New Study Claims to Resolve Mystery of Ouija Boards

By: Alex Kack

The Ouija Board, a classic and well known game and divination tool. Has long been shrouded in mystery. While it’s history is well known, how the device actually works, and if there is a rational and non supernatural answer for it’s mechanics, has always been up for debate with a number of theories put forward.

Originally brought to the market in 1890 by the inventor Elijah Bond, and popularized as a tool for contacting spirits in the 1910’s by Pearl Curran, a writer from St. Louis.

Ouija boards have often been the subject of public fear, and many relgious denominations to this day, advocate against their use.

While the name ‘Ouija’ is now a trademark of Hasbro, Inc, the boards are produced and used by many people around the world today, and have been a hallmark of science fiction, fantasy and horror entertainment.

Despite this long history and fame little is known, and nothing proven factually about how the boards truly work. A study at the Danish Aarhus University however has sought to put this matter to rest. The researchers had 40 people play two rounds each on the Ouija boards while wearing eye tracking technology. The footage they captured showed that the eyes of subjects often moved to the letters and options that were selected prior to the planchette landing on it.

The researchers behind the study believe their results show that the phenomenon of the Ouija Board is the result of the Ideomotor phenomenon, where in the brain causes small gradual movements subconsciously with out the persons knowledge.

Alex Kack is the editor of 'Spooky News' and the Bull Moose Review'. He is a political advocate, writer and comedian currently based in Washington D.C. where he lives with his girlfriend and their excessive number of pets. Follow him on Twitter here: @Alex_Kack He's on Tumblr here: alexkack.tumblr.com
Photo Credit: via Wikimedia Commons