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This investigation tested the effect of priming on pareidolia (the hearing of illusory words in ambiguous stimuli). Participants (41 women, 20 men, mean age 29.95 years) were assigned to primed (n = 30) or unprimed (n = 31) groups: the former were told the study was of 'purported ghosts voices', the latter 'voices in noisy environments.' Participants were assessed for perception of human voices within recordings of purported electronic voice phenomena (EVP), degraded human speech, normal human speech, and white noise. The primed group had significantly higher perception of voices within EVPs than in degraded speech, this difference was not found for unprimed participants. In contrast to the previous use of this design, the primed group did not have higher perception of voices in EVPs and degraded speech than did the unprimed group. The Aesthetic Sensitivity dimension of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) was associated with detection of degraded stimuli, but not with accuracy of stimulus identification. HSPS score was related to lifetime reporting of anomalous and paranormal experiences. This study partially replicates a paranormal priming effect and shows relationships between HSPS and detection of ambiguous stimuli and anomalous and paranormal experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are differences in Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) within many species. In humans high SPS refers to greater responsivity to stimuli, slower, deeper processing, aesthetic sensitivity, and low threshold for sensory discomfort. This study tested whether SPS is associated with the accurate recognition of degraded auditory stimuli and susceptibility to auditory pareidolia (hearing illusory words when presented with ambiguous, degraded words). Fifty participants (mean age = 33.02; females n = 32, males n = 18) responded to degraded words presented in Deutsch's phantom word illusion task. They then completed the Highly Sensitive Person Scale, which assesses SPS, and the Survey of Anomalous Experiences. SPS was significantly associated with the recognition of degraded stimuli, but not with pareidolia. Number of anomalous experiences reported by participants was significantly associated with SPS and pareidolia. This study shows objective validation of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale regarding detection of subtle external stimuli. • There are differences in Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) within many species. • High SPS refers to greater responsivity to stimuli, and slower, deeper processing. • High SPS is associated with accurate detection of degraded auditory stimuli. • High SPS is not associated with hearing illusory words in degraded auditory stimuli. • High SPS and pareidolia are associated with anomalous and paranormal experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]