1 They have been interpreted in psychological terms as pareidolia, and in religious terms as theophanies.
2 Pareidolia is when random images or sounds are perceived as significant.
3 Mental disease can aggravate pareidolia, as can fatigue and sleepiness.
4 Illusion Medical imaging is a new fertile ground for pareidolia.
5 Seeing clouds in the shapes of dinosaurs, Jesus on a hot pocket, or hearing messages when a record is played backward are common examples of pareidolia.
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