1. Anomalistic Psychology Exceptional experiences Out-of-body and Near-death experiences

2. Lesson objectives Define out-of-body and near-death experiences. Examine the effect of these. Evaluate research into these.

3. I laid on my bed and went to sleep. I then felt a positive sensation, and I realised that I was above my body. I could see my body, I was laying in a foetal position. I could see everything in the room, I must have been about 8-9ft above myself. I felt great; I had no pain, and had an immense sense of positivity. I just knew I would beat my illness! Everything about my experience I remember, the room, the colours the bright light in the distance, everything.

4. This was the reported experience of someone who was very ill with anorexia.

5. Definition of out-of-body experience A feeling of being able to view yourself and the world from outside of your own body. (Blackmore, 1982) Often reported alongside dreams and daydreams (Peterson, 1997) Possibly induced when receiving anaesthetic (Woerlee, 2008)

6. Areas of the brain involved Parietal lobe Angular gyrus Temporal lobe

7. Brain studies When being stimulated as a treatment for epilepsy subjects commonly reported an out-of-body experience. This involves the temporal and parietal lobes and the angular gyrus. This suggests that these areas of the brain may be involved in such experiences.

8. Near-death experience Introduced by Moody (1975) ‘a distinctive subjective experience that people sometimes report after a near-death episode’. This is often when people have been involved in serious accidents or have been injured as a result of military combat. What does this suggest? Maybe trauma is involved as these are both violent, sudden and dramatic.

9. Common features of NDE International Association for Near Death Studies Identify the common features as: Intense emotion Seeing one’s body from above Movement through darkness towards light Encounters with dead loved ones A life review For some, a decision to return to their body.

10. Atwater’s research For pleasant NDE and OOB experiences, There is often a sensation of floating and passing through a long black tunnel with the subsequent ascension towards light, friendly greeting from familiar and unfamiliar voices and the realisation that time does not exist. People experiencing this are usually disappointed to be revived.

11. Atwater continued A disturbing near-death experience often brings about a search for meaning in it, changes in behaviour, an increase in religious practice. The experience is often interpreted according to the person’s beliefs or cultural background.

13. Ring (1980) Ring (1980). Semi-structured interview (n=102) on NDEs. Identified ‘core experience’. E.g. Deep sense of peace and well being. Entering darkness. Seeing a light. AO2. Anecdotal. Subjective. Cultural bias.

14. Ehrsson’s study 2007

15. Assumption Ehrsson suggests that out-of-body experiences are caused by a disconnection between the brain circuits that process visual and touch- sensory information.

16. method 42 participants Used virtual reality technology to present participants with the view of their own backs, from the perspective of 2 metres behind themselves. The experimenter then places one rod on the participant’s chest (out of view) and another rod where the illusory body would be located. Participants reported that they were sitting behind their physical bodies.

18. Similar study from Blanke

19. Conclusions Self-visual perspective disruption can lead to the experience of a new veiwpoint. Suggests that OBEs are related to sensory disturbance..

20. AO2 Methodological issues Small sample size Volunteer sample Why does this limit the research?

21. AO2 Ethical issues Lack of informed consent But confidentiality was ensured by coding the participants.

22. On the bright side Ehrsson’s experimental set up provided a way of putting out-of-body experiences into the lab. AO2 + Testable hypothesis + Controlled experiment. - Perhaps doesn’t explain rich experiences and detailed reports

23. Further research Blanke (2004) Found support for neurological functioning as a cause for out of body experience A mild electric shock to the angular gyrus induced an OOB experience. But he used a small sample (all female)

24. Further research Nelson (2006) NDEs and brain’s regulation of the sleep cycle. Blackmore (1996) Dream control skills and OBEs.

25. Key points Near-death experiences are traditionally different to out-of-body experiences. Out-of-body experiences involve a person looking at their own body from above. Near-death experiences involve a variety of effects including the loss of pain, seeing bright lights and positive feelings.

26. Key points cont. There are various biological explanations for near-death phenomena including: anoxia, hypercarbia, temporal lobe function abnormalities, endorphins and administered drugs. A psychological explanation is the expectation of life after death.

27. Key points cont. Ehrsson has attempted to research out-of-body experiences in a scientific way that was commended by Blackmore.

29. Summary questions 1.List at least two pieces of research relevant to OBEs and/or NDEs. 2. Give two evaluation points of the above.