While you might have heard of the popular medium duo known as the Psychic Twins, did you know that many cases of twin telepathy have been reported throughout the world? Some cases, especially twins separated at birth seem to prove this communication exists.
What Is Twin Telepathy?
The concept of telepathy is when one person can sense or "receive" thoughts or feelings from another person without any spoken words, and it often happens over great distances. Most of the evidence for the existence of telepathic powers comes from volumes of stories filled with anecdotal evidence, yet there are a limited number of studies to back up these claims. Regardless of the lack of significant scientific evidence for the phenomenon, many people believe that telepathy is a very real power of the human mind. The mountain of testimonial evidence from twins, in particular, is fairly convincing.
Metaphysical Explanation for Twin Telepathy
Some metaphysicists refer to something called "spooky action at a distance" to explain telepathy. In simple terms, this involves how subatomic particles experience interaction with each other at great distances. Metaphysicists refer to particle interaction that takes place at a distance as "nonlocality." Many believers point to this as evidence that telepathy can be explained by science. Opposing viewpoints argue that metaphysical principles usually don't translate into a large-scale, physical reality that can be seen or experienced in daily life.
Is Twin Telepathy Real? Two Cases of Telepathy Between Twins
Stories about amazing events where twin telepathy took place are often very powerful examples of why so many people become convinced that this type of psychic ability is real. Sometimes, it's very difficult to explain away the amazing coincidences that take place. The following two cases reveal circumstances that are very impressive and convincing.
Saved by a Sixth Sense
In 2009, twins Leanne and Gemma Houghton had a shocking experience that made them realize just how much of a connection they shared with one another. One day, Gemma was going about her daily schedule in the UK (United Kingdom) home that the two sisters shared. Suddenly, Gemma had a horrible feeling that her twin sister was in trouble. She knew her sister was taking a bath, but other than an overwhelming feeling of dread, she had no reason to suspect that anything was wrong with her sister. Following her intuition, she went into the bathroom to check on her sister, and what she discovered changed both of their lives forever.
Gemma Saves Sister
Only moments before, Leanne Houghton had experienced some form of seizure and passed out in the bath. When Gemma found her, her first thought was that Leanne was washing her hair. Within moments, she realized that Leanne had passed out and was submerged underneath the water. With only moments to spare, Gemma pulled Leanne out of the bath and performed first aid on her. Gemma saved her sister's life that day, and as the news story spread throughout Europe, most observers agreed that if Leanne hadn't experienced her surreal telepathy, her sister would have died that day.
Psychic Sign of Death
Paranormal investigator Craig Hamilton-Parker accepts reader comments on his blog at Psychics.com.uk. In one example, a visitor recalled smelling the scent of death. Later that same day, the police came to inform her that her twin had died. Was this just some kind of coincidence or a sign of a psychic connection?
The Study of Twin Connections
While reputable scientific studies of telepathy between twins are difficult to find, there are researchers trying to analyze regardless if it is a real phenomenon. In fact, psychiatrist Diane Powell wrote a book titled Twin Telepathy and the Illusion of Separation, where she details a list of impressive stories of twin telepathy. The 1961 study conducted by Robert Sommer, Humphry Osmond and Lucille Pancyr found 12 out of 35 pairs of twins reported having telepathic experiences.
Telepathic Transmission of Test Answers
Another impressive study was conducted by J.B. Rhine and Olivia Rivers, two University researchers that tested a set of specific identical twins named Terry and Sherry. According to the story, the girls could communicate test answers in school and also knew whenever the other felt a pain or got sick. The researchers tested the twins' ability to pass entire sentences to each other via telepathy.
Same Brain Waves
Two ophthalmologists published a paper claiming to have results of telepathic influences from artificially induced alpha rhythm in twins. The comparison results showed identical brain activity in the receiving twin.
Fraternal vs Identical
Some researchers believe that identical twins have this stronger connection since they are two parts of a whole egg that split in two. Identical twins share 100% genes as opposed to 50% in fraternal (same as any sibling). However, the story of fraternal twins, Gemma and Leanne Houghton makes this anecdotal argument seem questionable.
Cherkas Study of Genetic or Environmental Influence
Led by Dr Lynn Cherkas, a team of researchers conducted a study on twin humor. Their focus was on identical twins due to their 100% shared genes. The study was designed to determine if it were environmental or genetic influence over humor. The results demonstrated that the environment played a slight role in response and pointed more to genetics than environmental influence.
Cases or Studies of Twins Separated at Birth
There have been numerous studies about twins separated at birth. Few focus on telepathy, but those that bravely step into this arena, find it difficult to quantify if it is telepathy or some other form of sense. For identical twins, genetics is used to explain the deep connection between twins.
Scandalous Separation of Twins Study
A secret study conducted by a psychiatrist Dr. Peter Neubauer through the Louise Wise Services, separated five sets of twins and one set of triplets, placing them in adoptive families without informing the families that their child was a twin. The children were studied throughout their childhood by this group of scientists unknown to them or their adoptive parents that they were part of an experiment. Neubauer's papers are sealed at Yale University until 2021, but other related documents are said to be sealed until 2065. The goal or purpose of the study is still a mystery. However, those twins reunited have discovered their lives are very similar.
Same Appearance Same Clothing
Reader's Digest featured 12 sets of twins separated at birth and the amazing similarities in their appearances, likes and dislikes, career paths and personal aspects of daily life. For example, when twins Jack Yufe and Oskar Stohr met for the first time, they were surprised that each had the same mustache and arrived wearing the same sports jackets. Their gestures and temperaments were identical. However, these twins never got along with each other the way most twins do.
Uncanny Identical Lives
The Atlantic featured several sets of twins separated at birth. One of the most striking stories was of Jim Springer and Jim Lewis. Both men named their first son the same first and middle name, they each married two times and each time married women with the same first name. Each brother drove a light blue Chevrolet and was a part-time deputy sheriff. Both named their childhood dogs, Toy.
Studies of Twin Telepathy
In his book, Twin Telepathy, Guy Lyon Playfair discusses the need for better studies of twin telepathy. He points out that the well-known Minnesota Center for Twin & Family Research hasn't conducted its own study on twin telepathy, but quotes Dr. Nancy Segal stating there's no evidence of ESP (Extra-Sensory Perception) in twins.
Setting Up Studies
Playfair is critical of the existing studies but points to two studies published in peer-reviewed journals that were set up as best scientifically controlled experiments using a polygraph chart. He writes that some twins are telepathic while others are not. He points out that for telepathy to take place, there needs to be a strong bond between the twins (or other people). Since the identical twin bond/connection is the strongest/closest known, twins make excellent subjects for telepathy studies.
Twin ESP
Paranormal events experienced by people, like the stories above, are often enough to convince people that there is a very real phenomenon taking place. While some people dismiss these stories as only coincidences more and more parapsychology researchers are taking these experiences seriously. They are exploring new ways to explain how and why so many twins seem to communicate telepathically with such uncanny accuracy.
