BMJ Open
September 22, 2026
Anna Kristina Eigenbrodt, Poul P Laigaard, Melika Hassani et al.
Recovery of consciousness after brain injury remains a major challenge in the intensive care unit (ICU), and pharmacological treatments that directly promote awakening from coma and other disorders of consciousness (DoC) are lacking. We hypothesise that simultaneously targeting the two core components of consciousness by pharmacological means-arousal with apomorphine and awareness with...
Nature Reviews Neurology
February 11, 2026
Pauline Fritz, Charlotte Martial, Olivia Gosseries et al.
1038/s41582-026-01186-y; 2026)2 rely on conceptual misunderstandings, mischaracterizations of our work or unsupported assertions. We welcome the opportunity to clarify these points. First, the suggestion that the term ‘recalled experiences of death’ (REDs) is more accurate than ‘near-death experiences’ (NDEs) is incompatible with established international agreement on the medical definition of...
Brain
June 12, 2025
Marwan H Othman, Attila Géry Toury-Puel, Karen Irgens Tanderup Hansen et al.
7 citations
In the intensive care unit (ICU), management of unresponsive patients with brain injury focuses on preventing secondary brain damage. Therapeutic strategies that directly promote the recovery of consciousness are urgently needed. In an investigator-initiated, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial, we studied the effects of apomorphine and methylphenidate in ICU patients...
Nature Reviews Neurology
June 1, 2025
Charlotte Martial, Pauline Fritz, Olivia Gosseries et al.
19 citations
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are episodes of disconnected consciousness that typically occur in situations that involve an actual or potential physical threat or are perceived as such, and the experiences are characterized by a rich content with prototypical mystical features. Several explanatory theories for NDEs have been proposed, ranging from psychological or neurophysiological to...
European Journal of Neurology
October 1, 2023
Bianca Raffaelli, Pia Kull, Jasper Mecklenburg et al.
6 citations
Migraine aura, near-death experiences (NDEs), and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep intrusions might share common mechanisms. Here, we investigated the prevalence of NDEs and REM sleep intrusions in people with migraine. We hypothesized that NDEs and REM sleep intrusions are more prevalent in migraine patients with aura than in those without. We conducted a prospective cross-sectional cohort study...
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
August 26, 2022
Charlotte Martial, Olivia Gosseries, Héléna Cassol et al.
17 citations
Parnia et al. recently published suggestions for the study of death and experiences recalled in a near‐death context. We have serious reservations about the authors’ statements. In this commentary, we discuss the omissions and knowledge gaps inherent to the authors’ paper, which among others include incorrect neurological claims about brain death and misunderstandings regarding the terminology...
Brain Communications
January 4, 2022
Daniel Kondziella, Charlotte Martial
1 citation
peer reviewed
Brain Communications
June 22, 2021
Costanza Peinkhofer, Charlotte Martial, Héléna Cassol et al.
49 citations
Abstract Near-death experiences are known from all parts of the world, various times and numerous cultural backgrounds. This universality suggests that near-death experiences may have a biological origin and purpose. Adhering to a preregistered protocol, we investigate the hypothesis that thanatosis, aka death-feigning, a last-resort defense mechanism in animals, is the evolutionary origin of...
Frontiers in Neurology
July 21, 2020
Daniel Kondziella
As neurologists earn their living with the preservation and restoration of brain function, they are also well-positioned to address the science behind the transition from life to death. This essay in pictures highlights areas of neurological expertise needed for brain death determination; shows pitfalls to avoid during the clinical examination and interpretation of confirmatory laboratory tests...
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
July 27, 2019
Costanza Peinkhofer, Jens P Dreier, Daniel Kondziella
45 citations
Purpose of reviewNear-death experiences (NDEs) are conscious perceptual experiences, including self-related emotional, spiritual, and mystical experiences, occurring in close encounters with death or in non-life-threatening situations. The origin of NDEs remains unknown. Here, we review recent advances in the understanding of NDE semiology and pathophysiology.Recent findingsRecent prospective...
bioRxiv Preprint Server
January 28, 2019
Daniel Kondziella, Markus Harboe Olsen
2 citations
preprint
ABSTRACT Background Near-death experiences have fascinated humans for centuries, but their origin and prevalence remain unknown. Methods Using an online crowdsourcing platform, we recruited 1034 lay people from 35 countries to investigate the prevalence of near-death experiences and self-reported REM sleep intrusion. Reports were validated using the Greyson Near-Death Experiences Scale (GNDES)...
PeerJ
2019
Daniel Kondziella, Jens P Dreier, Markus Harboe Olsen
34 citations
The origin and prevalence of near-death experiences are unknown. A recent study suggested a link with REM sleep intrusion but was criticized for its selection of control participants. We therefore assessed the association of REM intrusion and near-death experiences with different methods. Using a crowd-sourcing platform, we recruited 1,034 lay people from 35 countries to investigate the...
PeerJ
2019
Daniel Kondziella, Markus Harboe Olsen, Coline L. Lemale et al.
17 citations
Near-death experiences (NDE) occur with imminent death and in situations of stress and danger but are poorly understood. Evidence suggests that NDE are associated with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep intrusion, a feature of narcolepsy. Previous studies further found REM abnormalities and an increased frequency of dream-enacting behavior in migraine patients, as well as an association between...