Journal Article2017
Sleep Paralysis, "The Ghostly Bedroom Intruder" and Out-of-Body Experiences: The Role of Mirror Neurons
Baland Jalal, Vilayanur S. Ramachandran
Sleep paralysis — the temporary inability to move on waking, often accompanied by vivid hallucinations of a threatening presence — is one of the most commonly reported experiences that people interpret as paranormal. This open-access paper proposes a neurological model: disruption of the brain's body-ownership system during REM sleep generates a "phantom body" perceived as a separate intruder.
