Last week New Scientist posted an interesting story about the ongoing research into Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs). As per usual for mainstream stories on this topic, they talked to Olaf Blanke and other neurologists looking for ‘misfiring brain’ solutions. But at least this time there was some clarification that the ‘induced OBEs’ they reference are not true OBEs:
This does not, however, explain the most striking feature of out-of-body experiences. “It’s a great puzzle why people, from their out-of-body locations, visualise not only their bodies but things around them, such as other people,” says Brugger. “Where does this information come from?”
The article keeps to the materialist line though without discussing some of the other interesting aspects of OBEs. Would be interesting to hear what neurologists feel about the ‘silver cord’ aspect often reported in OBEs, and why it should be so archetypal. Not to mention it might be pertinent to note anecdotes about evidential OBEs, in which information is seemingly gained that the experiencer should not have had access to via their normal senses – and that this is being tested in NDErs by the AWARE project.
Previously on TDG:
