Near death experiences (NDEs) reported after a non-life-threatening event (NDE-like) are similar in intensity and content to those occurring after a pathological coma (real NDE). In a retrospective analysis of 190 reports meeting the Greyson NDE scale threshold (score >7/32), the most common feature was peacefulness (89-93%), and only 1% recounted a negative experience. The intensity and features did not differ between NDE-like and real NDE groups, nor among coma causes (anoxic, traumatic, other). However, the core features were more frequently reported in this retrospective anoxic cohort compared to historical prospective data, suggesting that retrospective recall may shape the experience's content.
Near-death experiences (NDEs) often follow a common sequence: an out-of-body experience, moving through a tunnel, seeing a bright light, then feeling peace. However, this sequence occurred in only a small number of experiencers, suggesting that the order of NDE features varies widely among individuals. The study analyzed 154 written NDE narratives from French speakers, using text analysis to infer the timing and frequency of core features. The findings indicate that while a typical pattern exists, it is not universal, and understanding the relationships between features may improve scientific definitions of NDEs.
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Memories of near-death experiences (NDEs) are usually emotionally positive, but this study compared NDEs in 8 patients with locked-in syndrome (LIS) from acute brainstem lesions to 23 classical NDE experiencers after coma with supratentorial lesions. LIS NDEs less frequently included feelings of peacefulness or well-being. The findings suggest that NDEs with less positive emotions may stem from impaired pontine/paralimbic connectivity or from the emotional distress of being conscious while paralyzed.