The Selective Attention and Awareness Laboratory (SAAL) at the Department of Psychology of the University of Birmingham is initiating research into out of body experiences. According to the university, these phenomena affect approximately 20% of the population, are widely reported and yet have no scientific explanation. Head of the laboratory, Dr. Jason Braithwaite, has this to say about his research:
“We are beginning to understand how it is that the brain produces the everyday ‘in-the-body’ experience by looking at instances when these processes go wrong. For some people, and under certain circumstances, these brain processes become dysfunctional and can result in quite strange and bizarre situations like the out-of-body experience. We are exploring the neuroscience that may predispose some people to have these striking experiences and make them more vulnerable to such occurrences.”
In order to conduct the research, SAAL needs volunteers who have had an out of body experience to take part in a number of laboratory experiments. The results of these experiments should provide an insight into the neuro-cognitive differences between those who have had such experiences and those who have not. So, if you have had an out of body experience, are able to travel to the UK and are willing to take part in a series of tests to uncover more about the phenomenon then you should contact Dr. Braithwaite on j.j.braithwaite@bham.ac.uk to ask for more details.
Those of you who are unable to help out, what are your opinions on this research? Do you think there is a neuro-cognitive explanation? Have you ever had an out of body experience?
D.A Lascelles is graduate of the University of Birmingham. His novella, Transitions, is even set there and involves ghostly goings on.
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