Hypnotically Induced Out-of-Body Experience

Abstract

The possibility to induce real out-of-body experiences (OBEs) using hypnotic inductions, with the opportunity to interview participants during their experience, permits to investigate in depth the characteristics of different aspects of this particular state of consciousness from a first-person point of view. In this article, six selected participants report the description of another "body" we named "subtle body," identified as an intermediate entity between the physical body (Pb) and their "Self" or "I-identity" that was named "psychic body," and their relationships and characteristics. The "subtle body" was described as a sort of white silvered cloud surrounding the Pb, with a particular enlargement of its hands and feet that could move quickly like flying from one place to another even if less easily than the "psychic body," and a vague sense of attrition was perceived when passing through walls. Similar to the "psychic body," the "subtle" one too could move forward and backward in time even if they did not seem perceiving the sense of time. The "subtle body" was referred to be connected with the physical one by a sort of white brilliant link sometimes described like a silvered string more or less visible, whereas no visible links were identified between the "subtle body" and the "psychic" one. These reports were compared with similar descriptions deriving from the Vedanta philosophy and Theosophical tradition.

The Phenomenology of Spontaneous and Hypnotically Induced Out-of-Body Experiences: A Comparison

“…As pointed out in the paper for the previous study (Tressoldi, 2015), during the participants' training, the hypnotist noticed that some of them perceived a type of secondary body, an intermediate between the physical body (Pb) and a form of disembodied personal selfhood (DPS). The participants described this body, which was simply named "subtle body" (Sb) to differ it from the Pb and from the center of consciousness or first-person perspective we named "psychic body" (Ψb) plus the interaction among them.…”

“…The ten participants who were induced into an OBE by using hypnotic suggestion were selected based upon a high degree of hypnotisability and a willingness to experience this particular state of consciousness, as well as previous experience with the research team. More details about the procedure for OBE induction are reported in Tressoldi et al, (2015); Tressoldi et al, ( 2014). A complete description of this procedure is presented by Pederzoli and Tressoldi( 2018).…”

“…The choice and the wording of the questions were drawn from the interviews described in Tressoldi et al, (2015) and Tressoldi et al, ( 2014). Furthermore they were assessed and refined to avoid leading the participants to make statements that might confirm popular cultural beliefs about OBE phenomenology.…”

The Neurophenomenology of Out-of-Body Experiences Induced by Hypnotic Suggestions

“…(Cardeña & Alvarado, 2014). Two previous pilot studies (Pederzoli et al, 2016;Tressoldi et al, 2014Tressoldi et al, , 2015 have shown the possibility of inducing OBEs by specific hypnotic suggestions, thereby making it possible to prospectively explore their phenomenological features and their electroencephalographic (EEG) correlates under controlled conditions. A recent phenomenological comparison among OBEs experienced within NDEs, spontaneous nontraumatic OBEs and those induced by hypnosis (H-OBE) (De Foe, Al Khafaji, Pederzoli, Prati, & Tressoldi, 2017) has shown several similarities; they included an increased awareness associated with positive emotions (e.g., "It was as if suddenly I knew everything that was being communicated.…”

Neurophenomenology of Out-of-Body Experiences Induced by Hypnotic Suggestions

“…(Cardeña & Alvarado, 2014). Two previous pilot studies (Pederzoli et al, 2016;Tressoldi et al, 2014Tressoldi et al, , 2015 have shown the possibility of inducing OBEs by specific hypnotic suggestions, thereby making it possible to prospectively explore their phenomenological features and their electroencephalographic (EEG) correlates under controlled conditions.…”