Spanish researchers led by Jenny Moix set out to discover what people who have had out-of-body experiences think about them. They conducted a series of in-depth interviews with ten volunteers. Setting aside scientific hypotheses, the researchers allowed participants to speak freely about their experiences. Most people who have gone through such states perceive them as absolutely real, stating that the sensations they felt were just like real life—or even more vivid. Some see the experience as a mystical event connected to other dimensions, while others believe it’s a product of the mind. Still, others have no explanation at all.
A person’s beliefs may influence the frequency and depth of out-of-body experiences. Those inclined toward religion or esotericism tend to have these experiences more often—and in more complex forms—than skeptics. One’s state of consciousness also plays a key role, as meditation and deep relaxation can open the door to the “astral.” People who regularly undergo out-of-body experiences tend to fear death less than other people. However, not everyone is willing to talk about them, fearing misunderstanding or judgment.
The authors emphasize that an out-of-body experience is not just a hallucination or a brain malfunction. It’s a unique phenomenon that deserves further investigation. Society, they argue, should take a more open-minded view of such experiences, and medical professionals need proper training to support people who have them. In the future, out-of-body experiences might even be used for therapeutic purposes (e.g., for personal development or reducing the fear of death), thus opening new avenues for the study of human consciousness.
Do you consider out-of-body experiences a journey to other dimensions or a trick of the mind?
The article was published in April 2025 in Frontiers in Psychology.
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