Name: Marina Weiler

Title & Department: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences

Email: zzs2jq@uvahealth.org 

Phone: (434) 924 2281

Lab website: https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/

Research Interests: altered states of consciousness, mind-brain relationship, afterlife

Research Description:

My research focuses on extraordinary human experiences, with the goal of understanding their phenomenology, neurophysiological correlates, and psychological impact. I study phenomena such as out-of-body experiences, mediumship, and mind-reading communication in nonspeaking autistic individuals. By combining electrophysiology, psychophysiology, and structured phenomenological interviews, I investigate how brain dynamics and consciousness interact during these unusual states.

A second major interest is the clinical and psychological significance of these experiences. Many individuals report profound transformations—such as reduced fear of death, greater empathy, and changes in meaning-making—yet they often struggle with stigma or lack of clinical support. My work bridges cognitive neuroscience, psychiatry, and spirituality to better understand how these transformative experiences can be integrated into mental health and wellbeing. Ultimately, my research seeks to advance neuroscientific models of perception and consciousness, while informing clinical practice and expanding dialogue between science and spirituality.

Selected Publications:

Weiler M, Moreira-Almeida A, Monti MM. Distinguishing out-of-body experiences from lucid dreaming: a phenomenological analysis. Frontiers in Psychology. 2025

Weiler M, Moreira-Almeida A, Monti MM. Are out-of-body experiences indicative of an underlying psychopathology? Personality and Individual Differences 2025 1;246:113292.

Pehlivanova M, Weiler M, Penberthy KP, Cozzolino P. Psychiatry and Spirituality: Exploring the Intersections of Meaning and Mental Health. Psychiatric Times. 2025; 42(8).

Woollacott M, Weiler M. Neural filters to conscious awareness and the phenomena that reduce their impact. International Review of Psychiatry. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2025.2478907

Weiler M, Acunzo D. What out-of-body experiences tell us about the mind-brain relationship. International Review of Psychiatry. 2024; 1-10.

Weiler M, Acunzo D, Cozzolino PJ, Greyson B. Exploring the transformative potential of out-of-body experiences: a pathway to enhanced empathy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2024; 163:105764.

Weiler M, Stieger KC, Long JM, Rapp PR.  Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Alzheimer's disease: are we ready? eNeuro. 2020; 7;7(1).

Weiler M, Northoff G, Damasceno BP, Balthazar ML. The self, cortical midline structures and the resting-state: implications for Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2016; 68:245-55.

Weiler M, Fukuda A, Massabki LH, Lopes TM, Franco AR, Damasceno BP, Cendes F, Balthazar ML. Default mode, executive function, and language functional connectivity networks are compromised in mild Alzheimer's disease. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2014; 11(3):274-82.