Out of Body Experiences
Out of Body Experiences (OBEs) are a state of mind which often occurs as a result of near death experiences or use of psychedelics (most prominently ketamine and DMT). OBEs can be experimentally demonstrated and are thought to occur due to disturbance of the functionality of the vestibular system (cochlear)[2].
History
The ancient Egyptians understood that consciousness could function independently of and outside of the physical body. They developed detailed ideas about the ka, or the body “double” which separates itself from the physical body and travels at will[3]. The first modern recorded instance of an OBE was a report from the French otologist Pierre Bonnier in 1905 which reported a patient "divided into two persons, one who had not changed posture and another new person on his right, looking somewhat outwardly. Then, the two somatic individuals approached each other, merged, and the vertigo disappeared."
Mechanism of Action
Whilst OBEs seem to pull consciousness fully from the body, a lesser form, of this seems to be depersonalization / derealisation. A suggested evolutionary rationale for this mechanism is that OBEs tend to occur pre or during traumatic events, suggesting OBEs are used almost as an ejector seat of consciousness to avoid long term effects of psychological trauma.
References
- ↑ The experimental induction of out-of-body experiences. Science, Ehrsson, H.H. 317: 1048, first published in 2007. Accessed on 15th September 2022 via: http://www.ehrssonlab.se/pdfs/Ehrsson-Science-2007-with-SOM.pdf
- ↑ Stimulating illusory own-body perceptions. Olaf Blanke, Stphanie Ortigue, Theodor Landis & Margitta Seeck. Nature volume 419, pages269–270 (2002)First Published: 19 September 2002 Neuropsychology
- ↑ The roots of consciousness. J Mishlove - 1993. Accessed on 16th November 2022 via: https://www.academia.edu/download/81413366/Jeffrey_20Mishlove_20-_20The_20Roots_20of_20Consciousness.pdf