Home / Science / Mind's Weirdest Hallucinations Explained?
Mind's Weirdest Hallucinations Explained?
14 Nov
Summary
- Strange experiences link to brain states between sleep and wakefulness.
- Brain activity shows mixed sleep and waking patterns during UBEs.
- Research suggests poor brain boundaries cause unusual bodily sensations.
The human brain's capacity for strange experiences, such as sleep paralysis or feeling one's mind leave the body, may stem from the liminal space between sleeping and waking. Researchers at Radboud University in the Netherlands investigated these unusual bodily experiences (UBEs) by monitoring brain activity in participants undergoing meditation, sleep, and dreaming.
Using EEG caps, scientists recorded brain activity as participants experienced UBEs, noting specific eye movements as indicators. The findings revealed a distinct pattern: a decrease in slow brainwaves (delta and theta) and an increase in fast waves (beta and gamma), particularly in temporal regions. This brain activity profile blended characteristics of both sleep and wakefulness.
The researchers propose that UBEs occur when the brain has poor boundaries, allowing sleep and wakefulness states to overlap. This could explain why dream-like elements merge with perceived external reality during these episodes. While further research is needed to understand the exact mechanisms, this study sheds light on how the brain establishes our sense of embodiment.
