Neuroscience and the Near-Death Experience: Roles for the NMSA-PCP receptor, the sigma receptor and the endopsychosins
Medical Hypotheses 1990 DOI: 10.1016/0306-9877(90)90048-j (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ketamine Near-death experience |
| Keywords | Phencyclidine Nmda receptor Sigma receptor Hallucinogen Dissociative Pharmacology |
| Citations | 96 |
| Key points | Proposes that endogenous ligands endopsychosins may be released to protect neurons from ischemic damage, and the near-death experience is a side effect on consciousness with important psychological functions. |
Abstract
The Near-Death Experience (NDE) is a dissociative mental state with characteristic features. These can be reproduced by ketamine which acts at sigma sites and blocks N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) linked phencyclidine (PCP) receptors to reduce ischaemic damage. Endogenous ligands, alpha and beta-endopsychosin, have been detected for these receptors which suggests an explanation for some NDE's: the endopsychosins may be released in abnormal quantity to protect neurons from ischaemic and other excitotoxic damage, and the NDE is a side effect on consciousness with important psychological functions.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otherworld Journeys: Accounts of Near-Death Experience in Medieval and Modern Times | 1987 | Historical analysis | |
| Implications of near-death experiences for a postmaterialist psychology. | 2010 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Near-Death Experience as a Probe to Explore (Disconnected) Consciousness | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Near-death experiences between science and prejudice | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Religion, Spirituality and the Near-Death Experience | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 22
- A Review of the Nonmedical Use of Ketamine: Use, Users and Consequences Journal of Psychoactive Drugs December 1, 2000
- Distressing Near-Death Experiences Psychiatry February 1, 1992
- Dissociation in people who have near-death experiences: out of their bodies or out of their minds? The Lancet February 1, 2000
- Neurochemical models of near-death experiences: A large-scale study based on the semantic similarity of written reports. Consciousness and Cognition March 1, 2019
- The Near-Death Experience as a Focus of Clinical Attention The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease May 1, 1997
and 17 more in the library
Cites 11
- The Near-Death Experience Scale The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease June 1, 1983
- LSD-Assisted Psychotherapy in Patients with Terminal Cancer International Pharmacopsychiatry 1973
- The phenomenology of near-death experiences American Journal of Psychiatry October 1, 1980
- Attitude Change Following Near-Death Experiences Psychiatry August 1, 1980
- The Near-death Experience The British Journal of Psychiatry November 1, 1988
and 6 more in the library