Childhood Imaginary Friends Linked to Feeling Mysterious Presences Later in Life, Study Suggests

Adults who had imaginary friends as children are more likely to report feeling a mysterious presence when alone, according to a study by scientists at İzmir University of Economics in Türkiye. The research, published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition, explored the potential link between childhood fantasy companions and the adult experience of unexplained presences.

The study involved 185 adults who were asked about their childhood memories of imaginary friends. Forty-five participants reported having had such companions, which varied in form, including childlike figures, animals, and monsters. Researchers then surveyed these participants on how often they experienced feeling another person's presence when no one else was around over a month. Participants who had imaginary friends scored an average of 25.51 on a scale of 15 to 75, indicating more frequent experiences, compared to an average of 20.07 for those who did not have imaginary friends.

Participants described their imaginary friends in various ways, with many being childlike and smaller than themselves. Most recalled talking with their companions, some using a unique language, while a small percentage reported physical interactions. The study also found that over half of these imaginary companions were perceived within approximately 28 inches (70 cm) of the child, a space identified as 'peripersonal space.' This zone is crucial for integrating sensory information, maintaining body awareness, and interacting with the environment.

To investigate the phenomenon of 'felt presences' in adults, the researchers conducted an experiment using robotic arms. Participants controlled one arm, while a second arm mimicked their movements on the participant's back. When the movements were perfectly synchronized, participants felt as though they were touching themselves. However, when a slight delay was introduced between the two arms, participants reported experiencing a ghostly presence, with some sensing multiple presences and, in a few cases, requesting to end the experiment due to the intensity of the sensation.

The researchers suggest that the co-occurrence of imaginary friends and 'felt presences' within this critical peripersonal space may indicate shared underlying neurological mechanisms. While imaginary friends were typically reported to be in front of or beside the individual, felt presences are often experienced from behind. This distinction in spatial perception could be a key difference between the two phenomena.