Ectoplasm
A beverage warning from the BBC:
People who drink too much coffee could start seeing ghosts or hearing strange voices, UK research has suggested. People who drank more than seven cups of instant coffee a day were three times more likely to hallucinate than those who took just one, a study found. A Durham University team questioned 200 students about their caffeine intake, the journal Personality and Individual Differences reported. However, academics say the findings do not prove a “causal link”.
Some reassurance, then, for patrons of Starbucks.
“No, I said decaf… Aaiiieee!”
More intriguing is this:
They also stress that experiencing hallucinations is not a definite sign of mental illness and that about 3% of people regularly hear voices.
(h/t, Dr Westerhaus)
“3% of people regularly hear voices”
I assume they mean ones that aren’t real.
The key word here is “students”.
“Besides coffee, sources such as tea, chocolate, ‘pep’ pills and energy drinks contain caffeine.”
All essential components of a student diet, surely? Along with blizzards of low-grade amphetamine, if memory serves.
My gran used to have ‘Whispering Voices’ and ‘Voices In My Ear’ by the legendary titan of modern spiritualism, Doris Stokes. She was convinced enough of the voices in her head to make a mint flogging books to old dears with an other-worldy bent. And a recently-dead husband in most cases, I bet.
But 3% is quite a large percentage, no? For a symptom that would normally be classed as a definite entry-pass to ‘the big house on the hill’, that’s quite an alarming statistic…:)
“Along with blizzards of low-grade amphetamine, if memory serves.”
I bet there wasn’t a box for blizzards of low-grade amphetamine on the questionnaire. Shoddy research, really.
“But 3% is quite a large percentage, no?”
Among students or the general population?
David, where did you find those pictures?
They’re the handiwork of Balder Olrik, who is, I think, an artist.
http://netsummary.dk/incident/
They’re quite funny, if you like that kind of thing.
Thanks! 🙂
That sound pretty accurate, David, except that I hear ghosts and see strange voices.
That would be the result of hard spirits, methinks. Or substandard coffee. Me, I’m partial to Hot Lava Java.
http://www.bettysbypost.com/coffeeitem.asp?itmid=595
“…3% of people regularly hear voices.” Methinks we’ve managed to elect all of them to Congress.
100 cups should do it.
http://www.viddler.com/explore/loopytube/videos/55/
Heh. One of Futurama’s finest episodes.
If you want weird visual effects followed by ectoplasm drink 11 pints of Abbot Ale.
7 cups of coffee a day? Bloody hell, I’d be in hospital.