Near-Death Experience: Out-of-Body and Out-of-Brain?
Review of General Psychology March 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1037/a0021992 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Keywords | Phenomenon Cognition Cognitive psychology Altered state Cognitive science Epistemology Consciousness Jungian analytical psychology |
| Citations | 56 |
| Key findings | Near-death experiences involve recurring features such as bright lights and tunnels, but their origin is largely unknown, with both biological and psychological interpretations suggested. |
Abstract
During the last decades, several clinical cases have been reported where patients described profound subjective experiences when near-death, a phenomenon called “near-death experience” (NDE). Recurring features in the accounts involving bright lights and tunnels have sometimes been interpreted as evidence of a new life after death; however the origin of such experiences is largely unknown, and both biological and psychological interpretations have been suggested. The study of NDEs represents one of the most important topics of cognitive neuroscience. In the present paper the current state of knowledge has been reviewed, with particular regard to the main features of NDE, scientific explanations and the theoretical debate surrounding this phenomenon.