Out-of-body experiences: from Penfield to present
Trends in Cognitive Sciences March 1, 2003 DOI: 10.1016/s1364-6613(03)00027-5 (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 undergoing electrical stimulation of the angular gyrus |
| Intervention | electrical stimulation |
| Keywords | Angular gyrus Stimulation Cognitive psychology Cognitive science Cognition |
| Citations | 73 |
| Key findings | Electrical stimulation of the angular gyrus can produce out-of-body experiences. |
Abstract
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 experience.