JNDS, Volume 16, Number 1
University of North Texas Digital Library (University of North Texas) 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 there are notable differences between those induced recreationally and those in medical settings. Both ketamine and ibogaine, a substance used in religious rituals, act as antagonists of the NMDA receptor and can produce varying experiences based on context. This raises questions about whether NDE-like experiences stem from specific substances or from actual comatose states.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | The nature of chemically-induced NDE-like experiences may depend more on the context of substance use than on the substances themselves. |
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Abstract
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.