Visualizing Out-of-Body Experience in the Brain
Dirk de Ridder, Koen van Laere, Patrick Dupont, Tomas Menovsky, Paul van de Heyning
New England Journal of Medicine October 31, 2007 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa070010 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A patient with implanted electrodes to suppress tinnitus |
| Keywords | Supramarginal gyrus Temporoparietal junction Precuneus Angular gyrus Superior temporal gyrus Temporal lobe Tinnitus Superior temporal sulcus Lingual gyrus Middle temporal gyrus Anatomy Audiology Radiology Prefrontal cortex Cognition |
| Citations | 225 |
| Key findings | Stimulation of the right posterior superior temporal gyrus repeatedly elicited an out-of-body experience, with brain activation at the temporoparietal junction, precuneus, and posterior thalamus. |
Abstract
An out-of-body experience was repeatedly elicited during stimulation of the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus on the right side in a patient in whom electrodes had been implanted to suppress tinnitus. Positron-emission tomographic scanning showed brain activation at the temporoparietal junction--more specifically, at the angular-supramarginal gyrus junction and the superior temporal gyrus-sulcus on the right side. Activation was also noted at the right precuneus and posterior thalamus, extending into the superior vermis. We suggest that activation of these regions is the neural correlate of the disembodiment that is part of the out-of-body experience.