From the stillness of feigning death to near-death experience?
Brain Communications June 22, 2021 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab138 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key points | The commentary situates Peinkhofer et al.'s systematic investigation of near-death experiences within William James's framework, noting that James treated the mystical sense of unity or oneness as 'the root and center' of spiritual experience and as the bedrock of many organized religions. |
Abstract
This scientific commentary refers to ‘The evolutionary origin of near-death experiences: a systematic investigation’, by Peinkhofer et al. (https://doi. org/10. 1093/braincomms/fcab132). In the Gifford Lectures of 1901–02 at the University of Edinburgh, William James a physician, psychologist and philosopher categorized spiritual experiences thereby establishing the origins of their scientific study. Among the principles subsequently published in ‘The Varieties of Religious Experience’ (VRE), the mystical sense of unity or oneness dominated James’ thinking as ‘the root and center’ of spiritual experience, which he believed formed the bedrock of many organized religions.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 5
- Features of "near-death experience" in relation to whether or not patients were near death The Lancet November 1, 1990
- Does the arousal system contribute to near death experience? Neurology April 10, 2006
- The evolutionary origin of near-death experiences: a systematic investigation Brain Communications June 22, 2021
- Prevalence of near-death experiences in people with and without REM sleep intrusion. PeerJ 2019
- Near-death experience: arising from the borderlands of consciousness in crisis. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences November 1, 2014