Long, J., & Holden, J. M. (2007). Does the arousal system contribute to near death experience? A summary and response Journal of Near-Death Studies, 25(3) 135-169.

Abstract: In April 2006, an important article appeared in a respected medical journal suggesting a relationship between near-death experiences (NDEs) and the body's arousal system, specifically the phenomenon of rapid eye movement (REM) intrusion. In March 2007, the same authors published another article in the same journal, expanding on the previous article's findings and suggesting a relationship between out-of-body experiences (OBEs) and the arousal system. These articles presented lines of evidence and a study to support the hypothesized relationship. In this paper, we acknowledge the viability and potential value of the hypothesis underlying both articles, but identify substantial weaknesses in both the presented lines of evidence and the studies. We conclude with recommendations for future research that would address the hypothesis and would promote a better overall understanding of NDEs and OBEs.

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Link: http://www.iands.org

Topics:
Altered States and NDEs
Characteristics of NDErs—Age, Adults
Characteristics of NDErs—Age, Children-Adolescents
Characteristics of NDErs NOS
Characteristics of NDEs—Autoscopy, Out-of-Body
Characteristics of NDEs—Light, Mystical
Characteristics of NDEs NOS
Cross-Cultural NDEs (outside the U.S.)—non-Western
Dreams and NDEs
Explanations of NDEs—Physiological, Neurological, Brain
Explanations of NDEs NOS
Interpretations of NDEs
Methodology in NDE Research
Psychopathology and NDEs—Hallucinations
Related Experiences NOS
Theories, NDE-Related, Psychological NOS
Veridical Perception during NDEs

Lopez, U., Forster, A., Annoni, J. M., Habre, W., & Iselin-Chaves, I. A. (2006). Near-death experience in a boy undergoing uneventful elective surgery under general anesthesia Pediatric Anesthesia, 16() 85-88.

Abstract: Near-death experience (NDE) is a complex subjective experience, which may include affective elements such as a sense of peacefulness, paranormal components such as a sensation of floating out of the body, and a perception of being in a dark tunnel and seeing a brilliant light. It is usually reported to occur in association with a wide range of life-threatening situations, as for instance, cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We report on an episode of NDE that occurred in a 12-year-old boy who underwent a general anesthesia for an elective uncomplicated surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first case of NDE in a child that has been reported in this context.

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Topics:
Accounts of NDEs—Autobiographical
Accounts of NDEs—Biographical, Cases
Characteristics of NDErs—Age, Children-Adolescents
Characteristics of NDErs—Gender
Characteristics of NDErs NOS
Characteristics of NDEs—Autoscopy, Out-of-Body
Characteristics of NDEs—Emotions, Distressing
Characteristics of NDEs—Emotions, Pleasurable
Characteristics of NDEs—Light, Mystical
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Sound, Hearing
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Sound NOS
Characteristics of NDEs—Tunnel Experiences
Characteristics of NDEs NOS
Circumstances of NDEs—Hospital
Disclosure of NDEs
Explanations of NDEs—Physiological, Neurological, Brain
Explanations of NDEs—Physiological NOS
Methodology in NDE Research
Psychopathology and NDEs—Hallucinations
Psychopharmacology and NDEs—Anesthesia

Marshall, P. (2011). The psychical and the mystical: Boundaries, connections, common origins The Psychical and the Mystical, 75.1(902) 1-13.

Abstract: Notable exceptions aside, researchers in the fields of mysticism and parapsychology have not taken an active interest in each other's domain of study. Mysticism scholars have tended to regard psychical phenomena as unworthy of academic study, as lesser phenomena that mystics themselves view with suspicion. For their part, parapsychologists have been inattentive to mystical experience despite their interest in a variety of extraordinary experiences. However, one type of mystical experience—the unitive apprehension of the natural world—does appear to have connections with psychical cognition, and other links are evident too, including shared triggers and predisposing factors. It follows that the psychical and the mystical require interdisciplinary study and a theory capable of explaining both. To this end, filter theory and kundalini yoga are invoked to suggest that psychical and mystical cognitions derive from a common source.

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Topics:
Explanations of NDEs—Parapsychological
Related Experiences NOS
Religion and NDEs—Mysticism

Mays, R. G., & Mays, S. B. (2008). The phenomenology of the self-conscious mind Journal of Near-Death Studies, 27(1) 5-45.

Abstract: The phenomenon of a near-death experiencer's veridical perceptions during the out-of-body experience (OBE) stongly suggests the existence of a self-conscious mind as a "field of consciousness," a region of space where a person's consciousness exists. In the out-of-body state, the mind appears to be nonmaterial and completely independent of the physical body. Ordinarily, though, the self-conscious mind appears as an autonomous entity united with the brain and body. In this united state, the self-conscious mind operates through the mediation of the brain. This view is supported by evidence from neurological phenomena such as subjective antedating of sensory experiences and mental force. This evidence suggests that a nonneural agency induces conscious experience and self-conscious awareness. Phenomena from OBEs, including apparent subtle interactions with physical processes such a light, sound, and physical objects, as well as reported interactions with "in-body" persons, support the view that the self-conscious mind is able to interact in some physical way with the brain. Neurological phenomena such a Benjamin Libet's (1985) delayed awareness of willed action can be reconsidered successfully in light of this view. Such efforts might also prove useful, for example, in explaining phantom limb phenomena.

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Link: http://www.iands.org

Topics:
Altered States and NDEs
Characteristics of NDEs—Autoscopy, Out-of-Body
Characteristics of NDEs—Increased Knowledge, Thoughts
Characteristics of NDEs—Parapsychological Phenomena, ESP
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Sound NOS
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Vision
Characteristics of NDEs NOS
Circumstances of NDEs—Consciousness and Unconsciousness
Circumstances of NDEs—Illness
Explanations of NDEs—Physiological, Neurological, Brain
Explanations of NDEs NOS
Mental Processes and NDEs
Veridical Perception during NDEs

McClenon, J. (2006). Kongo near-death experiences: Cross-cultural patterns Journal of Near-Death Studies, 25(1) 21-34.

Abstract: Analysis of eight Kongo near-death experiences (NDEs) from Central Africa supports the argument that universal features exist within this experiential form. Respondents described leaving their bodies and journeying to afterlife realms, encountering boundaries, and communicating with spiritual beings. Some accounts reveal culturally specific elements, implying that expectations shape perceptions. NDEs seem related to shamanism, humankind's first religious form, since NDEs contain the same elements as waking visions unrelated to the threat of death. Comparisons of Kongo accounts with two Basuto narratives from Southern Africa extend this argument. The theory that NDEs have a shamanic basis has evolutionary implications since shamanism provides greater survival advantages to those with genes allowing dissociation, hypnotic capacity, and religiosity. Shamanic healing, practiced over many millenia, would have increased the frequency of those genes.

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Link: http://www.iands.org

Topics:
Aftereffects of NDEs—Orientation to Life
Characteristics of NDEs—Increased Knowledge, Thoughts
Characteristics of NDEs—Otherworldly Environments
Characteristics of NDEs—Parapsychological Phenomena, Precognition
Characteristics of NDEs—Return, Involuntary
Characteristics of NDEs NOS
Cross-Cultural NDEs (outside the U.S.)—non-Western
Religion and NDEs—Christianity
Religion and NDEs—Indigenous Cultures
Shamanism and NDEs