Worldwide Research on Near-Death Experiences
Most People who visit this site are already fully convinced on the validity of Near-Death experiences. However, sometimes we find ourselves needing to explain and educate our friends, family members, or others about the convincing and extensive worldwide research that has been carried on for well over fifty years. It is for that reason we offer the below commentary for anyone that might need a little help with that task.
- Common Themes: Thousands of testimonies from around the world show striking similarities in NDE content across different cultures, religions, ages, and even between atheists and the deeply religious. Common elements include:
- A sense of peace and joy.
- Out-of-body experiences (OBEs), sometimes involving verifiable awareness of actual events during resuscitation.
- Entering a tunnel or seeing a bright, mystical light.
- Encountering deceased loved ones or a "being of light".
- A life review, where individuals re-experience their past actions and their effects on others.
- A feeling of heightened consciousness and alertness, often described as "more real than real".
- Neurobiological Explanations: Many neuroscientists attribute NDEs to intense neurobiological changes in the brain as it approaches death.
- Recent studies have identified a surge of organized brain activity (e.g., specific EEG signals) during cardiac arrest in dying patients, which may correlate with the lucid, vivid recall of NDEs.
- Researchers are investigating the role of specific neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, noradrenaline, glutamate, serotonin) in creating the various components of the NDE, such as the feeling of calm, heightened senses, and vivid experiences.
- Impact and Aftereffects: NDEs often lead to profound, permanent personal transformations. Common aftereffects include a significant loss of the fear of death, increased spirituality (not necessarily religiosity), heightened compassion, lessened materialism, and a renewed sense of purpose.
- Adjusting to these changes can be difficult, and some NDE survivors seek professional support to reconcile their new values with their former lives and relationships. Research has found that support from groups or online sources knowledgeable about NDEs is often perceived as more helpful than support from mental health professionals lacking specific training in the phenomenon.
Leading Institutions and Studies
Major research is conducted globally, with significant contributions from:
- The AWARE (AWAreness during REsuscitation) Study: An ongoing, large-scale international collaboration of scientists and physicians, led by researchers at the University of Southampton and NYU Grossman School of Medicine, which focuses on objective measures of consciousness during cardiac arrest.
- University of Virginia's Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS): Home to prominent NDE researcher Dr. Bruce Greyson, this institution has spent decades collecting thousands of case reports to find consistent patterns across diverse populations.
- Near Death Experience Research Foundation (NDERF): Founded by radiation oncologist Dr. Jeffrey Long, NDERF maintains the world's largest collection of publicly accessible NDE accounts, used for extensive studies on consistency of content across cultures.
Summary
Worldwide research has moved past questioning the reality of the subjective experience and now focuses on identifying the underlying physiological and psychological mechanisms. The consistency of NDE accounts across cultures and their profound, life-altering aftereffects remain central to the field, offering insights into the nature of human consciousness.