How do differences in native language affect out-of-body experiences?
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2024
Source: PubMed
Summary
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) can be induced similarly in individuals regardless of their native language, as shown in a study involving 19 age-matched native English and Japanese speakers. Both groups reported comparable OBEs when exposed to the same stimuli. However, while the quantitative aspects were similar, qualitative differences emerged in their introspective reports, hinting at the influence of linguistic backgrounds on experience perception. Understanding these cognitive phenomena could enhance applications in the Metaverse and medical fields, bridging cultural and cognitive divides.
Abstract
Out-of-body experiences are scientifically inducible cognitive phenomena attracting global attention due to their application in the Metaverse and medical care. Despite previous studies suggesting that one's native language influences one's cognition, the out-of-body experiences of humans with different native languages have not been investigated separately. This study replicated an experiment from a 2007 study to investigate whether differences in native language affect the ability to have scientifically induced out-of-body experiences. A total of 19 age-matched native English and Japanese speakers completed the experiment in two blocks. Thereafter, their experiences were evaluated using questionnaires, and their responses were compared. Importantly, no significant differences between the English and Japanese native-speaker conditions were found. The results showed that out-of-body experiences were induced similarly in both groups, suggesting that people can have out-of-body experiences as a response to similar stimuli, regardless of their native language. However, differences in participants' introspective reports suggested that their experiences may differ qualitatively, possibly, due to the different linguistic backgrounds. The elucidation of the mechanisms of science-assisted out-of-body experiences that consider different cultural and cognitive characteristics, such as native language, could lead to the investigation of their applications in the borderless Metaverse and medicine.