Dissociation of the subjective and objective bodies: Out-of-body experiences following the development of a posterior cingulate lesion.
Journal of neuropsychology – March 01, 2020
Source: PubMed
Summary
A striking case illustrates how a brain tumor in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) can eliminate out-of-body experiences (OBEs). A 46-year-old woman reported experiencing OBEs several times monthly before her surgery, but none afterward. Her experiences showcased a clear dissociation between her subjective and objective bodies, which she vividly illustrated through drawings. This case highlights the role of the temporoparietal junction in integrating sensory signals and suggests that the PCC may significantly influence the perception of self in space.
Abstract
An out-of-body experience (OBE) is a phenomenon whereby an individual views his/her body and the world from a location outside the physical body. Previous studies have suggested that the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), the brain region responsible for integrating multisensory signals, is responsible for OBE development. Here, however, we first present a case of OBE after brain tumour development in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). The patient was a 46-year-old right-handed female; she underwent brain surgery. She reported that she had experienced OBEs several times monthly (during daily life) before surgery but never after surgery. She defined her OBEs explicitly; she drew pictures. Her OBEs exhibited phenomenological, overt dissociation of the subjective and objective bodies. We discuss the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and the relationship between OBEs and the PCC in terms of anatomical and functional brain connectivity. Our case sheds some light on the mechanism involved in creating spatial (dis)unity between the self and the body.