Out-of-body experiences in relation to lucid dreaming and sleep paralysis: a theoretical review and conceptual model
PsyArXiv December 4, 2023 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/5r9f3 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThis theoretical review examines the relationships among out-of-body experiences (OBEs), lucid dreaming, and sleep paralysis, proposing a conceptual model that integrates these phenomena. The authors argue that OBEs and lucid dreams share overlapping neural and phenomenological features, particularly in the disruption of body representation and self-location during sleep. Sleep paralysis is positioned as a distinct but related state that can facilitate OBEs when combined with specific cognitive and physiological factors. The model suggests that these experiences exist on a continuum of dissociated sleep states, with implications for understanding consciousness and self-awareness.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Proposes that out-of-body experiences, lucid dreaming, and sleep paralysis are related but distinct phenomena linked by shared neurophysiological mechanisms during sleep-wake transitions. |
Abstract
Out-of-body experiences in relation to lucid dreaming and sleep paralysis: a theoretical review and conceptual model