Exploring the transformative potential of out-of-body experiences: A pathway to enhanced empathy.
Marina Weiler, David J Acunzo, Philip J. Cozzolino, Bruce Greyson
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews August 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105764 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness Default mode network Ego dissolution |
| Keywords | Mirror neurons Psychedelics Temporoparietal region |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key points | Proposes that out-of-body experiences may enhance empathy through ego dissolution, mediated by brain regions including the temporoparietal junction and the Default Mode Network. |
Abstract
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are subjective phenomena during which individuals feel disembodied or perceive themselves as outside of their physical bodies, often resulting in profound and transformative effects. In particular, experiencers report greater heightened pro-social behavior, including more peaceful relationships, tolerance, and empathy. Drawing parallels with the phenomenon of ego dissolution induced by certain psychedelic substances, we explore the notion that OBEs may engender these changes through ego dissolution, which fosters a deep-seated sense of unity and interconnectedness with others. We then assess potential brain mechanisms underlying the link between OBEs and empathy, considering the involvement of the temporoparietal junction and the Default Mode Network. This manuscript offers an examination of the potential pathways through which OBEs catalyze empathic enhancement, shedding light on the intricate interplay between altered states of consciousness and human empathy.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on ego dissolution, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self unbound: ego dissolution in psychedelic experience | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Looking for the Self: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology and Philosophical Significance of Drug-induced Ego Dissolution | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ethics and ego dissolution: the case of psilocybin | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mystical and Other Alterations in Sense of Self: An Expanded Framework for Studying Nonordinary Experiences | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Psychedelic medicalization, public discourse, and the morality of ego dissolution | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Neural filters to conscious awareness and the phenomena that reduce their impact. International Review of Psychiatry 2025
- From laboratory targets to experiential authenticity: reframing the study of veridicality in OBEs Frontiers in Psychology June 2, 2026
- Out of body experiences: Scoping review. Explore June 4, 2025
- The intersection of near-death experiences (NDEs) and traumatic brain injury (TBI): neurobiological, phenomenological, and creative implications. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2025
- You….. And Me…..and a Cup of Tea: Eight insights we've gleaned from enlightened masters. Explore 2025
and 2 more in the library
Cites 48
- A default mode of brain function Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 16, 2001
- The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2014
- Out‐of‐body experience and autoscopy of neurological origin Brain January 15, 2004
- The Varieties of Self-Transcendent Experience Review of General Psychology May 1, 2017
- Patients’ Accounts of Increased “Connectedness” and “Acceptance” After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression Journal of Humanistic Psychology June 19, 2017
and 43 more in the library