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Autoscopy

The rather technical sounding term autoscopy derives from the Greek word autos = self and skopeein = to see. It thus simply means "seeing self". Autoscopy has been associated with a number of different paranormal phenomena such as Out of Body Experiences (OBE) and Near Death Experiences (NDE). It also has a place in psychology and the study of brain function - some skeptics like to use the latter to explain the former.

The term autoscopy is subject to different definitions. The experience falls into two categories: those in which an external double is seen and those where the person experiences themselves outside of their physical body.

The first of these categories, seeing an external double, is akin to the doppelganger experience. Some researchers use the separate term heautoscopy for this category of effect and leave the term autoscopy for the out of body experience. However in common non-technical use the term autoscopy is often used in both cases.

Some researchers (1) have linked autoscopy with neurological factors, in particular abnormal activity at the temporoparietal junction (TPJ).

Autoscopies and out of body experiences sometimes share symptoms with pathological conditions such as schizophrenia. Some people who experience OBEs worry that they are "going mad". Research by Dr Susan Blackmore published in 1986 (2) suggested that there was no proven statistical link between schizophrenia and experience of "classic" out of body experiences.

If your experiences cause you any concern then you should discuss the matter with your doctor.

External Links:
(1) The Out-of Body Experience: Precipitating Factors and Neural Correlates - Bunning, S. and Blanke, O.
(2) Out-of-Body Experiences in Schizophrenia - Susan Blackmore, PhD