Using virtual reality to induce out-of-body experience

Yeah, we've seen bizarre apparatuses that bring about otherworldly feelings, but new studies have reportedly been able to induce out-of-body experiences with just a set of "virtual reality goggles, a camera, and a stick." Apparently, the "research reveals that the sense of having a body, of being in a bodily self, is actually constructed from multiple sensory streams," and when the newfangled system forces individuals to peer at "an illusory image of themselves" while the stick prods them "in a certain way," the guinea pigs said they felt as if they had been removed from their bodies. Of course, it seems the real purpose here circles more around the science of the brain rather than hashing out a DIY guide to accomplish this on your own, and no, so far as we can tell, it (unfortunately) does not play Doom.

[JohnTitor @ Aug 25th 2007 7:18PM]

what's the thing about to poke is posterior

[Kyle Interra @ Aug 25th 2007 7:41PM]

Read the article; Its a stick. If the subject is prodded with it in a certain way, it induces the experience.

[JohnTitor @ Aug 25th 2007 7:49PM]

Hope it's the way I'm thinking

[Ellianth @ Aug 25th 2007 7:19PM]

That would make an awesome ride. They better turn it into an amusement park attraction because I don't get enough out of body experiences.

[ntrgc89 @ Aug 25th 2007 7:20PM]

I was just reading an article about this on The Economist the other day.

http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9682520

The article has a lot of detail about the design of the experiment and the experimenters and whatnot. Cool beans.

[Trent @ Aug 25th 2007 7:26PM]

Sounds Cool

[Daniel Foster @ Aug 25th 2007 7:26PM]

Am I the only one wondering if the placement of the sticks in the picture has anything to with the "out-of-body experience"?

[Daniel @ Aug 25th 2007 7:29PM]

Ah, but will it blend?

[chris joseph @ Aug 25th 2007 7:36PM]

I still think people need to look up the difference between "induce" and "simulate" in the dictionary. People who experience OOBE's don't need a VR rig to do so.

[Dave @ Aug 25th 2007 7:59PM]

This makes sense. So people who have out of body experiences are probably just wearing virtual reality goggles and headphones while simultaneously holding sticks between their butt-cheeks.

[Xee @ Aug 25th 2007 8:08PM]

What I want to know is who's idea was it to incorporate a stick into the experiment?

Researcher 1: "Man, this just isn't working. We got the goggles, we got the camera, what could we be missi... heyyyy, that's a cool stick."

Researcher 2: "Yeah, I found it in the parking lot on the way here. It's pretty cool."

Researcher 1: ". . . are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Researcher 2: "Yeah, let's poke him with it!"

Researcher 1: "Brilliant!"

[Simon @ Aug 25th 2007 10:41PM]

LOL! ^^!

[Adoniteking @ Aug 25th 2007 10:04PM]

guinea pig: OUCH!!! that hurt.

Researcher 1 & 2: He is still wearing the goggles! O_O!!!

Researcher 2: plus he jumped...

Researcher 1: AND shouted!

***Eureka moment...light bulbs***

guinea pig:err..I think i was meant to do that.

[DarkFader @ Aug 25th 2007 8:13PM]

Oh.. different color of pants. That spoils the whole experience. It has to be perfect.

[jhoule86 @ Dec 19th 2007 5:02PM]

"...participants reported having the sensation of an 'out-of-pants' experience."

but not the fun kind.

[nickroz @ Aug 25th 2007 8:27PM]

this could be useful in sports training. Imagine working on your golf swing while watching yourself perform it - and you could have a video overlay of a pro golfer too.

[ploomanshi @ Aug 25th 2007 8:34PM]

this has been done in far greater detail by a guy called Eric Joris, i sough it at a exhibition at glasgows tramway gallery and theatre, it was called "Crew", and was part of the performance art festival they had in feb, they are able to simulate a state thats said to be like altsimers by compleatly disorientating the viewer using goggles and a remote voice that guides them helping to emphisise the outer body thing. they hope to create plays etc where the actors are minipulated into playing roles etc without knowing they are part of plays, its a real demonstration of how tech is a hinder aswell as a help. this is there page www.crewonline.org

[TNP @ Aug 25th 2007 8:38PM]

Virtual Virtual Skeeball.

[TNP @ Aug 25th 2007 8:40PM]

Virtual Virtual Skeeball.

[jup @ Aug 25th 2007 9:23PM]

Interesting.

[Kyle @ Aug 25th 2007 10:04PM]

kind of like an acid trip without the long term side-effects

[ChrisG @ Aug 25th 2007 10:12PM]

It's not that I hate the idea of VR or anything but I would rather the use of a control. Also it the fact the most of these virtual reality devices and prototypes are kind of weird or difficult to use or have to many wires. I guess that's why many of the next gen video game systems like the ps3 and xbox 360 use tons of wireless devices.

[Brendon @ Aug 25th 2007 10:12PM]

So is this more "Altered States" or "Lawnmower Man"?

[KC @ Aug 25th 2007 10:58PM]

http://www.hackaday.com/2007/07/10/real-life-avatar-style-video-recording/

I like this better.

[nicleT @ Aug 26th 2007 12:25AM]

Thanks KC, I was looking back to find this video but had lost the reference. And exactly, this "virtual reality to induce out-of-body experience" looks strongly similar to Marc Owens's Avatar Machine.

However, here's another great article about "Out-of-body experience recreated" (the same experience): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6960612.stm

[Fubar @ Aug 25th 2007 11:44PM]

Yes, but can you make the subject's body think it's playing Doom with this?

[Taylor @ Aug 26th 2007 7:17AM]

This reminded me of something else I saw on the internet called the Avatar Machine. Basically, you mount a camera on your back, and then the feed from the camera goes to a VR headset in your eyes, so you see yourself running around in 3rd person, like in *insert 3rd person game of your choice*.

http://www.geekologie.com/2007/07/avatar_machine.php

[nik @ Aug 26th 2007 7:05PM]

but will it play do.... darn it.

[Cosmo @ Nov 19th 2007 11:01AM]

People, you don't need any high-tech gadgets . . . .

Want a REAL out of body experience?

Eat a visionary mushroom. http://www.shroomery.org

Its healthy for you, full of antioxidants to ward off Cancer cells, and its nutrient rich.

Psilocybin is closely related to the Natural chemicals in your brain. Its safe, non-toxic, and completely natural. This is why it has an effect on people for thousands of years.


Feed your head, not your hydro meter. . . .

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 26th 2007 11:27AM]

I'm beside myself just thinking about it.

[TubeTop100.com @ Aug 26th 2007 1:38PM]

Ohhh wow, amazing! Out-of-body experiences, because you can see yourself! How about two mirrors?