This can be an eery, unnerving sensation known as an out-of-body experience.

Normally, we experience our conscious selves as located within our bodies.

This can be one of the symptoms of the dissociative disorder known asdepersonalization/derealization disorder.

blurry woman looking off into the distance

Michelle Pallant / Eye Em

What Happens During an Out-Of-Body Experience?

Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) have been described in a variety of different ways.

While accounts of out-of-body experience are widely reported, the phenomenon is often linked to psychiatric disorders.

What Causes Out-Of-Body Experiences?

Researchers don’t fully understand what causes out-of-body experiences, but research has pointed to a few potential causes.

These can cause one of two kinds of OBEs: spontaneous OBEs or induced OBEs.

However, several studies have explored the systems in the brain and body that play a role in OBEs.

Problems with the vestibular system can causedizziness.

Takeaways

Out-of-body experiences or OBE’s are strange but not all that uncommon.

The scientific reasoning behind this phenomenon includes many theories and contributory events.

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Bunning S, Blanke O.The out-of body experience: Precipitating factors and neural correlates.Prog Brain Res.

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Onion, A.What causes spooky out-of-body experiences?Scientific American.

Unexpected discoveries about the subtle body and psychic body.Sage Open.

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