Science aims to challenge dogmas, but undemonstrated scientific axioms can themselves become dogmatic when they lead to the rejection of facts that contradict them. Psychobiological explanations of near-death experiences (NDEs) often claim these are mere brain dysfunctions, yet they neglect facts incompatible with a physicalist stance. The transcendent features of NDEs demand a neutral position that distinguishes facts from speculation. Most current psychobiological interpretations remain unproven, and the delirium from brain disorders or drugs differs phenomenologically from NDEs. Facts cannot be dismissed a priori as paranormal, even if implausible; doing so risks turning knowledge into dogma and the scientific paradigm into theology.
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are deep, universal altered states of consciousness with clear phenomenology and incidence, whose features challenge the dominant mechanist-reductionist view of mind as a byproduct of brain circuitry. This paradigm originated from Descartes' separation of mind and matter and the historical conflict between science and the Inquisition, which removed subjective mental properties from scientific inquiry. Twentieth-century physics moved beyond this classical paradigm, renewing scientific interest in mind. Modern NDE research has reopened debate on the mind-brain relationship and consciousness. The authors argue it is time to reappraise scientific interpretations of NDEs, their relationship with other altered states, and the concept of altered state itself, which appears ill-founded, suggesting a need for revision of conventional approaches to subjective phenomena and reflection on links between non-ordinary mental expressions.
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are profound subjective events reported by patients who come close to death, often featuring bright lights and tunnels. While some interpret these recurring elements as evidence of an afterlife, their origin remains unclear, with both biological and psychological explanations proposed. This review examines the main features of NDEs, current scientific explanations, and the theoretical debate surrounding the phenomenon, highlighting it as a key topic in cognitive neuroscience.