Neuroscience Explains: Near-death experiences
With the plethora of superstitious ideologies and their explanation of near-death experiences (NDEs), it can seem as if there really is something mysterious at the heart of these experiences. But there is an interesting 2011 article on how neuroscience can explain many facets of these experiences (Mobbs and Watt, 2011).
We’re going to go over some of the main themes of this article.
A note on explanation:
The believer in these experiences, will most likely suggest that just because neuroscience may be able to explain the possible reasons for these experiences, that this does not, in of itself invalidate the experiences nor disprove that they are supernatural in origin. In this, of course that individual is correct. However, being able to reproduce an effect by manipulating the environment or the brain itself does show at least that one need not resort to paranormal explanations for the phenomenon. And, at least, for my own part once a process has been demonstrated that it can occur naturally, this removes the need for extraneous explanations of the superstitious variety.
Of course, this is a personal choice, as is the choice to believe in the more supernatural explanations of these experiences. However, even for a believer in such experiences, these neuroscientific discoveries should prove interesting.
The summary:
The authors begin by explaining that most theologies share some idea of life after death. And authors such as Raymond Moody have done much to pique the public’s interest with celebrated books that collect anecdotes of near-death experiences. Interestingly the authors go on to illustrate how near-death experience does not actually have to mean that the patient is near death.
They cite work in which a patient experiencing an episode of hypoglycaemia who was in a sleep-like state with REM, later reported a near-death experience. This patient, however was not near death but still repeated many of the same feelings and experiences one would associate with near-death experiences. In fact, citing other work the authors report that of 58 patients who reported near-death experiences, 30 of them (51.7%) were not in medical danger and thus not close to death.
Aside — For any claims that these experiences are preparation for the soul into some afterlife, these scenarios present a little trouble to explain since if you’re not near death you don’t need to be prepared for it.
Peculiar experiences associated with near-death experiences:
The authors of the paper mention some specific experiences which often get mentioned by patients and individuals who report an NDE. One of these is the feeling of being dead, something that most of us would say is impossible unless we are dead. But as the authors mention, there is a neuropsychological disorder known as Cotard’s syndrome, in which the individual experiences the delusion that they have already died. This delusion can become so strong that the individual they are missing entire organs such as the brain (Portzky and Debruyne, 2009).
As the authors mention, areas of the brain implicated in feelings of death having already occurred such as with Cotard’s syndrome appear to be the parietal lobe and the prefrontal cortex.
What about the peculiar feeling of having one’s body or an OBE (Out of body experience)?
Various feelings of OBEs or autoscopy can occur quite naturally and even in sleep disturbances can occur. As the authors point out, hypnagogic hallucinations include tactile sensations, visual and auditory aberrations. Citing other work, an OBE can even be produced by stimulating a part of the brain called the right temporalparietal junction. When this was done, the patient reported seeing themselves lying in bed.
Walking towards the light
This is perhaps along with an OBE one of the most recognised signs of an NDE. But here neuroscience too can help explain how the brain not functioning properly can lead to visual aberrations. The authors point to the visual anomalies experienced by pilots flying a G-force speeds. They can experience something called hypotensive syncope in which there can be a tunnel-like vision loss over the course of 5–8 seconds. But cited other work shows that one not need be flying at G-force speeds for visual phenomena to occur. Visual ischemias occur when blood and oxygen supplies to the eye are disrupted, these explanations too could be the source of tunnel vision.
Meeting kin, and comfort
Perhaps one of the reasons to believe in these experiences is the enormous comfort provided by the prospect of meeting lost loved ones, or religious leaders one holds in esteem. But again here, the authors point to degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, where patients may experience hallucinations of ghosts or even monsters.
The authors even mention the very interesting Charles-Bonnet syndrome:
“Macular degeneration (i.e. damage to the center, or macula, of the visual field) can also result in vivid visual hallucinations of ghosts and fairytale characters. Such an example is Charles-Bonnet syndrome, which mostly occurs in the elderly populations.”
Conclusion:
I’ll finish the summary there, but the article is well worth a read whatever your belief system. There are explanations of how positive emotions may also be generated by chemical imbalances within the brain.
Speaking from a personal viewpoint, I find no compelling reason to believe in the anecdotes of NDEs experience by people whether near death or not. However, I cannot deny that these experiences often supply these individuals with comfort and remove some of the fear of death which is part of human experience and existence. That is not to say, however, that I don’t believe that individuals who believe in such experiences should not try and dissuade themselves from believing or indeed challenging their belief systems. One does not need to believe in NDEs to remove fear of death. There are philosophies of life which do not require belief, nor the invention or twisting of neuroscience to temper and control the fear of death.
With all of this said, I don’t want to alienate believers as I believe we share much more in common such as the love of life, of companionship and maybe even coffee? So if you have experienced an NDE or you know someone who has, feel free to share your experience. I don’t need to believe in the experience as supernatural to find it interesting and compelling.
And if you’re a sceptic, tell me which of these points you find most attractive as a rebuttal to the claim made by theology or from people who possess superstitious beliefs.
References:
Mobbs. D, Watt, C. ‘There is nothing paranormal about near-death experiences: how neuroscience can explain seeing bright lights, meeting the dead, or being convinced you are one of them, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Volume 15, Issue 10, 2011,
Pages 447–449, ISSN 1364–6613, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2011.07.010.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364661311001550)
Debruyne, H., Portzky, M., den Eynde, F. V., & Audenaert, K. (2009). Cotard’s syndrome: A review. Current Psychiatry Reports, 11(3), 197–202. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11920-009-0031-Z
