Study Of Near-death Experiences Research Articles

Near-Death Experiences and Sleep Disturbance: An Exploratory Study Using Wrist Actigraphy.

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are nonordinary states of consciousness typically occurring on the brink of death. Sleep changes after NDEs have been described, including shorter sleep duration, longer sleep latency, and more sleep disturbances; however, objective verification is lacking. In this exploratory research, 57 participants took part in a 14-day actigraphy study and were assigned to three groups: those who have had an NDE ( n = 26); those who experienced a near-death event but without NDE ( n = 12); and those who had never come close to death ( n = 19). No significant differences were found between groups for actigraphy data. Paired samples t tests indicated significant differences between subjective and objective measures of sleep onset latency, sleep duration, and sleep efficiency, notably among the NDE group. Findings are indicative of the phenomenon known as sleep state misperception (SSM), which may have clinical implications for the study of NDEs and SSM.

A Study of Near-Death Experience in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

The near-death experiences (NDE) in dialysis patients of our country have not been previously studied. The objective of this study is to investigate the characteristics of NDEs in patients on dialysis. We performed a cross sectional study of the adult patients of chronic kidney disease stage 5 without dialysis and on dialysis who survived cardiac arrest by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as per ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) guidelines and who sustained pulseless ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation and received CPR and/or direct cardioversion. We used two scales, Greyson's NDE scale and Ring's Weighted Core Experience Index (WCEI). We performed the study between 2016 and 2018. A total of 29 patients were included. The data based on Greyson's NDE scale and Ring's Weighted Core Experience Index (WCEI)were collected. Our study brings a perspective of NDE in CKD and dialysis patients. A similar study of NDE in dialysis patients should be considered by other nephrologists.

Making Sense of Near‐Death Experience Research: Circumstance Specific Alterations of Consciousness

AbstractThe growing body of research on near‐death experiences (NDEs) is an indication of the large number of people claiming such experiences. A surprising feature of the research is that conceptually there is no agreement on what an NDE is and consequently a large number of definitions characterize this field of research. In order to address the definitional quagmire, a first step consists of making sense of NDE definitions. An analysis of existing definitions shows that the term is currently used for at least three distinct phenomena: a cluster of experiences encountered in the process of dying, for that cluster of experiences in circumstances of fear‐death and danger, and for that cluster of experiences independently from any life‐threatening circumstances. Secondly, the nested assumptions that characterize identified patterns in NDE research are identified. It is shown that pro‐survivalists see NDEs as a unitary entity with a single explanation, while others restrict the study of NDEs to life‐threatening circumstances and see them as a cluster of composite experiences. Based on this analysis it is argued that the pattern of experiences labeled NDEs can be modified to circumstance specific alterations of consciousness.

Virtual mortality and near-death experience after a prolonged exposure in a shared virtual reality may lead to positive life-attitude changes.

Mortality is an obvious if uncomfortable part of the human condition, yet it is impossible to study its impact on anyone who experiences it. Reports of phenomena associated with death such as out-of-the-body (OBE) and near death experiences (NDE) can only be studied post-hoc, since it is impossible to design a scientific study where an experimental group experiences death (and returns) and a control group does not. Yet NDEs seem to have a profound influence on the subsequent lives of people and are therefore worthy of study. Terror Management Theory, which argues that death anxiety contributes to in-group solidarity and hostility to out-groups, relies on studies that manipulate opinions and cannot be based on experiential evidence. Here we introduce a potential methodology that uses immersive virtual reality (VR) for the study of mortality and NDEs. Participants are embodied in alternate bodies in a beautiful island along with two companions. They explore the island and carry out tasks together. The mechanism of embodiment produces strong illusions of ownership over their life-sized virtual bodies. Over time each participant witnesses the death of the two companions and then her own death—which includes the reported features of an NDE (OBE, life review, the tunnel leading to white light) followed by a period of observation of the continuing activities in the virtual world on an external screen. Fifteen female participants experienced 6 sessions in the island, each starting as a child and gradually maturing, and eventually ageing and dying. Sixteen control subjects formed a waiting group. We introduce this as a methodology for the study of these issues, and present promising results, suggesting that those who experienced the island report life attitude changes, becoming more concerned with others and more interested in global rather than material issues compared to the control group. The results are based on a small sample size, and should be considered as indicative of the possibilities of this new methodology as a way forward for future studies in this field.

Book Review: The Science of Near-Death Experiences

Review of a book titled "The Science of Near-Death Experiences" written by Rudolph H. Smit examining the extends of science in the study of Near Death Experiences.

Review of the book Near-Death Experience in indigenous religions by G. Shushan

Review of a book titled "Near-Death Experience in Indigenous Religions" written by Gregory Shushan, which is a study of near-death experiences in the indigenous societies of North America, Africa, and Oceania. The review points out the weaknesses in the methodologies used by Shushan and discusses the study's conclusions regarding near-death experiences.

Near-Death Experiences: Quantitative Findings from an Aotearoa New Zealand Sample

Abstract: Most of what is currently known about near-death experiences (NDEs) has come from published case studies and larger scale research projects conducted in Western Anglo-European cultures. This article presents findings from the first large-scale retrospective, quantitative study of NDEs conducted in Aotearoa New Zealand over a two-year period, between August 2010 and December 2012. We investigated the occurrence and phenomenology of NDEs in 220 participants. Results revealed the characteristics and occurrence of NDEs in this sample were similar to those reported in other Western samples. Results of a multivariate regression analysis showed belief in the survival of a soul after physical death and being of Māori ethnicity contributed a significant amount of unique variance to NDE Scale scores in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our study represents an important contribution to understanding NDEs in Aotearoa New Zealand, although more research is required to futher elucidate and advance the findings.

Book Review: The Return from Silence: A Study of Near-Death Experiences

Review of the book "The Return from Silence: A Study of Near-Death Experiences" by D. Scott Rogo, which gives an overview of near-death experiences.

A Study of Near-Death Experiences and Coping with Stress

Study investigating the effect of a near-death experience (NDE) on an experiencer's ability to cope with stress. The intent of the study is to determine whether changes reported by experiencers have a practical, psychological application in their day-to-day lives.

B'Letters to the Editor: Optical Imaging and Near-Death Experiences'

Letter from William J. Serdahely to the editor discussing the application of optical imaging technology in the study of near-death experiences.

Near-death experiences: Quantitative findings from an Aotearoa New Zealand sample.

Most of what is currently known about near-death experiences (NDEs) has come from published case studies and larger scale research projects conducted in Western Anglo-European cultures. This article presents findings from the first large-scale retrospective, quantitative study of NDEs conducted in Aotearoa New Zealand over a two-year period, between August 2010 and December 2012. We investigated the occurrence and phenomenology of NDEs in 220 participants. Results revealed the characteristics and occurrence of NDEs in this sample were similar to those reported in other Western samples. Results of a multivariate regression analysis showed belief in the survival of a soul after physical death and being of Māori ethnicity contributed a significant amount of unique variance to NDE Scale scores in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our study represents an important contribution to understanding NDEs in Aotearoa New Zealand, although more research is required to further elucidate and advance the findings.

A study of near-death experiences and coping with stress.

Study investigating the effect of a near-death experience (NDE) on an experiencer's ability to cope with stress. The intent of the study is to determine whether changes reported by experiencers have a practical, psychological application in their day-to-day lives.

Obituary: Robert Morris.

Quarterly journal publishing papers related to near-death experiences, including research reports; theoretical or conceptual statements; expressions of a scientific, philosophic, religious, or historical perspective on the study of near-death experiences; cross-cultural studies; individual case histories; and personal accounts of experiences or related phenomena.

Optical imaging and near-death experiences

Letter from William J. Serdahely to the editor discussing the application of optical imaging technology in the study of near-death experiences.

Review of the book The return from silence: A study of near-death experiences, by D. S. Rogo

Review of the book The return from silence: A study of near-death experiences, by D. S. Rogo

The return from silence: A study of near-death experiences, by D. Scott Rogo

The return from silence: A study of near-death experiences, by D. Scott Rogo

Guest editorial science, spirit, and the soul

Article addressing the relationship between science and the study of near-death experiences.

Thanatoperience

Near-death experiences (NDEs) can be seen as special cases of psychological transition. They often involve a deep transformation in the sense of self. I examine the NDE as such, according to my phase theory of transition, and I analyze an NDE with the help of that theory. I conclude that the study of NDEs may provide insight into the general psychology of transition.

Unresolved problems in the study of near-death experiences: Some suggestions for research and theory.

This paper means to progress the research of near-death experiences (NDEs) by analyzing potential methodology and addressing assumptions. It also analyzes different kinds of NDEs and the limitations that restrict the deriving of strong conclusions from data. The author makes it clear that their own assumption leans towards the existence of NDEs as a cognitive phenomenon until further research can be conducted.