Phantom earthquake sensations: a cross-sectional analysis of context, perceptual ambiguity, and cognitive intrusion.

OBJECTIVE

Phantom earthquake sensations (PES) are poorly understood. This study investigated relationships between phantom perception, spatial context, earthquake-related anxiety (EAS), and post-traumatic stress (IES-R) following a non-destructive earthquake.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 157 participants (81 female, 76 male) who experienced the Mw 6.2 Istanbul earthquake. Data were collected within 4 weeks via surveys assessing phantom sensations, EAS, and IES-R. Non-parametric tests, Chi-square, and Spearman rank correlations were used.

RESULTS

Context was a significant modulator. Participants at home reported higher EAS (p = 0.037) and IES-R (p = 0.033) scores, plus more frequent (p = 0.044) and prolonged (p = 0.049) phantom sensations. Counter-intuitively, participants perceiving the tremor as "very mild" reported the highest anxiety (Mean = 47), significantly exceeding the "moderate" group (p = 0.012), whereas no significant difference was observed with the "severe" group (p = 0.609). EAS correlated weakly with total IES-R (ρ = 0.283, p = 0.033) and moderately with the "intrusion" subscale (ρ = 0.375, p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

PES is a complex biopsychosocial phenomenon shaped by spatial context (home/solitude) and perceptual ambiguity, rather than by seismic intensity alone. The link to anxiety appears driven by cognitive re-experiencing (intrusion) over generalized fear. Findings support a clinical triad of vestibular rehabilitation, anxiety management, and trigger control.