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Research suggests that a sensation of floating prior to sleep may be indicative of several sleep-related phenomena such as sleep paralysis, hypnagogic imagery, and out-of-body experiences (OBEs). Previous research into OBEs in particular has been limited in considering the broad range of tactile, auditory, and visual phenomena reported by individuals prior to sleep which relate to a floating sensation that tends to precede an OBE. In the present study, 178 participants were surveyed regarding their experience of a floating sensation prior to sleep as part of a larger OBE questionnaire. A thematic analysis was conducted in order to determine commonalities in floating sensations prior to sleep reported among participants. Themes in reports of tactile and emotional content during a floating sensation were noted. Tactile sensations of feeling light or weightless, body detachment or loss of physical sensation, sensations of flying and sensations of falling were most common. Emotions relevant to a sense of floating were reported as being negative, positive, or associated with a feeling of freedom. A number of the floating sensations reported prior to sleep overlapped with common descriptions of OBEs found in literature, while others did not. Implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various anomalous experiences have been reported just as people are falling asleep (hypnagogic state) or awakening from sleep (hypnopompic state). These states might be conducive to the operation of paranormal processes but might also facilitate the misinterpretation of normal experiences. It is therefore important to investigate the range of experiences reported in these states and how they are interpreted. Research into hypnagogic/hypnopompic imagery has focused on hypnagogic (HG) imagery and the visual and auditory modalities in particular. Comparatively little is known about hypnopompic (HP) imagery and other sensory modalities. A web survey, with 492 respondents, investigated the relative frequency of sensory modalities for HG and HP imagery, their content, and how they have been interpreted. The results suggest that HG is more common than HP imagery; visual, falling and sense of presence sensations are the most common forms, followed by auditory, tactile, bodily, and movement sensations. Otfactor.y and gustatory imagery is rare. A qualitative analysis revealed a wide range of themes that apply to both HGHP experiences, nlthongh some only occur in one particular state. Respondents' interpretations of the imagery included normal aspects of mind/body functioning, possible physical or mental health problems, and paranormal, spiritual, mystical, or supernatural processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main question addressed with this experiment is whether the hypnagogic state is a special mental state conducive o f anomalous cognitive processes. Twelve volunteers with high scores on the transliminality or the absorption scale participated in a guessing-like task alternating trials in hypnotic and relaxed states of consciousness. Each participant contributed to 10 trials in a hypnagogic state and 10 trials in a self-induced relaxed state. Participants were shown 20 different series of 4 emotionally neutral figures presented in sequence one at a time for about 1 min on a PC monitor and successively presented all 4 to guess which one could be the target. Before the participant's choice, the target, chosen by a pseudorandom algorithm, was simultaneously presented on a monitor in a different isolated room connected with the apparatus installed in the subject's room. With hypnotic induction emphasising OBE in the hypnagogic state, the mean hits score was 37.5% whereas in the self-relaxation state it was at chance level, 25%. Further support for the hypothesis that the hypnagogic state is psi-conductive was obtained by the significant correlation between ESP performance in the hypnagogic state and the score on transliminality (.71) and absorption scales (.76). Induced hypnagogic imagery associated with a high level of transliminality and/or absorption is proving to be a special mental state conducive to ESP phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the relationship between reports of anomalous experiences and hypnagogic and hypnopompic states. Discussion on the physiological and psychological features of hypnagogic and hypnopompic states; Information on sleep paralysis; Interpretation of hypnagogic and hypnopompic experiences; Evidence for conduciveness of the states to anomalous processes.

Presents an abstract of the study `Relationship Between the Hypnagogic/Hypnopompic States and Reports of Anomalous Experiences,' presented by Simon J. Sherwood to the Parapsychological Association Annual Convention on August 6-9, 1998 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.