Fracasso, C., & Friedman, H. (2011). Near-death experiences and the possibility of disembodied consciousness: Challenges to prevailing neurobiological and psychosocial theories NeuroQuantology, 9(1) 41-53.

Abstract: Claims from those having near?death experiences (NDEs), as well as those sympathetic to such claims, challenge the prevailing assumption that consciousness is dependent on a functioning brain. Extant theories, both neurobiological and psychosocial, that attempt to explain NDEs are examined and found unable to adequately account for the full range of NDE reports, especially electromagnetic after?effects and out?of?body experiences with veridical perception. As a result, many leading NDE researchers have proposed that a new model is needed to explain how consciousness could possibly exist independently of the brain, mainly relying on theories from quantum physics. Our paper critically evaluates a range of extant neurobiological and psychosocial theories of NDEs, as well as examines theories that might offer more promise in fully explaining NDEs, especially those using insights derived from quantum physics. We conclude that the “hard problem” of consciousness is not yet solved, but that NDEs provide an important avenue for exploring the relationship between consciousness and brain, as well as possibly understanding a disembodied concept of consciousness.

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Topics:
Altered States and NDEs
Explanations of NDEs—Physiological, Neurological, Brain
Explanations of NDEs—Psychological
Explanations of NDEs NOS
Methodology in NDE Research
Science and NDEs
Theories, NDE-Related, Psychological NOS

Fracasso, C., Aleyasin, S. A., Friedman, H., & Young, M. S. (2010). Near-Death Experiences among a Sample of Iranian Muslims Journal of Near-Death Studies, 29(1) 265-272.

Abstract: Muslim near-death experiences (NDEs) have been rarely reported by comparison to the incidence of NDEs reported in other groups. Recently, after Kreps (2009) found no NDEs in a sample from Pakistan and Kashmir, he concluded Muslim NDEs may even be nonexistent. However, in Arak City, Iran, we easily identified 19 Iranian Muslims who reported having experienced an NDE. Thirty participants claiming to have memories from a period of unconsciousness associated with a close brush with death completed a Persian translation of Greyson’s (1983) NDE Scale as well as background and semi-structured questions. Of these, 19 (63%) scored 7 or higher on the NDE Scale, Greyson’s criterion for a valid NDE. The presumed NDErs were 10 female and 9 male; aged 16 to 65 years old with a mean age of 33; ranging in education from no high school diploma (5%), to high school diploma (37%), to bachelor’s degree (58%); reporting NDE circumstances of accident (58%), attempted suicide (16%), illness (11%), natural disaster (11%), and emotional trauma (5%); and reporting time since NDE ranging from less than one to 20 years with a mean of 8 years. Although low reliability precluded further statistical analysis of the data or comparison of them to results of previous Western studies, our informal assessment was that both the contents and aftereffects of the Muslim NDEs were quite similar to those of Westerners. We concluded that NDEs are not particularly rare in Muslim groups and that their similarity to Western NDEs suggests they may be a cross-culturally universal and transpersonal phenomenon.

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Link: http://www.iands.org

Topics:
Aftereffects of NDEs—Orientation to Death
Aftereffects of NDEs—Orientation to Life
Aftereffects of NDEs—Paranormal Phenomena
Aftereffects of NDEs NOS
Afterlife, Belief in
Characteristics of NDErs—Age, Adults
Characteristics of NDErs—Age, Children-Adolescents
Characteristics of NDErs—Education Level
Characteristics of NDErs—Gender
Characteristics of NDEs—Encountering Beings, Deceased or Living
Characteristics of NDEs—Encountering Beings, Spiritual
Characteristics of NDEs—Encountering Beings NOS
Characteristics of NDEs—Life Review
Characteristics of NDEs—Light, Mystical
Characteristics of NDEs—Parapsychological Phenomena, ESP
Characteristics of NDEs—Parapsychological Phenomena, Precognition
Characteristics of NDEs—Return, Involuntary
Characteristics of NDEs—Return, Voluntary
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Sound, Hearing
Circumstances of NDEs—Accident
Circumstances of NDEs—Consciousness and Unconsciousness
Circumstances of NDEs—Illness
Circumstances of NDEs—Stress
Circumstances of NDEs—Suicide
Circumstances of NDEs NOS
Cross-Cultural NDEs (outside the U.S.)—non-Western
Methodology in NDE Research
Religion and NDEs—Islam
Spirituality and NDEs

Fracasso, C., Friedman, H., & Young, M. S. (2010). Psychologists’ Knowledge of and Attitudes about Near-Death Experiences: Changes over Time and Relationship to Transpersonal Self-Concept Journal of Near-Death Studies, 29(1) 273-281.

Abstract: We conducted a comparison and extension of Walker and Russell's (1989) study of psychologists' knowledge of and attitudes about near-death experiences (NDEs). We used their Near-Death Phenomena Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire (NDPKAQ), consisting of one knowledge sca e and two attitude scales, to explore possible changes over time. We also used the Self-Expansiveness Level Form-Transpersonal Scale (SELF-TS; Friedman, 1983) to explore the relationship of transpersonal self-concept with knowledge of and attitudes about NDEs. We randomly surveyed 84 psychologists listed in the Washington state National Register and obtained 18 completed responses (61% male, 39% female; mean age 60 years; ethnicity unknown). The comparison of our NDPKAQ data with Walker and Russell's Illinois psychologists' data suggests psychologists' knowledge and attitudes about NDEs have remained unchanged over the past two decades (p > .05). Two of the three NDPKAQ scale scores correlated significantly with the SELF-TS scores (p = .03, .05), suggesting a positive relationship between transpersonal self-concept and knowledge of and attitudes towards NDEs. We discuss limitations of our results and implications of our findings for professional education and training on NDEs.

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Link: http://www.iands.org

Topics:
Education about NDEs
Health Care Professionals and NDEs—Psychological
Methodology in NDE Research
Non-NDErs’ Attitude Change after Learning about NDEs
Non-NDErs’ Attitudes toward NDEs
Psychopathology and NDEs NOS

Fuller, M. (2009). Did St Jerome have a near-death experience? The Expository Times, 120(11) 530-533.

Abstract: This article is concerned with a remarkable experience recounted by St Jerome, which has a number of features associated with reports of ‘near-death experiences’ (NDEs). Curiously, commentators who have explored patristic and mediaeval accounts of NDEs have hitherto neglected this account. The aetiology and significance of NDEs is disputed; however, it is likely that the negative aspects of St Jerome’s vision were influential on subsequent Christian reflections on judgement and the afterlife.

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Topics:
Afterlife, Belief in
Historical Perspectives on NDEs
Interpretations of NDEs
Religion and NDEs—Christianity
Spirituality and NDEs

Gibbs, J. C. (2010). Near-Death Experiences, Deathbed Visions, and Past-Life Memories: A Convergence in Support of van Lommel’s Consciousness Beyond Life Journal of Near-Death Studies, 29(2) 303-341.

Abstract: This review supports cardiologist Pim van Lommel’s continuity claim for human existence in his recently published book Consciousness BeyondLife: The Science of the Near-Death Experience (2010). Van Lommel and colleagues (van Lommel, van Wees, Meyers, & Elfferich, 2001) studied NDEs among 344 Dutch hospital patients who had been resuscitated following cardiac arrest. From their and others’ NDE research findings (e.g., accurate perceptions during the arrest period), van Lommel and colleagues concluded that mental activity can take place even in the absence of cerebral function. Extrapolating from this conclusion, van Lommel claimed in Consciousness Beyond Life a fundamental continuity for individual human existence: that death and birth mark not final limits but instead the transition from one state of consciousness to another. In the course of making his continuity claim, van Lommel referred to other topics such as deathbed visions and past-life memories. In addition to reviewing NDE research, this article reviews research and illustrative responses pertaining to these related phenomena. A convergence of corroborative evidence is consistent with van Lommel’s continuity claim.

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Link: http://www.iands.org

Topics:
Afterlife, Belief in
Altered States and NDEs
Cultural, Social Influences on NDEs
Evolution and NDEs
Explanations of NDEs—Parapsychological
Explanations of NDEs—Physiological, Neurological, Brain
Explanations of NDEs NOS
Mental Processes and NDEs
Nearing Death and NDEs—Deathbed Visions
Nearing Death and NDEs NOS
Related Experiences—NDE-Like
Related Experiences NOS
Science and NDEs