Deliberate and spontaneous sensations of disembodiment: capacity or flaw?
Klaus Kessler, Jason J Braithwaite
Cognitive Neuropsychiatry August 10, 2016 DOI: 10.1080/13546805.2016.1203769 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Humans Hallucinations Depersonalization Emotions Self concept Imagination Body image Sensation Social alienation Female Neuroimaging Perspective taking Out-of-body experiences Temporo-parietal junction Dis-embodiment Hobt task |
| Key findings | The authors argue that behavioral evidence linking visuo-spatial perspective taking (VPT) and out-of-body experiences (OBEs) is mixed, partly due to unrealistic tasks and use of general DPD-DR patients instead of genuine OBEers, but that overlapping neural substrates support a relationship. They conclude that OBE should be regarded as a necessary implication of VPT ability in humans, or even as a necessary and potentially sufficient condition for the evolution of VPT. |
Abstract
Introduction: Hallucinations that involve shifts in the subjectively experienced location of the self, have been termed "out-of-body experiences" (OBEs). Early psychiatric accounts cast OBEs as a specific instance of depersonalisation and derealisation disorder (DPD-DR). However, during feelings of alienation and lack of body realism in DPD-DR the self is experienced within the physical body. Deliberate forms of "disembodiment" enable humans to imagine another's visuo-spatial perspective taking (VPT), thus, if a strong relationship between deliberate and spontaneous forms of disembodiment could be revealed, then uncontrolled OBEs could be "the other side of the coin" of a uniquely human capacity.
Methods: We present a narrative review of behavioural and neuroimaging work emphasising methodological and theoretical aspects of OBE and VPT research and a potential relationship.
Results: Results regarding a direct behavioural relationship between VPT and OBE are mixed and we discuss reasons by pointing out the importance of using realistic tasks and recruiting genuine OBEers instead of general DPD-DR patients. Furthermore, we review neuroimaging evidence showing overlapping neural substrates between VPT and OBE, providing a strong argument for a relationship between the two processes.
Conclusions: We conclude that OBE should be regarded as a necessary implication of VPT ability in humans, or even as a necessary and potentially sufficient condition for the evolution of VPT.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Nonlinear brain correlates of trait self-boundarylessness. Neuroscience of Consciousness 2023
- What out-of-body experiences may tell us about the mind beyond the brain. International Review of Psychiatry 2025
- Out-of-body experience in vestibular disorders - A prospective study of 210 patients with dizziness. Cortex July 1, 2018
- Predisposition to out-of-body experience (OBE) is associated with aberrations in multisensory integration: Psychophysiological support from a "rubber hand illusion" study. Journal of Experimental Psychology. Human Perception and Performance June 1, 2017
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