An out-of-body experience was repeatedly triggered by stimulating the posterior part of the right superior temporal gyrus in a patient with implanted electrodes for tinnitus. Brain scans showed activation at the right temporoparietal junction, specifically at the angular-supramarginal gyrus junction and the superior temporal gyrus-sulcus, as well as the right precuneus and posterior thalamus extending into the superior vermis. The authors suggest that activation in these regions is the neural basis for the feeling of disembodiment during an out-of-body experience.
Most people with tinnitus do not hear their phantom sounds while dreaming. In a survey of 195 tinnitus patients, 160 could recall dreams, and 92.5% reported no tinnitus during dreams. The 7.5% who did hear tinnitus while dreaming had higher tinnitus burden and stress, and more often had objective tinnitus or tinnitus linked to peripheral auditory pathology or drug use. Among the 13% who frequently experienced lucid dreams, 36% could perceive tinnitus during those dreams, strongly associated with hearing external sounds while lucid dreaming. Most patients perceived tinnitus instantly upon waking; 18% could be awakened by it, and 9.8% reported temporary cessation during nocturnal awakenings. These findings support the idea that gating of external auditory information acts as a tinnitus on-off switch.