Description
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are far more common than most people realize. Yet many experiencers grow up feeling isolated, confused, or unsure how to make sense of what happened. This talk offers a grounded and compassionate way to understand OBEs that respects both personal experience and scientific evidence.
During the webinar, we will explore the phenomenology of OBEs: what these experiences actually feel like from the inside, including changes in self-location, perception, clarity, and emotion, and how they differ from related experiences such as lucid dreams or remote viewing. You will also learn what neuroscience has discovered about the brain systems that create our sense of being in a body, and the limitations of the neuroscientific models.
The talk will also address why OBEs are often deeply life-changing. Research shows that many experiencers report less fear of death, greater empathy, and a stronger sense of meaning in life after an OBE, sometimes lasting for decades. Finally, we will look at what is currently known and still debated about cases in which people report accurate perceptions during OBEs, and what science is doing to better understand these extraordinary moments.
About Marina
Marina Weiler, PhD, is a neuroscientist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies. Her research focuses on out-of-body experiences, extraordinary perception, and the ways consciousness can shift beyond ordinary bodily awareness, integrating brain science with detailed first-person phenomenology. She also leads research on extraordinary communication in nonspeaking autistic individuals, investigating how perception, intention, and awareness may be expressed beyond spoken language.
Marina’s website:
https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/
Marina’s LinkedIn Page:
