The near-death experience (NDE) as an inherited predisposition: Possible genetic, epigenetic, neural and symbolic mechanisms.
Medical Hypotheses March 26, 2019 J. Lake
Near-death experiences (NDEs) likely arose from a pre-adaptation that allowed early humans to have self-reflective awareness and experience specialized states of consciousness, enabling flexible responses to life-threatening situations. This predisposition probably originated and persists through multi-factorial biological, social, and symbolic processes, shaped by direct, indirect, or neutral selection. The paper reviews evolutionary models, neural mechanisms including limbic system and neocortex integration, and epigenetic inheritance, arguing that NDEs are a higher cognitive trait influenced by complex dynamic systems. It contrasts NDEs with similar experiences in dreams and trance, and calls for improved methodology and field studies to clarify genetic, epigenetic, and social contributions.