Abstract
Purpose of Review
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are conscious perceptual experiences, including self-related emotional, spiritual, and mystical experiences, occurring in close encounters with death or in non-life-threatening situations. The origin of NDEs remains unknown. Here, we review recent advances in the understanding of NDE semiology and pathophysiology.
Recent Findings
Recent prospective studies confirm that NDEs reflect a spectrum of highly distinctive memories which are associated with negative or positive emotions and can be influenced by the nature of the causal event, but the temporal sequence with which these images unfold is variable. Some drugs, notably ketamine, may lead to experiences that are similar or even identical to NDEs. New models extend previous neural network theories and include aspects of evolutionary and quantum theories.
Summary
Although the factual existence of NDEs is no longer doubted and the semiology well-described, a pathophysiological model that includes all aspects of NDEs is still lacking.
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Supported by DFG DR 323/5-1, DFG DR 323/10-1, FP7 no 602150 CENTER-TBI.
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CP: acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, writing of the manuscript, critical revision for important intellectual content, approval of final manuscript; JPD: analysis and interpretation, critical revision for important intellectual content, approval of final manuscript; DK: study concept and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, writing of the manuscript, critical revision for important intellectual content, approval of final manuscript.
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Costanza Peinkhofer, Jens P. Dreier and Daniel Kondziella each declare no potential conflicts of interest.
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Peinkhofer, C., Dreier, J.P. & Kondziella, D. Semiology and Mechanisms of Near-Death Experiences. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 19, 62 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-019-0983-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-019-0983-2