The perceptual geometry and chromaticity of near-death experience spaces

Abstract

Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) challenge conventional research methods, as they are often described as exceeding the limits of verbal expression. While most studies rely on narrative accounts, little attention has been given to graphic representations as a complementary mode of investigation. This study employs a hybrid approach combining a semi-structured digital questionnaire with a graphic reconstruction task. Participants first segmented their Out-of-Body Experience (OBE) and NDE into distinct experiential sequences by assigning chronological numbers to each phase. This sequencing enabled the identification of what we term the experiential NDE Core, defined here as the NDE sequence or sequences distinguished from the Dissociative and Associative OBE phases, thereby facilitating comparisons across participants. The graphic reconstructions identified recurrent Visual-Field boundary configurations, including conical forms, elliptic arcs with variable Visual-Field Extents (VFE), and ellipsoidal configurations. Exploratory analyses indicated variation in chromatic perceptual qualities across these configurations, although evidence for differences among configurations was not uniform across statistical analyses. The reported emergence of Visual Mental Imagery also appeared to vary across Visual-Field configurations. This dual-method design was intended to capture experiential features of OBEs and NDEs that may not be conveyed through verbal reports alone. Notably, OBEs have rarely been examined in terms of their independence from, or conjunction with, NDEs. In the present study, their temporal placement was defined operationally by the sequencing protocol to permit isolation of the NDE Core.