case of hauntings from satanic beings), with some cultures referring to it as "the devil on your back". There have even been reports of unexplained deaths attributed to sleep paralysis.
I myself have experienced sleep paralysis (although I never knew it as that until recently) and the sense of being held down is quite accurate. It's also a similar feeling to watching Paranormal Activity, with the film's use of the static camera suggesting a position of paralysis. On the one hand we can't do anything but react, but on the other hand, the camera (and often the characters) don't take into account our reactions. The unbearable sense of dread and even the invisible/hallucinatory nature of the demon I would argue stem from this state of paralysis. Unable to 'move', our imagination goes into overdrive. In addition, the feeling of possession in the night scenes - the way we gradually feel as if someone else is watching through us - correlates with the sense of 'the devil on your back' during sleep paralysis ie. a demon who occupies your blind spot.
BINAURAL BEATS
A user on imdb also suggests the intriguing possibility that the film makes use of binaural beats. The low humming or drone sound accompanying the night scenes corresponds to an increase of anxiety that could be explained by the low frequency sounds. As the user writes:
It is proven that your brain runs on certain wave lengths during different points of consciousness, but if you have an interfering tone pattern that over-powers your brains wave length, your body will be affected physiologically. Some people use it for hypnosis, but I'm not sure how effective it is.
If binaural tones were used, it might explain why this movie was so frightening. One could possibly self-hypnotize himself into believe he was more scared than he actually was. Or the tones could produce a increase of heart rate, making a scene scarier than it was.
I have no way of knowing whether the film uses binaural beats or not but it's interesting to speculate. Indeed, the first experiments with binaural beats were to investigate out-of-body experiences. Could it be that the film gradually raises the sound frequency in the night scenes to induce such an out-of-body response?
Wikipedia has a table listing the effects of increased brain wave frequencies:
> 40 Hz [Gamma waves] Higher mental activity, including perception, problem solving, fear, and consciousness
13–40 Hz [Beta waves] Active, busy or anxious thinking and active concentration, arousal, cognition
7–13 Hz [Alpha waves] Relaxation (while awake), pre-sleep and pre-wake drowsiness
4–7 Hz [Theta waves] Dreams, deep meditation, REM sleep
< 4 Hz [Delta waves] Deep dreamless sleep, loss of body awareness
If the binaural beats gradually increase the frequency of brain waves, the effect could be similar to the experience of waking while dreaming - the mix of consciousness correlating closely with the idea of sleep paralysis.
For an example of a binaural beat which sounds somewhat similar to the one in the film (Beta/anxiety/active concentration and Delta/deep sleep/loss of body awareness) listen to the first 30 seconds of the clip below (works only with headphones):
Labels: paranormal activity
posted by David Marin-Guzman at 7:43 PM
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