Near-Death Experiences and World-Model Collapse: A Multimodal Cognitive and Narrative Framework
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) February 14, 2026 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18639776 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractNear-death experiences (NDEs) can be understood as structured transformations of the human world-model under extreme physiological stress. Core features—tunnel vision, out-of-body experiences, altered time perception, and life review—reflect systematic reorganizations of perceptual, bodily, temporal, and autobiographical structures. The framework distinguishes correlational from causal neural evidence, addresses individual and cultural variability, and clarifies how NDEs differ from dreaming, psychedelic states, and dissociation. It also examines why fictional and narrative media converge on similar structural motifs and outlines how these cognitive transformations can inform narrative design, linking extreme conscious states with theories of world-model construction, collapse, and reconfiguration.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Cognition Conceptual framework Conceptual blending Narrative inquiry Narratology |
| Key finding | Argues that near-death experiences can be interpreted as systematic reorganizations of the brain's perceptual, bodily, temporal, and autobiographical structures under extreme physiological stress. |
Abstract
This work proposes a unified, multimodal framework for understanding near-death experiences (NDEs) as structured transformations of the human world-model under extreme physiological stress. Drawing on findings from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, phenomenology, and developmental research, the paper argues that core NDE features—such as tunnel-like vision, out-of-body experiences, altered time perception, and life review phenomena—can be interpreted as systematic reorganizations of perceptual, bodily, temporal, and autobiographical structures. The framework distinguishes correlational from causal neural evidence, addresses individual and cultural variability, and clarifies how NDEs differ from dreaming, psychedelic states, and dissociation. It further examines why fictional and narrative media often converge on similar structural motifs, without relying on specific examples, and outlines how these cognitive transformations can inform narrative design. The result is an integrative account that links extreme conscious states with broader theories of world-model construction, collapse, and reconfiguration.