Confused Senses

The Guardian today reported about scientists having developed a technique to induce out of body experience. Interesting, dont you think? I surely think so.

One thing in the article caught my eye ... That two research groups have com to the conclusion that it was confusion in the senses (which are capturing data, and transmitting data to the brain to interpret), which would lead to this. Taking this argument a little further ... If people have been known to have Out of Body experiences under traumatic circumstances (accidents, surgery ...), in a scenario where the senses can be considered to be inoperational (the eyes are not seeing when you are unconscious, or under anaesthesia), then what is it that lets these people have an out-of-body experience.

Is this a sense which is not among the five senses which the brain and the body relies on? Is this consciousness? All thoughts more than welcome!