Journal of sleep research
February 1, 2023
Nerea L Herrero, Francisco T Gallo, Miguel Gasca-Rolín et al.
15 citations
Sleep paralysis involves an inability to move during sleep/wake transitions and often brings negative emotions, while out-of-body experiences—the sensation of perceiving the world from outside the physical body—tend to be more pleasant. An online survey of 329 participants found that positive emotions were more frequent during out-of-body experiences, whereas negative emotions dominated sleep paralysis episodes. People who reported being able to induce out-of-body experiences also experienced more positive emotions during episodes. Auditory, tactile, and visual sensations often preceded sleep paralysis, suggesting an "aura" that could be recognized. Those who had out-of-body experiences without feeling sleep paralysis reported tactile and visual sensations similar to those who felt paralysis, indicating that recognizing this aura might help induce out-of-body experiences in patients to reduce negative symptoms.
Scientific reports
November 9, 2023
Francisco T Gallo, Ignacio Spiousas, Nerea L Herrero et al.
5 citations
Dream reports from out-of-body experiences (OBEs) have a more condensed and interconnected network structure than non-lucid dreams or lucid dreams, suggesting a more coherent and unified narrative. OBEs occur during sleep paralysis, where awareness is maintained while movement is inhibited. The relationship between lucid dreams and OBEs remains debated, with some viewing them as distinct and others as variations of the same phenomenon. This analysis of dream report structure indicates that specific nodes play a more central role in OBE reports, pointing to a specialized network organization.
Scientific reports
September 29, 2025
Nerea L Herrero, Yohann Corfdir, Aylin A Vázquez-Chenlo et al.
During sleep, consciousness can re-emerge as non-ordinary states such as lucid dreams, sleep paralysis, out-of-body experiences, and false awakenings. In an exploratory study, overnight brainwave recordings were taken from people who frequently experience these states, capturing ten episodes. Eye movement markers identified periods of lucidity. Analysis of brainwave power showed that these states are distinct from wakefulness but share features with both stage 1 and REM sleep. The findings suggest that these non-ordinary states have unique neurophysiological signatures that blend characteristics of different sleep stages.