Comments on "The ketamine model of the near-death experience: A central role for the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor".
The Journal of near-death studies January 1, 1997 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.17514/jnds-1997-16-1-p71-78. via OpenAlex
Summary
Ketamine can create experiences similar to near-death experiences (NDEs), but these differ significantly depending on whether ketamine is used recreationally or in medical settings. The study compares ketamine, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, with ibogaine, which also induces NDE-like experiences under different contexts. This raises questions about whether the nature of these experiences is tied to the substance used or the state of consciousness it induces.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | Experiences induced by ketamine vary significantly based on the context of use, highlighting differences between recreational and medical applications. |
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Abstract
Although ketamine can induce a state similar to a near-death experience (NDE), there is a striking difference between experiences induced by ketamine used in a recreational context and in an operating room. Ketamine is a noncompetitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, as is ibogaine, the main alkaloid of a shrub used in Central Africa to induce NDEs in a religious context. Ibogaine can also elicit different experiences when used in a hallucinatory context or in initiatic rituals, where a superficial state of coma is induced. These data raise the question of whether the chemically-induced NDE-like experience is related to the use of a particular kind of substance or to a genuine comatose state.