What Causes Near-Death Experiences, and Who Has Them?

What causes Near-death experiences (NDEs)? That’s a question researchers in the field of near-death studies have been fascinated by for half a century, and a question surely asked prior throughout the course of human history. And while research has told us a great deal about this phenomenon, we still don’t fully understand what causes near-death experiences.

We know the conditions under which NDEs can occur. We know they can happen to literally anyone, of any background. But the actual processes taking place remain elusive to modern science.

NDEs are real, they’re fascinating, and they’re life-changing for those who have them. So let’s dive into this question of what causes near-death experiences. And let’s also see what doesn’t cause them. Because each time a popular theory gets debunked, the level of intrigue skyrockets.

And while we’re at it, let’s take a look at what sorts of people have near-death experiences, too. Are there any cultural, social, educational, or religious factors that increase the likelihood of NDEs? The short answer is “no”, but we’ll dive into that research here as well.

Read More: What is a near-death experience?

What causes near-death experiences?

So what causes near-death experiences? Well, that’s really two questions in one—what causes near-death experiences physically and psychologically, and what specific conditions cause near-death experiences?

The conditions leading to an NDE

Let’s start with the conditions that cause NDEs. In most cases, NDEs are experienced by people exposed to extreme life-threatening scenarios—serious illness or injury, military combat, childbirth, suicide attempts, or being clinically dead for a brief or extended period of time.

Some research indicates that people who experience cardiac arrest are most likely to have a near-death experience. According to that research, as many as 40 percent of cardiac arrest survivors report having an NDE.

Some conditions—moments of profound grief, deep meditation, or extreme physical exertion—may lead to what researchers define as a near-death-like experience—an experience similar or even identical to an NDE, despite the fact these experiencers were not actually near death.

What causes near-death experiences physically or psychologically?

Now for the aspects of near-death experiences we don’t know. As of our writing this, the science community still doesn’t understand what physical or psychological activity may be happening in the human body or mind that might lead to an NDE.

So far, there hasn’t been a single scientific explanation that accounts for all of the characteristics of NDEs. For instance, one popular theory claims NDEs are hallucinations, though researchers have disproven this theory many times, pointing out that hallucinations aren’t as vividly detailed as NDEs, nor are memories of them as long-lasting.

Who experiences NDEs?

One of the more fascinating elements of NDE research is that there aren’t any known underlying cultural, mental, or societal conditions that affect them. They impact people regardless of psychological, educational, emotional, environmental, or socioeconomic backgrounds or settings.

Near-death experiences have been encountered by people of every race and creed, from children through adulthood and beyond. Every nationality and cultural identity. And there are examples of both modern accounts gathered scientifically and examples from antiquity noted in ancient texts. Put simply, anyone can have a near-death experience.

NDEs are not attributable to any known conditions, behaviors, or characteristics. This includes education level, mental illness, drug abuse, spiritual beliefs or practices, criminality, sexual orientation, gender, age, poverty, or any other characteristic. You might say NDEs are “equal opportunity” experiences.

There is one exception to this rule—those with a psychological condition known as absorption, a personality trait wherein a person becomes “absorbed” in mental imagery. Absorption is noted in a substantial number of NDE cases. However, research has proven conclusively that near-death experiences are not an indication of personality traits or mental disorders, and it remains unclear if higher levels of absorption increase the likelihood of an NDE or not.

NDEs in special populations

Reports of near-death experiences tend to share contextual similarities that show us that NDEs do not have isolated features depending on cultural, geographic, or socioeconomic backdrops. How an NDE is interpreted boils down to those cultural factors, but the NDE reports themselves still share identical characteristics.

NDEs in western cultures—North America, Europe, Australia, etc.—often mention the experiencer moving through a tunnel. In countries without tunnel infrastructure, NDE reports have described experiencers moving through the neck of a gourd or the funnel of a plant.

Today, it’s generally understood that near-death experiences have three structures.

A deep structure—general features that appear to people across cultures
A cultural surface structure—specific forms of those features that correlate to the experiencer’s culture
A personal surface structure—the unique qualities to each person having a near-death experience

Child NDEs

Reports of NDEs in children are particularly interesting. The younger a child is, the less influenced by their culture they are. Their experiences share the same features as those of adults, but are described in simpler terms. Children who’ve experienced an NDE also later report having felt different from other children while growing up.

NDEs resulting from suicide attempts

Research also indicates that suicide attempt survivors who experienced an NDE are much less likely to try again, saying their experience showed them that their lives have purpose. They come out of their attempt and their resulting NDE seeing life as a gift, and take on challenges more constructively. They see life experiences as opportunities to deepen their ability to love and to increase their knowledge.

NDEs involving ‘veridical perception’

Near-death experiences involving accurate descriptions of specific, unique events happening around their unconscious or deceased physical body—veridical perceptions—are also highly fascinating. For instance, there are reports of NDE vision in persons blind from birth.

In these cases, experiencers are able to describe activities that took place around them that they technically and scientifically shouldn’t have been able to describe. These descriptions often involve the presence, physical appearance, or activities of people nearby, or even of family members at a distance.

One reported case of veridical perception in an NDE involved a woman undergoing brain surgery. She was fully anesthetized, with her eyes taped shut and her ears plugged with small speakers emitting noise. Nevertheless, she correctly described instruments used by doctors and conversations between hospital staff conducting the operation.