Comments on "The ketamine model of the near-death experience: A central role for the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor".
Antonio Bianchi
Journal of Near-Death Studies 1997 DOI: 10.17514/jnds-1997-16-1-p71-78. (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ketamine Esketamine Near-death experience |
| Keywords | Context archaeology Coma optics Nmda receptor Receptor antagonist Pharmacology Biochemistry |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | The context in which ketamine or ibogaine is used influences the nature of the NDE-like experience, suggesting that the experience may depend on whether a genuine comatose state is induced rather than solely on the substance. |
Abstract
Although ketamine can induce a state similar to a near-death experience (NDE), there is a striking difference between experiences induced by ketamine used in a recreational context and in an operating room. Ketamine is a noncompetitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, as is ibogaine, the main alkaloid of a shrub used in Central Africa to induce NDEs in a religious context. Ibogaine can also elicit different experiences when used in a hallucinatory context or in initiatic rituals, where a superficial state of coma is induced. These data raise the question of whether the chemically-induced NDE-like experience is related to the use of a particular kind of substance or to a genuine comatose state.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distressing Near-Death Experiences | 1992 | Review | |
| Attitude Change Following Near-Death Experiences Individuals who have had near-death experiences | 1980 | Review | n = 21 |
| Near-death experiences. | 2004 | Review | |
| The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences | 2009 | Review | |
| Near-death experiences in cardiac arrest survivors | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- A preliminary investigation of ibogaine: case reports and recommendations for further study. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 1994
- The putative anti-addictive drug ibogaine is a competitive inhibitor of [3H]MK-801 binding to the NMDA receptor complex. Psychopharmacology May 1, 1994
- Ketamine and the near-death experience. Journal of Near-Death Studies 1984