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It seems like there has been quite a bit of coverage about an experiment in Switzerland that was supposed to recreate an OBE. As it turns out, the experiment provided an interesting state of consciousness but not one I would consider an OBE. Here’s the short version of the experiment:
A volunteer had goggles which showed the input of a camera that was behind their shoulders.
This camera showed a view from behind their back.
When the person was touched with a pen, it appeared to be happening to their “virtual body” and not to them.
People felt like they were looking at their own body.
Why I think this is important:
It is a nice stepping stone for the scientific community to take so they can start tackling full on OBEs. Also, the relatively large publicity of this experiment on major news sites (relative to how much coverage this kind of stuff usually gets anyways) will hopefully raise the public awareness of OBEs and related subjects. Most people trust science as absolute fact too, (despite that it is a continuing explanation) so maybe this will also help people open their minds to OBEs. (and lucid dreaming!)
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A major complaint I have with the experiment is that they start the entire thing under the assumption that OBEs are a form of delusion or hallucination. It's treated as axiom, and never questioned.If the experimenters simply kept their mind open to the possibility that OBEs might be real, then they would realize how their experiment is a little backwards.Oh well… I suppose any experiment is better than no experiments :-P. At least modern science is starting to notice that sane people actually have OBEs :-P.
A major complaint I have with the experiment is that they start the
entire thing under the assumption that OBEs are a form of delusion or
hallucination. It's treated as axiom, and never questioned.If the experimenters simply kept their mind open to the possibility that OBEs might be real, then they would realize how their experiment is a little backwards.Oh
well… I suppose any experiment is better than no experiments :-P. At
least modern science is starting to notice that sane people actually
have OBEs :-P.
Hey Sean. I saw this yesterday (I think) while I was surfing the web. I agree with your complaint - they went about the experiment with the wrong assumptions.I thought it was especially interesting how when a hammer was swung towards the virtual body, the subject's skin in the corresponding area experienced increased sweating - signaling stress and a perceived threat.
"Most people trust science as absolute fact too."Unfortunately, this is too true, and it's a misconception that is constantly reinforced by the news media. I agree with the concerns regarding the assumptions about OBE's in the study, but I wonder if this is really an assumption on the part of the scientists or a mischaracterization by the news media.I am by no means an expert on this type of research, so the scientists could very well have their own misconceptions. But as a scientist in a different field, I have seen many instances where a careful study is interpreted by journalists to be broader-reaching than intended.(I think this may be my first time commenting here, too. I've been reading for awhile, though, and I've got you linked on my site. Thanks, and keep it up!)
That is an interesting point. The journalists who wrote those articles might have made some conclusions that weren't exactly in line with the experiments. A very good point indeed.
Thanks for the link, I checked out your blog/site and added you to my blogroll.
-Hatter
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