Experiments Get Close to 'Out-of-Body' Experience

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"Full body consciousness seems to require not just the 'bottom up' process of correlating sensory information but also the 'top down' knowledge about human bodies," Blanke said in a statement.

The new findings have implications beyond neuroscience, he added. They might lead to better and more "real" video gaming technologies, or even surgeries where doctors conduct procedures from a distance.

Blanke's research team even included one philosopher -- because the connection between the body and consciousness runs to the heart of much of theology and philosophy.

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Nelson said it's tempting -- but probably erroneous -- to infer any higher spiritual meaning from these scientific findings, however.

"Does this ultimately prove a certain duality or spiritual, Platonic kind of existence?" he said. "No, these are totally separate [investigations], and people get them muddled and confused."

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For more on the human brain, head to the BrainExplorer.

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