Out-of-body experiences for fun and profit!

The New York Times had a fascinating article last week on out-of-body experiences and the brain activity that may account for them.  A Swiss neurologist was apparently zapping people’s brains (that’s the technical description) in a way that caused them to experience bizarre sensations.  Here’s an example:

Six years ago, another of Dr. Blanke’s patients underwent brain stimulation to a different multisensory area, the angular gyrus, which blends vision with the body sense. The patient experienced a complete out-of-body experience.

When the current flowed, she said: “I am at the ceiling. I am looking down at my legs.”

When the current ceased, she said: “I’m back on the table now. What happened?”

Further applications of the current returned the woman to the ceiling, causing her to feel as if she were outside of her body, floating, her legs dangling below her. When she closed her eyes, she had the sensation of doing sit-ups, with her upper body approaching her legs.

One of my favorite books is The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat so this kind of stuff always gets me going.  But I found myself wondering, if you can create out-of-body experiences by sending a current to the angular gyrus, then why does this article mention only a couple women experiencing this?

If I were the scientist who discovered this, I’d be the first person to have someone zap me just to try it…and I bet there’d be a whole bunch of assistants lining up behind me to go next.  I know grad students would totally be into it.

And think of all the money to be made if you could commercialize it.  Virtual reality?  Ha!  This would be way better.

At the very least someone needs to meet with this doctor and discuss the rights to a Being John Malkovich - Flatliners mashup. 

There’s potential here, folks.