Exploring the transformative potential of out-of-body experiences: A pathway to enhanced empathy.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews August 1, 2024 Marina Weiler, David J Acunzo, Philip J Cozzolino et al. 10 citations
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs), where individuals feel detached from their physical bodies, often lead to lasting increases in pro-social behaviors such as tolerance and empathy. This article proposes that these changes occur through ego dissolution—a sense of unity and interconnectedness similar to that induced by psychedelics. The authors examine potential brain mechanisms, focusing on the temporoparietal junction and the Default Mode Network, to explain how OBEs might enhance empathy. The work synthesizes existing ideas to illuminate the relationship between altered states of consciousness and empathic improvement.