What is an out-of-body experience? The certified and verified definition is: An out-of-body experience (OBE or sometimes OOBE) is an experience that typically involves a feeling of floating outside one’s body and, in some cases, the feeling of perceiving one’s physical body from a place outside one’s body.

I think that is a pretty poor definition, and because of this Jason and I decided to do an episode on the subject. While you wait for the Horror Express podcast to publish, here are my thoughts on the subject.

Let’s start off with what I think should be the definition of a OOBE: They are eerie sensations, more common than one might think. For example: A man describes feeling a shadowy figure standing behind him, then turns around to find no one there. A woman feels herself leaving her body and floating in space, then looking down on her corporeal self. These experiences are often attributed by those who have them as being paranormal. However, neuroscientists tell us they can be induced by delivering a mild electric current to specific spots in the brain.

It is true! A zap to a brain region called the angular gyrus has resulted in a sensations that the patient described as hanging from the ceiling, looking down at their body. In another test electrical current produced an uncanny feeling that someone was behind the patient and was intent on interfering with their actions. These are confirmed experiments. Follow this link to learn more.

So does that mean that all OBE’s are induced? I have to say the jury is still out on that one, but this may help to explain at least some of these experiences.

This Week’s Podcast:

On the podcast this week we have The Horror Express #17 – This maybe the most diverse podcast we done yet. Not only do we talk about the out-of-body experience, Jason interviews Larry Hunter, who asked God to show him Hell! Also, we have an OTR story from Boris Karloff and of course we answer emails and comments from you guys! You can listen to this podcast this Thursday at The Horror Express, download it from iTunes, stream it on TuneIn Radio or listen on your radio Saturday night at 6pm Eastern time. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.