Endogenous Ketamine-Like Compounds and the NDE: If So, So What?
Journal of Near-Death Studies March 1, 1997 R. Strassman
This commentary expands on Karl Jansen's ketamine model of the near-death experience, raising questions about self-experimentation as data, ketamine's similarities to and differences from classical hallucinogens, and the need to quantify unusual subjective states. It discusses clinical and toxicological implications, drugs as gateways to religious states, and the evolutionary versus religious significance of naturally occurring compounds in near-death states. The author proposes future research directions to clarify these areas, suggesting that further investigation could help explicate the model's various aspects.