Our body can really predict future events without any outside clues. This conclusion was reached by employees of the Northwestern University of the United States, after analyzing the results of studies conducted from 1978 to 2010.
The fact that our subconscious mind knows more than consciousness is not news for scientists for a long time. So, at the sight of a deck of cards, inveterate players feel excitement, not even realizing what exactly their counterpart has put on the table. “It was not clear if people could predict important events in the future if nothing indicated in the present,” says Julia Mossbridge, author of the study.
A clerk sitting with headphones on his head on social networks will not hear the boss approach his desk. But if you tune in to it, you can feel the impending threat in advance - from two to ten seconds - and close all the extra windows, explains Mossbridge. “You even have a chance to open a work report. And, if you're very lucky, do it before your boss grabs the doorknob on the other side,”adds the researcher.
This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as foreboding, but Mossbridge notes that she is unsure if people can actually see the future. “I would like to call this phenomenon 'anomalous proactive activity'. This is indeed an anomaly, as some scientists argue, since today we cannot explain it using the modern understanding of biological processes. This phenomenon is called “anticipatory” because it allows one to predict the physiological changes that will follow an event, without relying on any indicators. And the “activity” in the name of this phenomenon means that changes are taking place in the cardiovascular, nervous system and skin.
The body, by the way, can not only predict, but also effectively resist serious diseases. The only thing that is required for this is positive thinking. In 2008, researchers found that being optimistic is protective.
Ronit Peled of Israel's Ben Gurion University examined 255 women with breast cancer and 367 healthy women. All subjects were asked to rate their level of happiness, optimism, anxiety, and depression before being diagnosed. It turned out that women with cancer faced some negative events before being diagnosed - for example, the death of relatives and friends.
“We can state with some caution that severe shocks are a risk factor for breast cancer in young women. On the other hand, feelings of happiness and optimism play a protective role,”explains Peled.
The authors of the study note that the mechanism of interaction between the hormonal, immune and central nervous systems has not yet been established, and due to what these systems cooperate in resisting diseases, it is also not clear. However, scientists intend to closely study the relationship between a positive attitude and health in order to develop appropriate preventive measures.
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