Experience the Ganzfeld Effect is an interactive lecture about the history and science of the unique hallucinatory phenomena known as the Ganzfeld Effect… followed by a demonstration session during which attendees can try out the Effect for themselves.
The Ganzfeld Effect is the name given to the phenomena whereby almost anyone will experience visual and auditory hallucinations if looking at a uniform field of light and listening to white noise. There are fascinating scientific reasons why this happens, and the Effect has been observed in many strange and interesting ways throughout history.
Our talk gives a thorough grounding in the history and science of the Ganzfeld Effect. And is then followed by an interactive demonstration. During this part of the evening, participants have experienced various hallucinations, including:
- The impression of falling snow
- The sight and sound of thunder and lightning
- The sound of someone talking or walking next to them
- The sight of colours, shapes and repeating patterns
- Momentary hallucinations of trees, statues and figures
… all while sitting perfectly immobile in a room, listening to white noise and with a paper mask covering their eyes!
(Additionally, while running this event, we’ve experienced one occurrence of small objects moving around the room, but that was perhaps due to the haunted venue we were working with!)
By the way, the Ganzfeld Procedure has no lasting effects whatsoever, and is a simple visual/auditory phenomena that anyone can experience, and that can be halted at any time.
We’ve run this event twice in total, and last ran it on the 21st of March, 2025, at the beautiful Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre.