For centuries, their seemingly uncanny ability to discern private facts about strangers have bolstered the claims of spiritualist mediums to be able to contact the dead.
Nonsense, according to a new and rigorous scientific test in Britain which has concluded that most mediums simply use a series of relatively simple psychological tricks to fool people.
When asked to perform under tightly controlled laboratory conditions, mediums' special skills seemed to disappear into the spirit world, the Times newspaper reported yesterday.
Informed guesses
According to the scientists behind the experiment, most mediums use tricks such as "cold readings," making informed guesses about a subject based on observable physical and behavioral signs, as well as picking up on verbal responses.
And while some mediums know full well what they are doing, others use such skills unconsciously, and honestly believe they are being fed answers by spirits, the report found.
The experiment saw five mediums asked to do readings for subjects sitting in a different room, without being told their age, gender, or other signs.
To prevent clues being gleaned at second hand, one scientist dealt exclusively with the subjects while another handled the mediums, the Times said.
The subjects were later shown all the statements made by the mediums about everyone and asked to pick those which fitted them, with the results showing a hit rate no better than random chance.
"These are probably the most rigorous experiments that have been done in this field, and they show that the mediums could not contact the spirits and give accurate readings under controlled conditions," Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire told the paper.
Spookily accurate
According to the Times, as well as using visual clues, mediums can also appear spookily well informed by making general claims that match many people, such as: "You have a photo of the deceased person that is special to you."
And if all else fails, a full third of people endorse the statement: "You have a scar on your right knee," the paper added.
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