In the end, “the majority of studies have found no evidence of ESP, and the few that have shown significant findings have not been replicated,” says Segal. In short, “there is no credible scientific evidence that twin telepathy exists.”
Shared lives, not shared minds
So why do so many twins believe they’ve experienced telepathy? “There are better and more grounded explanations than ESP,” says Segal.
For starters, twins typically grow up in the same environment, with the same caregivers, experiences, routines, peer groups, and cultural influences. They also share genetic traits, attachment styles, and temperamental tendencies. Because of such factors, when twins think they’re experiencing telepathy, they’re more likely just demonstrating “a communication bond, not reading each other’s minds,” says Broder.
Johnson agrees, noting that what people call telepathy is often rooted in “the deep emotional bond and shared experiences that twins grow up with.” This is demonstrated in research that shows that identical twins raised together often develop nearly indistinguishable cognitive styles. In other words, “if two people have the same emotional triggers, social habits, and experiences, they’re going to respond similarly,” Segal says. “That’s not mind-reading—that’s psychology.”
Even twins raised apart can exhibit uncanny parallels. “When identical twins are reared apart, they still often choose similar items and events in their separate environments,” says Segal. This may be because they are “genetically predisposed” to make similar choices when given similar options, she explains. “Even this may give the false impression of ESP.”
