The Neuroscience and Psychology of the Alien Abduction Phenomenon: An Extended Review

Alien abduction reports are widespread but scientifically disputed. This review draws on neuroscience and psychology to explain possible mechanisms: sleep paralysis, REM intrusion, activity in the temporoparietal junction, caudate-putamen connectivity, serotonin 5-HT2A receptor modulation, and thanatosis physiology. Psychological factors like dissociation, false memory, fantasy proneness, and past trauma increase susceptibility. Neural and phenomenological parallels with psychedelic and near-death experiences suggest shared mechanisms. Predictive processing offers a unified framework accounting for the phenomenon's ubiquity and cultural variation, though each model has limitations. A small probability exists that a confluence of neurocognitive factors, cultural memetics, and altered states explains striking reports, but many may still elude integrated explanation. Further research is needed to clarify the ontological nature of this exceptional human experience.

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Abstract

The phenomenon of alien abduction has been widely reported yet remains scientifically contentious. This review synthesizes neuroscientific and psychological findings to elucidate its potential mechanisms. Neural correlates include sleep paralysis, REM intrusion, temporoparietal junction activity, caudate-putamen connectivity, serotonergic modulation (e.g., 5-HT2A receptor) & thanatosis physiology. Psychological predispositions, such as dissociation, false memory, fantasy proneness, and past trauma further modulate susceptibility. Neural & phenomenological parallels with psychedelic and near-death experience are made, indicating the possibility of shared mechanisms. Predictive processing is offered as a holistic framework, accounting for the seeming ubiquity of the phenomenon alongside cultural variation. While these models are highly compelling, they each possess notable limitations. There may be a small probability of some perfect confluence of the above neurocognitive factors, cultural memetics, and altered states of consciousness to account for the more striking of abduction reports. However, many reports may elude even this integrated explanation. Directions for further research are suggested to clarify the ontological nature of this particular exceptional human experience. This article represents a substantially expanded edition of an abridged version of the journal publication Michael, P. (2026). The neuroscience and psychology of the alien abduction phenomenon: A review. World Futures: The Journal of New Paradigm Research, 1–18.