A reminder of tomorrow evening’s event at the Dana Centre, for which you are asked to pre-book. Full details at:

http://www.danacentre.org.uk/events/2008/11/25/455

Speakers
Chris French, psychologist, Goldsmiths College, London
Ray Tallis, neurologist and philosopher, (formerly) University of Manchester
Henrik Ehrsson, neuroscientist, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Nigel Wright, who has had an out-of-body experience

Facilitator: Narender Ramnani, Royal Holloway, University of London

Unless you have had an out-of-body experience, you cannot imagine what it really feels like, say people who have journeyed through one. Others dismiss it as a figment of imagination. Yet this curious phenomenon has been recognised for centuries and has fascinated believers and sceptics alike. Scientists have found it hard to study these events.

So what are the out-of-body experiences that around 1 in 10 people claim to have had? They are usually described as the sensation that you are floating above your body, your mind somehow disconnected from your physical self. They can be triggered by trauma or impending death, alcohol or drugs. They can be intensely spiritual and produce a whole host of profound emotions from fear to serenity.

Theologians, philosophers and psychologists continue to debate out-of-body experiences. What is actually going on in the brain is still unclear. Henrik Ehrsson recently conducted virtual-reality experiments at University College London to induce the illusion in volunteers. His results suggest that the brain circuits responsible for processing of visual and tactile sensory information may become disconnected.

Our speakers this evening – a philosopher, a psychologist and a neuroscientist – will discuss this strange state of mind, and we will hear from someone who has had an out-of-body experience following major surgery.

Can the mind really become disassociated from the physical brain? Or are out-of-body experiences hallucinations? What do you think?

Event organised by:
The European Dana Alliance for the Brain, the British Neuroscience Association and Art and Mind

Cheers,

Chris French

I have already told you about an event coming up at the Dana Centre on November 25 considering the nature of out-of-body experiences. The chair for the evening will be Narender Ramnani and the speakers will be as follows:

Chris French: Introduction to OBEs
Henrik Ehrsson: OBE, Illusions of Body Ownership and the Brain
Ray Tallis: Philisophy, Implications and Interpretations

The organisers are keen, however, to hear from someone who has actually had a vivid OBE and would be willing to stand up in the audience and give a brief description of what it felt like. If you would be willing to do so, please let me know (c.french[at]gold.ac.uk). They only want one person to do this (although others are free to talk about their own experiences if asking a question, of course), so I’ll put the first person who fits the bill in touch with the organisers.

Also, I want to thank all those people who got in touch to tell me about their sleep paralysis experiences. I will reply to you all individually once things calm down a bit but term has just started and things are a bit hectic!

Best wishes,

Chris French