The theory that near-death experiences are little more than hallucinations is perhaps the most common explanation amongst skeptics. But just how well does this theory actually fit with the evidence? Are near-death experiences just hallucinations? Or are they something else entirely?
The problem with the hallucination theory itself is that these experiences rarely neatly align with the standard definitions of hallucinations, illusions, or psychedelic-type experiences. And when you really take the time to examine the broader evidence, hallucination theory simply doesn’t hold water.
Are near-death experiences just hallucinations, or are they something else?
The position that near-death experiences are little more than hallucinations is a relatively easy and safe one to take. The “dying brain” is starved of oxygen, traumatized, or going through some neurochemical event, causing the brain to “misfire” and create vivid perceptual experiences. Endorphins, serotonin, and other neurochemical or physiological triggers might be involved. And all of that should be scientifically sound. But this is where things get fascinating.
Clarity and memorability
Clarity, lucidity, and memorability are amongst the most consistent features reported across countless thousands of near-death experience reports. NDEs have been described as being “more real than real”, a phrase appearing often enough in NDE research to make it a sort of hallmark. NDEs are extremely detailed. Colors are more vivid, sounds are more resonant, and a person’s thoughts are more organized.
By contrast, hallucinations are usually disoriented, fragmented, or confused. They can seem real in the moment, but that’s a far cry from feeling clear, structured, and meaningful both during and after the experience. When a hallucination is over, they’re typically seen as disorienting, fragmentary, or confusing. And that’s not at all what happens in NDEs.NDEs are also often remembered with exceptional clarity for decades, often as vividly as the day they occurred. In one longitudinal study, participants recalled their experiences with near-photographic precision even after 20 years. This persistence sharply contrasts with most hallucinatory memories, which fade quickly or blur over time.
Veridical perceptions
More compelling evidence that near-death experiences are not just hallucinations stems from veridical perceptions, where people report things they shouldn’t have been able to see, hear, or otherwise perceive. And these are also not common in hallucinations.
Cases of veridical perception involve a person accurately describing events, sounds, or details occurring near them when they shouldn’t be able to know such things. For instance, a person unconscious after cardiac arrest or under anesthesia shouldn’t be able to accurately report the colors or patterns on a healthcare worker’s scrubs, or describe medical procedures happening around them, but they do, and it’s accurate.
that’s entirely different from what we see with typical hallucinations, which are usually idiosyncratic—they’re peculiar and personal, and unique to the person having them, without matching real-world events. A hallucination experiencer might think what they’re seeing is accurate, only to find out later that it wasn’t. In near-death experiences, those details are more likely to end up being verified as accurate later.
Some recent studies also show bursts of EEG activity during the dying process, which may be correlated with consciousness surviving beyond the conventional thresholds where it is believed the brain “shuts down.”
NDEs can change a person’s whole life. Hallucinations? Not so much
Arguably the biggest and most substantial difference between a near-death experience and a hallucination isn’t found in what people see during them, but in what happens after them. The aftereffects of NDEs prove even further that NDES are quite simply not hallucinations.
NDEs are almost always life-changing events in the lives of experiencers. An NDE can change a person’s entire outlook on life, their sense of purpose, and their relationships, while also altering a person’s fear of death. None of that is common with hallucinations, either.
Those who’ve been through NDEs often describe a renewed or altered sense of purpose and compassion. They feel a deepened connection with others. They might end destructive habits, or change careers, or start volunteering to help others in ways they never did prior. And the changes are so profound and lasting that their families and friends tend to take notice.
Hallucinations, whether caused by illness, medication, stress, or substances, rarely lead to lasting positive transformation. People may remember them—with varying degrees of accuracy—but they usually won’t reshape a person’s entire worldview. They’re more likely to be distressing or disorienting, often leaving behind confusion. NDEs typically leave clarity and peace. They are entirely different phenomena.
So what’s the verdict? Are near-death experiences just hallucinations?
We don’t yet fully understand what near-death experiences are or what causes them. But one thing is abundantly clear, when looking at all of the evidence together. Near-death experiences are not hallucinations or dreams.
NDEs regularly challenge contemporary medical science and, at times, scientific thinking itself. But rather than attempting to write off NDEs as a flaw, IANDS approaches these phenomena in search of a scientific breakthrough that might one day help all of us better understand what NDEs are. And all without adding to those aforementioned stigmas or contributing to the skepticism, doubt, or isolation many experiencers face when revealing their stories. NDEs aren’t a problem we need to fix. They’re a question we hope to one day answer.
We encourage you to learn more about NDEs, explore the research, and read through our IANDS Q&A articles when you run into questions. If you encounter terminology you’re unfamiliar with, you may find more information in our IANDS glossary.And if you’re interested in contributing directly to our mission, please consider making a donation, or even becoming an IANDS member. Together, we might one day solve the mysteries surrounding near-death experiences and related phenomena.
