Summary: A recent study from the University of Virginia indicates that out-of-body experiences (OBEs), including near-death experiences, can produce profound and lasting increases in empathy and social connectedness. Researchers propose that these changes may result from episodes of “ego dissolution,” during which the sense of a bounded self temporarily fades and individuals report a heightened sense of unity with others and the wider universe.
The research highlights how OBEs often lead to sustained prosocial changes—greater compassion, patience, tolerance, and more harmonious relationships—suggesting possible pathways to cultivate empathy at a time when social cohesion is increasingly strained.
Key Facts:
- Out-of-body experiences are commonly associated with a strengthened sense of interconnectedness and increased empathy.
- Episodes of “ego dissolution” during OBEs appear to underlie many of the lasting emotional and prosocial changes reported by experiencers.
- Understanding the mechanisms linking OBEs to empathic change could inform new approaches to foster empathy and social harmony.
Source: University of Virginia
Out-of-body experiences, including near-death episodes, may transform a person’s capacity for empathy and connection, according to a scientific review by researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
In this paper, lead author Marina Weiler, PhD, and colleagues examine the relationship between altered states of consciousness—specifically OBEs—and longer-term changes in prosocial attitudes and behaviors. Their analysis frames OBEs as potentially transformative psychological events that can shift how people relate to themselves and others.
“Empathy is a core element of human relationships, underpinning trust and mutual understanding,” says Weiler, a neuroscientist with UVA’s Division of Perceptual Studies. The authors argue that studying how OBEs alter empathic capacity could point toward practical strategies for nurturing empathy in individuals and communities.
How Out-of-Body Experiences Influence Empathy
Weiler and her co-authors suggest that many of the empathic and prosocial shifts reported after OBEs stem from episodes of ego dissolution—sometimes called ego death or ego loss—where the ordinary sense of a bounded self temporarily dissolves. These episodes can occur during near-death situations, through certain psychoactive substances, or under other unusual conditions. When that sense of separate self fades, people frequently describe an intensified feeling of unity with other people and with life in general.
Individuals who report OBEs often describe profound changes in perspective: relationships become less conflictual, tolerance increases, and spiritual beliefs or convictions about life after death may deepen. In several surveys, a majority of experiencers reported more peaceful and harmonious relationships after their OBE.
The authors examine possible neural substrates that could support this psychological shift, including regions like the temporoparietal junction and large-scale brain networks such as the Default Mode Network. While the exact brain mechanisms remain under investigation, the behavioral and emotional effects appear robust across multiple reports and studies.
By clarifying how OBEs and related forms of ego dissolution foster empathy, researchers hope to identify interventions—psychological, educational, or therapeutic—that could help cultivate prosocial traits at scale. The paper underscores that interest in enhancing empathy is widespread and that better scientific understanding of these processes carries implications for individual well-being and societal cohesion.
“Exploring ways to nurture virtues tied to concern for others is a goal with personal, social and potentially global significance,” the researchers conclude, noting that insights from OBE research could contribute to broader efforts to promote compassion and cooperation.
About this neuroscience and psychology research news
Author: Josh Barney
Source: University of Virginia
Contact: Josh Barney – University of Virginia
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access. “Exploring the transformative potential of out-of-body experiences: A pathway to enhanced empathy” by Marina Weiler et al., published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (DOI and citation available in the original publication).
Abstract
Exploring the transformative potential of out-of-body experiences: A pathway to enhanced empathy
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are subjective events in which individuals perceive themselves as separate from their physical bodies. These experiences can be profoundly transformative, with many experiencers reporting sustained increases in prosocial attitudes such as empathy, tolerance, and peacefulness in relationships. Drawing parallels with ego dissolution commonly described after certain psychedelic experiences, the authors propose that OBEs may catalyze empathic change by weakening rigid self-boundaries and promoting a lasting sense of unity with others.
The manuscript reviews behavioral findings and considers neural mechanisms that might underlie the link between OBEs and empathic enhancement, including the role of the temporoparietal junction and the Default Mode Network. Overall, the paper maps plausible pathways by which altered states of consciousness could contribute to long-term shifts in empathy and social behavior, offering a foundation for future empirical and applied work.