Scientific research on consciousness is critical to multiple scientific, clinical, and ethical issues. The growth of the field could also be beneficial to several areas including neurology and mental health research. To achieve this goal, we need to set funding priorities carefully and address problems such as job creation and potential media misrepresentation.
Can the brain, when stimulated, yield entirely novel experiences? Blanke et al. (2002) describe a patient who reported spontaneous out-of-body experiences during electrical stimulation of her angular gyrus. These findings, although apparently extraordinary, agree with much earlier reports from a patient tested by Wilder Penfield. Such studies can provide clues about the nature of conscious...