What do the cases of the reincarnation type tell us about the mind beyond the brain?
International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England) 2025 DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2025.2466484 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2,500 |
| Population | Young children who report memories of a previous life |
| Keywords | Anomalous memories Mind and brain Past lives Young children Reincarnation Rebirth Transmigration Metempsychosis Pre-existence Survival of consciousness Post-mortem consciousness Non-local consciousness Extended consciousness Paranormal recollections Psychic memories Unexplained memories Psi memories |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Over 2,500 cases worldwide show young children providing accurate details about a deceased individual, suggesting an anomalous connection. |
Abstract
Cases of young children who report memories of a previous life have been the focus of systematic study for the past 60 years. Over 2500 cases of this worldwide phenomenon have been investigated. In the strongest cases, children have provided details that proved strikingly accurate for an individual who lived in the past, sometimes at a great distance from the child's family. This overview includes a set of case reports that demonstrate the phenomenon, followed by a review of the types of evidence in the cases of an anomalous connection between the child and the deceased individual. Explanations for the phenomenon are then considered.