By reshaping our sense of self, out-of-body experiences may reshape our worldview, allowing us to truly step into another’s shoes.
How does floating outside your body, seeing yourself from above, sound? This surreal experience, known as an out-of-body event, might be more than just a curious phenomenon.
The Transformative Impact of Out-of-Body Experiences
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) occur spontaneously during sleep, near-death experiences, or through induced methods like hypnosis or psychedelic drugs. Affecting approximately 15 percent of people, according to some research, out-of-body experiences challenge the notion that the mind is confined to the body.
A new narrative review in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews explores the psychological and neurological basis of out-of-body experiences as “seeds” that, under certain conditions, can grow into transformative events.
Dissolving the Ego
Central to an out-of-body experience is ego dissolution, a state where one detaches from his or her self-identity.
“When a person is not linked to their physical bodies,” Ms. Weiler said, “it allows the person to feel connected to other things, to other people, to other circumstances, or everything that is around them.” This occurs because our self-identity or ego is partly tied to our physical body, from which we typically view the world, she added.
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Empathy, crucial for understanding others, involves adopting different perspectives by shedding one’s ego. Ms. Weiler emphasized that “making sense of the out-of-body experiences is crucial for integrating its transformative effects.” She describes it as a two-stage process: ego dissolution followed by re-evaluation of oneself and reality.
Those who process their OBEs emotionally and discuss them often experience less self-doubt and anxiety, she noted.
How It Might Rewire Our Brains
Neuroscience provides insights into the brain mechanisms underlying empathy and its modulation through OBEs. The temporoparietal junction (TPJ), a specific brain region, is linked to bodily self-awareness. TPJ integrates sensory information from our bodies and the environment, distinguishing self from non-self.
Unlocking the Potential
Out-of-body experiences have drawn attention over the years due to their potential to spur personal growth and spiritual transformation.
- Motivation
- Reducing fear of death
- Fostering inner peace
- Altering life perspectives
- Increasing self-awareness
- Redefining relationships
- Strengthening spiritual beliefs
Current research does not link OBEs themselves to any serious health risks. However, they can sometimes cause confusion about the experience and raise concerns about neurological or mental health issues. Certain medical conditions have been associated with OBEs, including epilepsy, brain injuries, and dissociative disorders like depersonalization-derealization disorder.
Practices to Facilitate Out-of-Body Experiences
To study OBEs, which typically occur randomly, Ms. Weiler and researchers at UVA’s Division of Perceptual Studies work with volunteers who can induce them at will. Techniques include:
- Meditation: deep absorption states that transcend ordinary self-identity
- Visualization: using mental imagery to expand beyond the physical body
- Lucid dreaming: maintaining awareness while transitioning into dream states
- Yoga: practices like Kundalini yoga that aim to transcend bodily limits
According to Ms. Weiler, research progresses with the goal of harnessing out-of-body experiences as tools for promoting empathy and compassion rather than merely treating them as extraordinary experiences.
