Mind reading, also known as telepathy or extrasensory perception, refers to the ability to perceive the thoughts and emotions of others without directly communicating with them. Other synonyms for mind reading include clairvoyance, sixth sense, psychic ability, intuition, prescience, precognition, and ESP (extrasensory perception). These terms describe a range of abilities that are often associated with mysticism or the paranormal, but are also the subject of scientific investigation. While the existence of mind reading abilities has not been scientifically proven, many people believe in or report experiencing such phenomena.