Vestibular Sense, Body Perception, and Out-of-Body Experiences

Vestibular Sense Pathways

• Impulses originate from the vestibular nerve, part of the auditory nerve (which also includes the cochlear nerve).
• Most axons connect with the medulla; some project directly to the cerebellum.
• Vestibular projections to the temporal cortex exist, though specific pathways are not fully charted.

Body Perception & Proprioceptive Drift

• Despite top-down expectations of a constant body, perceptions are flexible.
• Proprioceptive drift refers to perceiving non-actual body parts as belonging to oneself.
• Examples: Owning extra limbs in VR, perceiving fingers as stretched, or accepting a rubber hand as one's own.

Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs)

• Involve feeling subjective awareness is outside the physical body, often hovering and looking down.
• Causes include extreme stress (car accidents, childbirth), migraines, seizures, or psychedelic drugs.
• People with vestibular disorders experiencing chronic dizziness are more susceptible to OBEs, suggesting a link with the vestibular system's role in grounding perception of being inside the body.