An out-of-body experience also called OOBE or OBE is an experience in which a person has a feeling of leaving his body and observing himself and the world from outside his body. Out-of-body experiences are also referred to as astral projections.
Who experiences this?
Studies have shown that about 10 percent of the population experiences an out-of-body experience once in his lifetime. It can occur to anyone and at any situation. Majority of the people experience this while they are sleeping, resting or dreaming. Others may experience it when ill or while under the influence of an anesthetic.
Some people may experience an out-of-experience when drugged or medicated. A person may also experience it when he is near death. Such cases are referred as Near Death Experiences or NDEs. Recent surveys have reported some cases in which motorcycle riders experienced an out-of-body experience. They found themselves floating over the motorcycle observing their own body and still continued to ride.
How does it occur?
All out-of-body experiences don't occur spontaneously. Some people get them induced as desired by using various techniques. They even make a note of things they undergo while having an out-of-body experience.
But the experiences of the people who have undergone induced out-of-body experience are different from those who have undergone spontaneous ones.
Majority of the people who undergo induced out-of-body experience feel that they are still in a body but a body, which can be altered according to their wish. But most of the people undergoing spontaneous OBE find themselves disembodied. That is they feel that they are outside their body and looking at their own body from the outside world.
Why do some people experience it?
Research is still going on to find out why do some people experience an out-of-body experience. Some of the researchers suggest that an out-of-body experience is nothing but a simple illusion, which is brought about by an abnormally functioning brain. While others suggest that it is mediated by the area of the brain called the angular gyrus.
Some even say that an out-of-body experience may be experienced as the consciousness and body are separate entities and therefore can exist without each other.
Some people consider an out-of-body experience a psychological phenomenon. They say that the people may be creating or building up the experiences from the previously learned things or stored memories. For instance a person may have watched a medical program and when he is hospitalized he may experience the same things that he had watched.
Each person having an out-of-body experience has a different point of view. Some people say that they feel light and peaceful while other say that they get afraid as they think that they are dying and will never return to their body.
Who experiences this?
Studies have shown that about 10 percent of the population experiences an out-of-body experience once in his lifetime. It can occur to anyone and at any situation. Majority of the people experience this while they are sleeping, resting or dreaming. Others may experience it when ill or while under the influence of an anesthetic.
Some people may experience an out-of-experience when drugged or medicated. A person may also experience it when he is near death. Such cases are referred as Near Death Experiences or NDEs. Recent surveys have reported some cases in which motorcycle riders experienced an out-of-body experience. They found themselves floating over the motorcycle observing their own body and still continued to ride.
How does it occur?
All out-of-body experiences don't occur spontaneously. Some people get them induced as desired by using various techniques. They even make a note of things they undergo while having an out-of-body experience.
But the experiences of the people who have undergone induced out-of-body experience are different from those who have undergone spontaneous ones.
Majority of the people who undergo induced out-of-body experience feel that they are still in a body but a body, which can be altered according to their wish. But most of the people undergoing spontaneous OBE find themselves disembodied. That is they feel that they are outside their body and looking at their own body from the outside world.
Why do some people experience it?
Research is still going on to find out why do some people experience an out-of-body experience. Some of the researchers suggest that an out-of-body experience is nothing but a simple illusion, which is brought about by an abnormally functioning brain. While others suggest that it is mediated by the area of the brain called the angular gyrus.
Some even say that an out-of-body experience may be experienced as the consciousness and body are separate entities and therefore can exist without each other.
Some people consider an out-of-body experience a psychological phenomenon. They say that the people may be creating or building up the experiences from the previously learned things or stored memories. For instance a person may have watched a medical program and when he is hospitalized he may experience the same things that he had watched.
Each person having an out-of-body experience has a different point of view. Some people say that they feel light and peaceful while other say that they get afraid as they think that they are dying and will never return to their body.