Imagine how confusing and overwhelming the world would be if our brains were not really good at connecting the dots. Finding patterns is how we sort information, learn and understand cause and effect, says Dr. Sharot. For example, making a connection between storm clouds and impending rain tells us that we should grab an umbrella before going outside. When a baby learns to speak, he learns the word ball by connecting the sound “ball” and the image of a ball, explains Dr Sharot. You couldn’t learn to do algebra or play the piano if you couldn’t detect patterns.

The only problem is that being on alert for possible patterns and connections means that we inevitably sometimes see them when they are detected. not there, said Dr. Sharot. As psychologist Rob Brotherton says in his book Suspicious minds: why we believe in conspiracy theories: “A brain oriented toward meaning rather than chance is one of our greatest assets. The price we pay is sometimes connecting dots that don’t really go together.

You can think of apophenia as a personality trait that manifests on a certain spectrum, says Dr. DeYoung. On the one hand, some people will often miss connections and patterns that actually exist; on the other end, some will frequently see connections and patterns where none exist. We’re not sure why some of us are more prone to apophenia than others, although experts have theories. This one comes from Dr. Rominger’s research: the brains of people with severe apophenia actually absorb more sensory information of the world, which leads them to observe and process more and, ultimately, detect things – like, for example, digits or lost feathers – that others do not.

Seeing signs from the universe can actually have a positive effect on your mental and emotional health.

Apophenia has its good sides. “The benefit is you notice more things,” says Dr. DeYoung. “You enjoy the sensory world more. You are more likely to invent new things, see things, or think about things that others have not experienced. Apophenia is in fact linked to creativitysaid Dr. DeYoung. Actually, several studies led by Dr. Rominger found that people who report experiencing more meaningful coincidences also report more creative activities in their daily lives and more creative accomplishments.

Apophenia may even have some psychological or emotional benefits, says Dr. Rominger. In fact, a 2023 study found that being aware of and finding meaning in synchronicities is linked to greater optimism, a greater sense of meaning, and greater life satisfaction. This rings true for Ficklin, who says she feels a sense of comfort and encouragement every time she sees one of his signs.

For Reid Cox, a 32-year-old actor, receiving messages from the universe was a huge source of support during a difficult chapter in his life. In 2020, Cox struggled to find work and felt isolated amid the pandemic. “It was so easy to have a pessimistic mindset,” Cox says. After seeing a clip of Gabby Bernstein (a best-selling author who writes about manifestation) talking about asking the universe for signs, “I woke up and was like, Okay, just send me a sign ” Cox remembers. She started seeing the number 444 everywhere: on receipts, license plates, clocks. Cox interpreted this to mean she was on the right track. “Every time I saw this number, I felt my nervous system relax. »