Suni System

University of Manchester psychologists are investigating out-of-body experiences, or OBEs, commonly thought of as paranormal phenomena.

Approximately 10 percent of the world's population have an OBE at some time, typically involving a sensation of floating and seeing their physical body from the outside.

Scientists say it is not uncommon for people to have more than one OBE, which might also occur as part of the wider near-death experience some report experiencing in life-threatening circumstances.

University researchers will use an online questionnaire to examine differences between those who have and have not experienced OBEs.

David Wilde, lead study researcher, said: "There are several theories as to why people have OBEs. A common link between them is the idea that, in certain circumstances, the brain somehow loses touch with sensory information coming in from the body. This triggers a series of psychological mechanisms which can lead to someone having an OBE.

In this study we aim to take the theory a stage further, he said, by looking at the way people see and experience their bodies, and how, through perfectly ordinary psychological processes, such images and experiences may create the impression of seeing their bodies from the outside.

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