Margitta Seeck

2 papers in the library · 1,319 citations · publishing 2004-2005

Papers

Out‐of‐body experience and autoscopy of neurological origin

Brain January 15, 2004 Olaf Blanke, Théodor Landis, Laurent Spinelli et al. 746 citations

Out-of-body experiences (OBE) and autoscopy (seeing one's body from outside) share common neurological mechanisms rooted in disrupted body perception. In six neurological patients, these experiences were linked to vestibular sensations (floating, flying, rotation), visual body-part illusions (shortening or moving limbs), and the sensation of seeing only part of one's body. Body position before the experience influenced both OBE and autoscopy. Brain damage or dysfunction localized to the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) in five patients. The findings suggest OBE and autoscopy result from a failure to integrate proprioceptive, tactile, visual, and vestibular information about one's own body, combined with a vestibular dysfunction that disconnects personal space from extrapersonal space, caused by temporary TPJ dysfunction during impaired consciousness.

DOI: 10.1093/brain/awh040 Full text Psychology Medicine Neuroscience

Linking Out-of-Body Experience and Self Processing to Mental Own-Body Imagery at the Temporoparietal Junction

Journal of Neuroscience January 19, 2005 Olaf Blanke, Christine Mohr, Christoph M. Michel et al. 573 citations

The temporoparietal junction (TPJ) is crucial for the conscious experience of the self as spatially united with the body. Using evoked potential mapping, the TPJ was selectively activated 330-400 milliseconds after stimulus onset when healthy volunteers imagined themselves in the position and visual perspective typical of out-of-body experiences (OBEs). Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the TPJ at this time impaired mental transformation of one's own body but not of external objects. In an epileptic patient with OBEs originating from the TPJ, partial activation of the seizure focus occurred during mental transformations mimicking her OBE perceptions. These findings suggest that impaired processing at the TPJ may lead to pathological selves such as OBEs.

DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2612-04.2005 Full text