A new scientific study detailing the enigmatic phenomenon of out-of-body experiences (OBEs) is sparking fresh debate on a long-standing question: Does consciousness reside entirely inside the brain, or could it exist somewhere beyond our physical bodies? Published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology in April 2025, the research offers a rare look into the lived accounts of individuals who claim to have experienced their awareness drifting outside their bodies, challenging conventional, brain-centric views of human consciousness (yahoo.com).
The significance of this research reaches far beyond academic philosophy, touching fields as varied as neuroscience, psychology, and spiritual studies. For Thai readers in particular—where Buddhist, animist, and other faith traditions sometimes reference spiritual journeys or states beyond ordinary perception—OBEs offer an intriguing intersection of science and cultural belief. Thailand’s fascination with “วิญญาณ” (consciousness or spirit) finds new context in recent scientific discussions that attempt to unravel whether such experiences are purely biological in origin or evidence for something deeper.
According to the study, the authors conducted interviews with 10 individuals who described firsthand OBEs, often using terms like “other plane of existence” or “universal consciousness.” These qualitative accounts closely align with the controversial theory of “non-local consciousness,” which posits that consciousness may not be fully confined to neural processes in the brain. This interpretation is far from widely accepted in mainstream neuroscience, but it commands growing attention from researchers interested in the so-called “hard problem” of consciousness: why and how the brain’s physical processes generate subjective experience (Frontiers in Psychology; Wikipedia: Hard problem of consciousness).
To date, most scientists maintain that consciousness is intimately linked to brain function, with decades of research showing that injuries or alterations to the brain profoundly affect perception, memory, and awareness. A notable example cited in the article is a 2023 Stanford University study involving epilepsy patients with brain implants, which suggested that targeted electrical pulses to the anterior precuneus region—associated with processing somatosensory information—could evoke sensations akin to OBEs (yahoo.com). This and similar experiments lend weight to biological explanations for OBEs: disruptions or mismatches in brain regions responsible for coordinating sensory, spatial, and vestibular (balance) information may prompt the sensation of floating or observing one’s body from the outside—without any need for non-local consciousness.
Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at a prominent European university, quoted in several research reviews, explains: “The out-of-body experience is now understood as a disruption in the integration of multisensory signals, particularly those involving the balance system (vestibular), vision, and touch. By modulating these networks, we can experimentally induce OBEs without implying consciousness leaves the brain.” Similarly, a leading researcher in Thai neurology, affiliated with a major Bangkok hospital, commented in a recent forum that, “While some cultural beliefs in Thailand interpret OBEs as spiritual journeys, we must encourage careful scientific examination rather than rely solely on traditional explanations.”
Yet, the debate is far from settled. The study’s authors argue that simply reducing OBEs to neurological errors may overlook important subjective dimensions: “We argue that these experiences should be described as they present themselves to consciousness, without resorting to theoretical presuppositions or external causal explanations. Addressing this gap is crucial to achieving a deeper understanding of the phenomenon,” they wrote in the study. For individuals who undergo OBEs—whether in the context of meditation, trauma, or near-death experiences—the chance to normalize and openly discuss these states is cited as an important societal goal (Frontiers in Psychology).
Thailand has a unique relationship with OBEs and related phenomena, which often surface in Buddhist meditation and folklore. Thai monks and meditation practitioners have long described deep states of contemplation where the boundaries between body and mind blur, sometimes interpreted as glimpses into realms beyond ordinary existence. However, these traditions have historically coexisted with an increasing embrace of scientific thinking in Thai education, leading to both curiosity and skepticism about such claims (Wikipedia: Buddhism in Thailand).
From a scientific perspective, the small sample size of the new study—just ten participants—means that bold claims about the nature of consciousness should be approached with caution. Still, as the research authors suggest, collecting and analyzing more high-quality subjective reports could help clarify which aspects of OBEs can be linked to brain dynamics and which might require deeper explanation.
Looking ahead, neuroscientists predict the use of advanced brain imaging and virtual reality technologies could transform OBE studies, allowing researchers to manipulate sensory cues and track brain activity in real-time as OBEs are induced or reported. Some hope that integrating traditional perspectives—such as the Thai Buddhist view of consciousness as a process rather than a static “thing”—could help bridge gaps between scientific and cultural understandings (Nature Reviews Neuroscience; Lancet Neurology).
For Thai readers, these findings carry practical implications. One is the value of open-minded discussion about unusual consciousness events—whether experienced in hospital, meditation cushion, or times of crisis—without premature dismissal as delusion or spiritual revelation. Thai psychologists suggest that individuals who experience unsettling or ecstatic “out-of-body” moments seek supportive counseling or join peer groups to share and process these events. Mental health professionals, for their part, can be encouraged to blend scientific rigor with cultural sensitivity, drawing on both modern brain science and the deep well of local wisdom traditions (Bangkok Post: Mental Health in Thai Society).
Ultimately, whether future research will confirm or refute the possibility of consciousness outside the brain remains an open question—one likely to engage science, philosophy, and ordinary people’s lived experience in equal measure. For now, this new study is a reminder that consciousness remains one of humanity’s deepest mysteries, and that respectful curiosity may open new doors to understanding.