There is no scientific explanation for how a Ouija board works except to say... it doesn't. For a scientific explanation of how something works, the scientific method needs to be applied. The first step in that process is observation - 'what do you see?'; for the Ouija, that the planchette moves to points on a board. The second step of the scientific method is to form a hypothesis - 'how do you think it works?'; the popular hypotheses boil down to (1) supernatural forces or (2) the 'ideomotor effect' or otherwise unnoticeable movements by a person touching the planchette, consciously or unconsciously selecting where the pointer goes. Once a hypothesis is made it must be tested, which is the third step of the scientific method - 'can you predict what will happen?' (One good test is for someone who isn't touching the board to ask a question to which only they know the answer: another is for the person touching the planchette to do it blindfolded while someone else keeps notes on where the pointer goes). The fourth step is to perform the tests you come up with and find out if the results match what you've predicted would happen. I've done this and was frankly astonished at the results. The picture my friends took of me in the blindfold made me look like a prize idiot. Oh, and the Ouija board gave me gibberish results. I got roughly the same quality of answers by pulling random Scrabble tiles from a sack. For those who believe that a Ouija board works, no scientific explanation is necessary because they are operating solely on faith. Faith only requires truth, i.e. what is 'true' for the believer, while science requires facts and reproducible results.

There is one scientific theory, which says that the Ouija moves due to the "ideomotor effect" (sometimes called "automatism"). The ideomotor effect refers to the involuntary and unconscious motor behavior of a person. The term "ideomotor action" was coined by William Carpenter in 1882 in his explanation for the movements of dowsing rods and pendulums by dowsers, table turning by spirit mediums and, of course, the movement of pointers on Ouija boards. Carpenter argued that muscular movement can be initiated by the mind independently of volition or emotions. We may not be aware of it, but suggestions can be made to the mind by others or by observations. Those suggestions can influence the mind and affect motor behavior. What is purely physiological, however, appears to some to be paranormal. The skeptical explanation does not, however, account for predictive events and other phenomena sometimes associated with the Ouija.

Refering to John Carter's answer: i've done this experiment you did (which we made a question to someone who wasn't touching the planchette nor the board) i was touching the planchette with another friend. We made the question... and the answer consisted in just a letter ("g" the first letter of the right answer ). The ouija board answered right, and if we only count the 26 words written in the board (or elsewhere.. cos you can as well write the letters anywhere to play) leaving the numbers appart... there's only 0.038 percentage to the ouija board of answering right. Now, i can't answer what, who is moving the planchette.. and i can't prove if we are moving it ourselves unconsciously either... But i disagree with your cientific answer... P.S. try in another ouija board, .. maybe in one made by yourself... and also play with other people and places... i know it may sound crazy but those variables change the results. If you really want to discover the truth.. it isn't enough doing it once.. and mostly cos someone got different results.

Science cannot explain spiritual phenomena. The forces that are working thru Ouija board pointer manipulation are what the Bible calls "Familiar spirits." They are fallen angels who became demons. While these familiar spirits know much about people because they remain around them, their intent is ultimately to "possess" people. In thirty years I've never heard ANY good come from this dangerous practice but I have heard many testimonies of spiritual oppressian, depression and possession. It is not a game . It is a doorway toward death and destruction.

yes actually... ugh but its so complicated. I prefer to believe it is actually spirits but it also has to do with quantom physiscs. its just like if you will a tring to swing one way you will unconciousley move the string (so its said).

There are no scientific explanations to the Ouija board, as there are no scientific explanations to God. It is soley based on faith. If one absolutely believes it will not work, then it probably won't. A lot of it is also based on spiritual energy; it is reliant on the people participating, setting, and overall mood. When there is a decent balance of all three, you will find you get better results. Also, when the people and spirit that are currently using the board have a low amount of spirit energy, it makes it harder for the spirit to correctly get it's message across- this maay result in jumbled letters or inabbility to finish message. Just as it takes energy to move things in our world, it takes energy for the spirits to move things. They rely on our energy combined with ours to move the planchlette. -Imagine moving a object that is basicly "in a totally different world"- it would be rather hard, yes?

Yes. In our brains we have an entertainment center called the imagination. When we play with the Ouija board this center comes to life and scares itself silly.

The ouija board works via group hypnosis. People who are inclined to believe in its powers begin to feed off of each other's beliefs and "see" something paranormal. A skeptic who observed the situation would probably be able to discount any "supernatural" event as a simple trick, or as a natural phenomenon.

Yes -- your unconscious mind is causing you to lightly push the little pointer thingie around.

Unconcious, involuntary (though miniscule) hand movements by a group of people that are expecting something to move? Not scientific, just my thoughts.

This assumes that they work. Paranormal events have never been proven to work. So there is no explanation as there would have to be a phenomenon to explain in the first place.

Yes: Our brains, being an extremely complex collection of neurons connected to and controlling the functions of our body, sends electric impulses to the muscles of our arms thus beginning a chain of events that results in the contraction of protein filaments, causing your arms to move, pushing a little pointer around a board. This can be done alone, or with more people in unison. ***** You move your arms while holding a pointer... *spooky*... ... ... Whatever rubs your Buddha I suppose : /

I think this pretty well gives an answer... enjoy

I was a skeptic so I made my own and tried the ouija alone. I don't know what to believe of the paranormal anymore I know one thing for sure.. I WAS NOT involuntarily moving it. That might be when you are with a group but when you are alone and not afraid or not expecting it to move? IT took time for me to get any response but once it did it started off slow and all I could feel was this thing wanting to go somewhere so I backed off my hand. The darn thing felt like a magnet to my fingers and as if my fingers were made of metal. I raised my hand and the darn thing stuck to me for a second. Please don't anyone tell me it was static. I tried it again and the planchette spun around looking for something? I don't know.. I"m just describing my experience. I'm still a skeptic but I just dont' believe in the "ideomotor" effect. which is what made me curious in the first place. I know what i felt wasn't coming out of me.. the force I felt when the planchette moves can only be felt while doing it alone with others i think u will always have that doubt.