Using Eye Movements to Signal the Onset of Self-Induced Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs)

In a pilot study, three participants who claimed to self-induce out-of-body experiences (OBEs) at will were tested in a laboratory. Two reported successful OBE self-induction. Horizontal eye movements measured with electrooculography (EOG) could potentially serve as a time marker of OBE onset: one participant reported generating the instructed eye movement pattern at OBE onset in all three of her sessions, and this was corroborated by EOG traces. The study identifies room arrangement and environmental factors that facilitate OBE self-induction, opening new avenues for laboratory exploration of the neural mechanisms underlying OBEs.

Study at a glance

Abstract

An out-of-body experience (OBE) is a phenomenon in which an individual experiences a detachment of their consciousness from their physical body. The neural mechanisms underlying OBEs remain elusive, primarily due to their unpredictable and spontaneous nature, making their study particularly challenging. Using individuals who can self-induce OBEs in a laboratory setting could be a fruitful avenue for advancing our understanding of the neural signatures and accompaniments of these experiences. However, a significant challenge associated with controlled OBEs is accurately determining the onset of the experience. In this pilot study, we investigated three participants who claimed to self-induce OBEs at will. We sought to determine whether they could report successful OBE self-induction within the confines of a laboratory environment. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the feasibility of using volitional horizontal eye movements as a marker for the onset of the OBE, using an electrooculography (EOG) measurement. Throughout the experimental sessions, we identified room arrangement and environmental factors facilitating OBE self-induction. Two participants reported successful OBE self-induction. Importantly, we found that horizontal eye movements as measured with EOG could potentially serve as a time marker of OBE occurrence, as one of the participants reported generating the instructed eye movement pattern at OBE onset in all three of her sessions, which was corroborated by EOG traces. This research method opens up new avenues for further laboratory exploration and investigation into this intriguing phenomenon.