The mystery of double telepathy

Identical twins often look like they are spitting out images of each other when a fertilized egg splits into two.

Twins, both fraternal and identical, have fascinated the world for thousands of years. They are often very close, sharing not only genes but also family surroundings, friends, clothes and, of course, secrets. However, many identical twins - perhaps as many as one in five - also claim something more mysterious: a special psychological connection.

About one in 30 babies born in the United States is a twin. Identical twins are particularly interesting because they share the same genes and are similar in many ways. Siblings can be close, but some twins claim to know what the other is thinking or feeling. It's an interesting idea, but what's the truth behind it - coincidence, psychic power, or something else?

The twins will often complete each other's sentences and think the same thoughts, but this has more to do with shared experiences than any telepathy. This psychological connection doesn't have to be mysterious: Any two people who know each other well and share many common experiences—including non-twin siblings, old couples, or even best friends—can probably accomplish it. each other's sentences and laugh at the birth of inside jokes that confuse outsiders

The concept of twin telepathy has been around for more than a century. Alexandre Dumas's 1844 novella "The Corsican Brothers" tells the story of two once conjoined brothers who were separated at birth, although they continued to share not only thoughts but also physical feelings as adults. As one twin brother described it, "No matter how far apart we are now, we still share the same body, so whether it is a physical or a mental impression, one of us perceivers has its aftereffects on the other."

Duma draws on a great deal of folklore associated with twin brothers, not all of which is positive. In many places, if a cow gives birth to twin calves, they are immediately sold as they are considered a bad omen. Centuries ago, in West Africa, the Yoruba people of Nigeria were pregnant with twins at a rate four times that of the rest of the world, and the arrival of twins caused alarm. Sometimes mothers and babies were driven out of villages or even executed, although in modern times twins are revered.

In their book Encyclopedia of Superstitions (Metro Books 1961), folklorists E. and M.A. Radford noted that "Twins, especially identical twins, are Bonded by a strong sense of sympathy, when danger or misfortune threatens the other, even when they are separated, it is equally mysterious that the special state of happiness or well-being of either of the two is often reflected in the feelings of the other. Says that if one twin dies, the other will not live long. In fact, when twins die at the same time, it can create some kind of supernatural or spiritual connection that not only connects their mental states, And it connects their physical health. For example, in 2017, 97-year-old twin sisters Martha Williams and Jean Haley died on their doorstep in Rhode Island. Three years ago in 2014, identical twins Helen Mae Cook and 83-year-old Clara Mae Mitchel died after tripping in the cold. Both died within a day of each other (albeit under different circumstances: one died of a heart attack, the other after a long battle with Alzheimer's)

As remarkable as these stories are, they are. Remarkable exceptions. After all, it's their rarity and extraordinary coincidence that make the news and attract attention. It's far more common for twins to die months, years, or decades apart. Generally not newsworthy.

Of course, given their advanced ages, it is more likely that they will die at the same time; I heard that it is much more common for 83-year-old twins to die at the same time than for 23-year-old twins. Because genetics play a large role in many life-threatening diseases, including heart disease, dinuclear twins are likely to die at about the same stage of life, at a higher rate than non-twins. Another non-psychic explanation for the timing of a twin's death is stress; the death of a close family member is one of the most stressful events in a person's life, and the shock and stress of losing such a close sibling can trigger The other twin had a potentially fatal heart attack. Anecdotal Evidence

Most of the evidence because twin telepathy is not science but anecdotal. For example, in 2009, a British teenager named Gemma Houghton was at her home when she suddenly had a feeling that her fraternal twin sister, Leanne, needed help. "I just wanted to see her, so I went to the bathroom and she was underwater," she said. Gemma finds Ryan unconscious in the bathtub. She had a seizure, slipped under the water, and nearly drowned. Gemma called for help and administered first aid, saving her sister's life. The story of Gemma and Leanne Houghton is widely cited as an example of twin telepathy ("telepathic keys" and "sixth sense" appear in many news stories about them) and was cited by Guy, author of a book about twins Lyon Playfair cites a case where twin telepathy may have saved a life.

However, this may not be as puzzling as it initially seems. Lane has been through many similar situations in the past and her family, including her sister, have been warned to keep a close eye on her. Knowing that Leanne was prone to seizures, which could render her unconscious, and knowing that being in water alone (such as a bathtub or swimming pool) could be dangerous to her, it was not surprising that Gemma might have heard what she heard from upstairs a few minutes later The bathroom became concerned when there was no activity (such as splashing) where Lane was bathing alone. No "double telepathy" is needed to explain this event; it is likely that any other family member (non-twin telepathic) who was home at the time would have reacted the same way.

Stories of this kind of double telepathy (or coincidence) make the news and are discussed in the context of some unexplained phenomena, of course, the most dramatic. By a mundane coincidence, everyone's experience was not newsworthy, and if Lane's mother (rather than her twin sister) had saved her, we would be unlikely to have heard about it. It is estimated that there are approximately 100 million sets of twins worldwide, and in fact, most twins do not experience any mysterious telepathic connection. If some special, psychic connection between twins is as strong and common as is often claimed, then by chance alone we should expect millions of these amazing stories, not just Dozens. As interesting as this idea is, there is no credible scientific evidence that psychic powers exist, either in the general population or in twins. "KDSPE" "KDSPs" Benjamin Radford, M.Ed., is associate editor of the Journal of Skeptical Science and the author of seven books, including "The Study of the Scientific Paranormal: How to Solve Mysterious Mysteries" and "Mysterious New Mexico" : Miracles, Magic, and Monsters in Enchanted Lands,” which will be published later this year.