TY - JOUR
T1 - Semiology and Mechanisms of Near-Death Experiences
AU - Peinkhofer, Costanza
AU - Dreier, Jens P
AU - Kondziella, Daniel
PY - 2019/7/27
Y1 - 2019/7/27
N2 - 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. 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.
AB - 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. 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.
KW - Brain death
KW - Cardiac arrest
KW - Coma
KW - Consciousness
KW - Death
KW - Out-of-body experiences
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85069694446&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11910-019-0983-2
DO - 10.1007/s11910-019-0983-2
M3 - Review
C2 - 31352520
SN - 1528-4042
VL - 19
SP - 62
JO - Current neurology and neuroscience reports
JF - Current neurology and neuroscience reports
IS - 9
M1 - 62
ER -