yahwehyadayada

(AP) -- A study suggests the oft-reported sensation of leaving the body during a brush with death may have a simple explanation in the body itself.

These "out-of-body" and "near-death" experiences -- in which people resuscitated on the operating table speak of being drawn toward a brilliant light, or looking down on their own bodies -- may be influenced by a portion of the brain misfiring under stress, the study suggests.

The paper describes one patient's visions while she was being evaluated for epilepsy and does not wrestle with issues of the soul. And researchers noted that the brain-mapping results may not entirely explain the phenomenon.

The study focuses on a processing center in the brain known as the angular gyrus, thought to play an important role in the way the brain analyzes sensory information to give us a perception of our own bodies. When it misfires, they speculate, the result can be visions of floating outside of ourselves.

The findings were published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.

"We do not fully understand the neurological mechanism that causes OBEs," conceded the study's lead researcher, neurologist Dr. Olaf Blanke at the University Hospitals of Geneva and Lausanne in Switzerland.

Skeptics of out-of-body experiences said the experiment goes a long way toward providing a scientific explanation for what some believe is a paranormal phenomenon, even if the study is based on only one patient.

"It's another blow against those who believe that the mind and spirit are somehow separate from the brain," said psychologist Michael Shermer, director of the Skeptic Society, which seeks to debunk alien abductions and other paranormal claims. "In reality, all experience is derived from the brain."

Other researchers described the experiment as modest but interesting.

Neurologist Dr. Bruce Greyson of the University of Virginia said the experiment does not necessarily prove that all out-of-body experiences are illusions.

"We cannot assume from the fact that electrical stimulation of the brain can induce OBE-like illusions that all OBEs are therefore illusions," Greyson said.

The Swiss researchers mapped the brain activity of a 43-year old woman who had been experiencing seizures for 11 years. They implanted electrodes to stimulate portions of her brain's right temporal lobe.

The temporal lobe, which includes the angular gyrus structure, is associated with perception of sound, touch, memory and speech.

Blanke suspects that the right angular gyrus integrates signals from the visual system, as well as information on touch and balance.

When electrical stimulation was applied, the patient reported seeing herself "lying in bed, from above, but I only see my legs and lower trunk." She also described herself as "floating" near the ceiling.

Millions of people have reported OBEs, but relatively few have been clinically analyzed.

Last December, the British medical journal Lancet published a Dutch study in which 344 cardiac patients were resuscitated from clinical death. About 12 percent reported seeing light at the end of a tunnel, or speaking to dead relatives.

Other researchers have suggested that OBEs occur as brain cells die from lack of oxygen, or when the brain releases pain-reducing chemicals called endorphins.

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Heathen Dawn

Why can't people leave well alone? If the OBEs are thought to be a sign of the existence of life after death, then this is cheerful news for mankind (that death is not the end of everything), and it shouldn't be crushed. Scientists and sceptics are so hell-bent on robbing mankind of all faith and hope. Leave those NDEs and OBEs alone.

christ-on-a-stick

Another good article on the same topic <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/09/19/coolsc.outofbody/index.html" target="_blank">here</a>

NialScorva

So... you're saying that we should encourage comforting lies over actual truth? Absolutely disgusting.

Heathen Dawn

</strong>

Yes.

Your private opinion. I share it not.

Godless Dave

Heathen Dawn, I'd like to introduce you to my friend Mr. Stalin, who tells some very comforting lies.

Heathen Dawn

Leave me alone!

Godless Dave

That's all an out-of-body experience is? I sometimes get that sensation just from taking Sudafed.

Godless Dave

HD, my point is if you are willing to believe something that sounds comforting whether or not it's true you are setting yourself up to be vulnerable to every con-man, huckster, and cult leader who crosses your path.

The people who spent thousands of dollars on stock because their brokers told them they'd get rich found the belief that they would get rich comforting. They lost a lot of money.

The September 11 hijackers were probably comforted by the belief that their actions would send them straight to Paradise. Their handlers manipulated this belief to get them to commit mass murder and suicide.

If you want to be master of your own destiny you have to be willing to confront uncomfortable truths.

Marduk

""We cannot assume from the fact that electrical stimulation of the brain can induce OBE-like illusions that all
OBEs are therefore illusions," Greyson said.
"

I agree with the good Doctor. Simply being able to duplicate sometheing doesn't mean much. You can duplicate most anything.
I see HD's point as well. Why would anyone be in such a hurry to prove that we are stuck in these smelly old bodies anyway?
"I want to lose this skin
that I'm imprisoned in" T. Dog

(Marduck, flying high, over a city near you.)

[ September 19, 2002: Message edited by: marduck ]</p>